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Update DebugType documentation to clarify default behavior and show how to disable PDB generation for Release builds #47376

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BillWagner merged 3 commits into from
Jul 17, 2025
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Update DebugType documentation to clarify default behavior and show how to disable PDB generation for Release builds #47376

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Copilot Jul 15, 2025
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Update DebugType documentation to clarify default behavior and show h…
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Move PDB disabling section after values table and improve wording
Copilot Jul 17, 2025
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24 changes: 23 additions & 1 deletion docs/csharp/language-reference/compiler-options/code-generation.md
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Expand Up @@ -24,14 +24,35 @@ The following options control code generation by the compiler. The new MSBuild s

## DebugType

The **DebugType** option causes the compiler to generate debugging information and place it in the output file or files. Debugging information is added by default.
The **DebugType** option causes the compiler to generate debugging information and place it in the output file or files. The default value is `portable` for both Debug and Release build configurations, which means PDB files are generated by default for all configurations.

```xml
<DebugType>pdbonly</DebugType>
```

For all compiler versions starting with C# 6.0, there is no difference between *pdbonly* and *full*. Choose *pdbonly*. To change the location of the *.pdb* file, see [**PdbFile**](./advanced.md#pdbfile).

### Disabling PDB generation for Release builds

To suppress PDB file generation for Release builds while keeping them for Debug builds, add the following to your project file:

```xml
<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)' == 'Release'">
<DebugType>none</DebugType>
</PropertyGroup>
```

Alternatively, you can set `DebugSymbols` to `false` for Release builds:

```xml
<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)' == 'Release'">
<DebugSymbols>false</DebugSymbols>
</PropertyGroup>
```

> [!NOTE]
> In .NET 8 and later versions, setting `DebugSymbols` to `false` should suppress PDB generation according to the [breaking change documentation](../../../core/compatibility/sdk/8.0/debugsymbols.md). However, for the most reliable way to disable PDB generation, explicitly set `DebugType` to `none`.

The following values are valid:

| Value | Meaning |
Expand All @@ -40,6 +61,7 @@ The following values are valid:
| `pdbonly` | Same as `full`. See the note below for more information. |
| `portable` | Emit debugging information to .pdb file using cross-platform [Portable PDB](https://github.com/dotnet/designs/blob/main/accepted/2020/diagnostics/portable-pdb.md) format. |
| `embedded` | Emit debugging information into the _.dll/.exe_ itself (_.pdb_ file is not produced) using [Portable PDB](https://github.com/dotnet/designs/blob/main/accepted/2020/diagnostics/portable-pdb.md) format. |
| `none` | Don't produce a PDB file. |

> [!IMPORTANT]
> The following information applies only to compilers older than C# 6.0.
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