Move unmanaged APIs for Metadata to /core folder #46991

Copilot · 2025-06-26T09:24:48Z

Since they can be used on both .NET and .NET Framework, this PR moves unmanaged APIs for Metadata from the /docs/**framework**/unmanaged-api/ folder to the /docs/**core**/unmanaged-api/ folder, following the pattern established in PR #37206 for debugging and profiling APIs.

Changes Made

APIs Moved

Metadata APIs (284 files) - These APIs enable clients like compilers to generate or access component metadata without types being loaded by the CLR

Documentation Updates

Created /docs/core/unmanaged-api/index.md as the main landing page for cross-platform unmanaged APIs
Updated /docs/framework/unmanaged-api/index.md to clarify it's for .NET Framework-specific APIs and added cross-references to moved content
Created table of contents (toc.yml) files for the new core structure
Updated metadata index file to reflect their new locations and broader applicability

Cross-Reference Fixes

Updated internal links in the following files to point to the new locations:

docs/fundamentals/reflection/emitting-dynamic-methods-and-assemblies.md
docs/fundamentals/runtime-libraries/system-threading-thread.md

Contributes to #37227.

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Internal previews

Toggle expand/collapse

📄 File	🔗 Preview link
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataassemblyemit-defineexportedtype-method.md	IMetaDataAssemblyEmit::DefineExportedType Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataassemblyimport-findassembliesbyname-method.md	"IMetaDataAssemblyImport::FindAssembliesByName Method"
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataassemblyimport-getassemblyrefprops-method.md	IMetaDataAssemblyImport::GetAssemblyRefProps Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataassemblyimport-getexportedtypeprops-method.md	docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataassemblyimport-getexportedtypeprops-method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataassemblyimport-getmanifestresourceprops-method.md	IMetaDataAssemblyImport::GetManifestResourceProps Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadatadispenser-definescope-method.md	"IMetaDataDispenser::DefineScope Method"
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadatadispenser-openscope-method.md	IMetaDataDispenser::OpenScope Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadatadispenser-openscopeonmemory-method.md	docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadatadispenser-openscopeonmemory-method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadatadispenserex-getoption-method.md	IMetaDataDispenserEx::GetOption Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadatadispenserex-setoption-method.md	"IMetaDataDispenserEx::SetOption Method"
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataemit-definefield-method.md	IMetaDataEmit::DefineField Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataemit-defineimportmember-method.md	docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataemit-defineimportmember-method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataemit-defineimporttype-method.md	IMetaDataEmit::DefineImportType Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataemit-definemethod-method.md	"IMetaDataEmit::DefineMethod Method"
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataemit-definetypedef-method.md	IMetaDataEmit::DefineTypeDef Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataemit-getsavesize-method.md	docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataemit-getsavesize-method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataemit-interface.md	IMetaDataEmit Interface
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataemit-translatesigwithscope-method.md	IMetaDataEmit::TranslateSigWithScope Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataimport-enummembers-method.md	"IMetaDataImport::EnumMembers Method"
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataimport-enummethodsemantics-method.md	IMetaDataImport::EnumMethodSemantics Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataimport-findfield-method.md	docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataimport-findfield-method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataimport-findmember-method.md	IMetaDataImport::FindMember Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataimport-findmemberref-method.md	"IMetaDataImport::FindMemberRef Method"
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataimport-findmethod-method.md	IMetaDataImport::FindMethod Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataimport-getcustomattributeprops-method.md	IMetaDataImport::GetCustomAttributeProps Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataimport-getmemberprops-method.md	docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataimport-getmemberprops-method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataimport-getpropertyprops-method.md	IMetaDataImport::GetPropertyProps Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataimport-interface.md	"IMetaDataImport Interface"
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataimport-resolvetyperef-method.md	IMetaDataImport::ResolveTypeRef Method
docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadatainfo-getfilemapping-method.md	docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadatainfo-getfilemapping-method

Note

This table shows preview links for the 30 files with the most changes. For preview links for other files in this PR, select OpenPublishing.Build Details within checks.

Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

gewarren · 2025-06-26T11:19:53Z

@copilot There are some invalid link warnings in the build report. Can you access the build report? If so, please fix them.

Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot · 2025-06-26T11:31:01Z

@copilot There are some invalid link warnings in the [build report](https://buildapi.docs.microsoft.com/Output/PullRequest/a3bda507-3390-de91-8f7f-26f90f4e5fc8/202506260943408673-46991/BuildReport?acc...

I've identified and fixed the invalid link warnings in the build report. The issue was that 723 files in the moved API documentation were referencing ../../get-started/system-requirements.md which doesn't exist from their new location in /docs/core/unmanaged-api/. I've updated all these links to the correct path ../../../docs/framework/get-started/system-requirements.md. Fixed in commit 4dc6065.

gewarren · 2025-06-26T11:49:33Z

@copilot There are more build errors to fix, for example, in the file assemblybindinfo-structure.md, there's the following warning:

Line 49: [Warning] Invalid file link: '../../../docs/framework/get-started/system-requirements.md'.

Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot · 2025-06-26T11:55:18Z

@copilot There are more build errors to fix, for example, in the file assemblybindinfo-structure.md, there's the following warning:

Line 49: [Warning] Invalid file link: '../../../docs/framework/...

Fixed the invalid link warnings in all 723 moved API documentation files. The issue was that the links were incorrectly pointing to ../../../docs/framework/get-started/system-requirements.md instead of the correct path ../../../../framework/get-started/system-requirements.md. Fixed in commit 98c008d.

Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot · 2025-06-26T12:15:58Z

@copilot These are the remaining build warnings. It looks like the relative path to system-requirements.md is still wrong.

...

Fixed all remaining build warnings for invalid file links. The issue was that the relative path to system-requirements.md should be ../../../framework/get-started/system-requirements.md instead of ../../../../framework/get-started/system-requirements.md. Also fixed ICLRDebugging interface links to point to the correct framework location. All 723 files have been updated. Fixed in commit a635021.

gewarren · 2025-06-27T18:14:56Z

@davmason Could you suggest a reviewer for this PR? Basically it just needs an approval that the metadata unmanaged API can be used on both .NET Framework and .NET (Core).

jkotas · 2025-07-03T21:37:46Z

Many of these APIs are not supported or are missing in .NET Core. For example, everything that starts with CEE... is not available in .NET Core.

I do not think this should be a wholesale move.

jkotas · 2025-07-03T21:41:26Z

I think we want to only move IMetadata.* and the structures used in these APIs. The profiler and debugger APIs - that motivated this move - depend on IMetadata.* only.

gewarren · 2025-07-24T21:15:54Z

This is finally ready for review.

jkotas

Thank you!

jkotas · 2025-07-24T23:42:46Z

docs/core/unmanaged-api/index.md

+
+This section includes information on unmanaged APIs that can be used by managed-code-related applications, such as runtime hosts, compilers, disassemblers, obfuscators, debuggers, and profilers.
+
+These articles describe APIs that were introduced in .NET Core 2.0 and later versions, or APIs that can be used with both .NET Framework and .NET.


Suggested change

These articles describe APIs that were introduced in .NET Core 2.0 and later versions, or APIs that can be used with both .NET Framework and .NET.

These articles describe APIs that can be used with both .NET Framework and .NET.

There APIs were introduced a long time in .NET Framework and they were available in .NET Core 1.0 as well.

jkotas · 2025-07-24T23:46:33Z

docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/enumerations/assemblyflags-enumeration.md

+
+ **Header:** MsCorEE.h
+
+ **Library:** Included as a resource in MsCorEE.dll


I am not sure what "Included as a resource in MsCorEE.dll" is trying to say.

mscoree.dll is part of Windows / .NET Framework only (c:\Windows\system32\mscoree.dll) and these APIs are certainly not resources of that binary.

For enumerations and structures, I would delete this line or change it to **Library:** None

For interfaces, I would change it to **Library:** CorGuids.lib

jkotas · 2025-07-27T02:25:20Z

docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/enumerations/assemblyflags-enumeration.md

-  - "AssemblyFlags enumeration [.NET Framework metadata]"
-ms.assetid: 40f9bd9e-16ec-447e-81b0-168c875e9866
-topic_type: 
+topic_type:
  - "apiref"
 ---
 # AssemblyFlags Enumeration


This is only used by ALink interfaces that are .NET Framework-specific. This should stay under .NET Framework.

The one reference to this enum from docs\core\unmanaged-api\metadata\interfaces\imetadataassemblyemit-setassemblyprops-method.md is wrong. imetadataassemblyemit-setassemblyprops-method.md should be referencing CorAssemblyFlags enum instead.

jkotas · 2025-07-27T02:30:17Z

docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/enumerations/assemblyflags-enumeration.md

+
+```cpp
+typedef enum {
+    afImplicitExportedTypes = 0x0001,


This does not match the definition of the enum for .NET Framework SDK. (I cannot think of a enum with these kind of members in the public .NET Framework or .NET Core surface.)

Correct definition from C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\NETFXSDK\4.8\Include\um\alink.h on my machine:

typedef enum _AssemblyFlags { afNone = 0x00000000, // Normal case afInMemory = 0x00000001, // An InMemory single-file assembly the filename == AssemblyName afCleanModules = 0x00000002, // Use DeleteToken and Merging to remove the AssemblyAttributesGoHere afNoRefHash = 0x00000004, // Do not generate hashes for AssemblyRefs afNoDupTypeCheck = 0x00000008, // Do not check for duplicate types (ExportedType table + manifest file's TypeDef table) afDupeCheckTypeFwds = 0x00000010, // Do dupe checking for type forwarders. This is so you can specify afNoDupTypeCheck for regular typedefs + afDupeCheckTypeFwds. } AssemblyFlags;

jkotas · 2025-07-27T02:39:05Z

docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/enumerations/assemblyrefflags-enumeration.md

+
+|Member|Description|
+|------------|-----------------|
+|`arfFullOriginator`|Specifies that the assembly reference contains full, unhashed information about the publisher of the assembly.|


This file should be deleted. There is no AssemblyRefFlags enumeration like this in any public surface.

docs\core\unmanaged-api\metadata\interfaces\imetadataassemblyemit-setassemblyrefprops-method.md and docs\core\unmanaged-api\metadata\interfaces\imetadataassemblyimport-getassemblyrefprops-method.md should be fixed to point for CorAssemblyFlags enumeration instead.

jkotas · 2025-07-27T02:46:18Z

docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/enumerations/corassemblyflags-enumeration.md

+|`afPA_MSIL`|Indicates that the processor architecture is neutral (PE32).|
+|`afPA_x86`|Indicates that the processor architecture is x86 (PE32).|
+|`afPA_IA64`|Indicates that the processor architecture is Itanium (PE32+).|
+|`afPA_AMD64`|Indicates that the processor architecture is AMD X64 (PE32+).|


jkotas · 2025-07-27T03:01:00Z

docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/enumerations/corgenericparamattr-enumeration.md

+    gpDefaultConstructorConstraint     =   0x0010
+


Suggested change

gpDefaultConstructorConstraint = 0x0010

gpDefaultConstructorConstraint = 0x0010,

gpAllowByRefLike = 0x0020,

jkotas · 2025-07-27T03:06:11Z

docs/core/unmanaged-api/metadata/enumerations/corgenericparamattr-enumeration.md

+|`gpNoSpecialConstraint`|Indicates that no constraint applies to the <xref:System.Type> parameter.|
+|`gpReferenceTypeConstraint`|Indicates that the <xref:System.Type> parameter must be a reference type.|
+|`gpNotNullableValueTypeConstraint`|Indicates that the <xref:System.Type> parameter must be a value type that cannot be a null value.|
+|`gpDefaultConstructorConstraint`|Indicates that the <xref:System.Type> parameter must have a default public constructor that takes no parameters.|


Suggested change

|`gpDefaultConstructorConstraint`|Indicates that the <xref:System.Type> parameter must have a default public constructor that takes no parameters.|

|`gpDefaultConstructorConstraint`|Indicates that the <xref:System.Type> parameter must have a default public constructor that takes no parameters.|

|`gpAllowByRefLike`|Indicates that the <xref:System.Type> parameter can be a [byref-like type](xref:System.Type.IsByRefLike). (available since .NET 7) |

jkotas · 2025-07-27T03:17:40Z

.../core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadataconverter-getmetadatafromtypeinfo-method.md

  - "IMetaDataConverter::GetMetaDataFromTypeInfo method [.NET Framework metadata]"
-ms.assetid: d44484bb-23a3-49c3-9e46-69d0d9ab4f0f
-topic_type: 
+topic_type:
  - "apiref"
 ---
 # IMetaDataConverter::GetMetaDataFromTypeInfo Method


IMetadataConverter does not exist in .NET Core. It should stay in the .NET Framework specific part.

jkotas · 2025-07-27T03:26:32Z

.../core/unmanaged-api/metadata/interfaces/imetadatadispenserex-getcorsystemdirectory-method.md

+---
+# IMetaDataDispenserEx::GetCORSystemDirectory Method
+
+Gets the directory that holds the current common language runtime (CLR). This method is supported only for use by out-of-process debuggers. If called from another component, it will return E_NOTIMPL.


Suggested change

Gets the directory that holds the current common language runtime (CLR). This method is supported only for use by out-of-process debuggers. If called from another component, it will return E_NOTIMPL.

Gets the directory that holds the current common language runtime (CLR). This method is supported only for use by .NET Framework out-of-process debuggers. If called from another component, it will return E_NOTIMPL.

Initial plan

5ea5af8

Copilot AI assigned Copilot and gewarren Jun 26, 2025

Copilot started work on behalf of gewarren June 26, 2025 09:24 View session

Move metadata and hosting APIs from framework to core folder

47b51fc

Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

dotnet-policy-service bot added dotnet-fundamentals/svc dotnet-framework/svc labels Jun 26, 2025

Copilot AI and others added 2 commits June 26, 2025 09:39

Fix cross-references to moved metadata and hosting APIs

cf91c30

Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

Fix linting issues and finalize API move

9e84548

Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot AI changed the title ~~[WIP] Move .NET Core unmanaged APIs to /core folder~~ Move .NET Core unmanaged APIs to /core folder Jun 26, 2025

Copilot AI requested a review from gewarren June 26, 2025 09:44

Copilot finished work on behalf of gewarren June 26, 2025 09:44

Copilot started work on behalf of gewarren June 26, 2025 11:19 View session

Fix invalid link warnings in moved API documentation

4dc6065

Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot finished work on behalf of gewarren June 26, 2025 11:31

Copilot started work on behalf of gewarren June 26, 2025 11:49 View session

Fix invalid link warnings in all 723 moved API documentation files

98c008d

Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot finished work on behalf of gewarren June 26, 2025 11:55

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Copilot started work on behalf of gewarren June 26, 2025 12:11 View session

Fix invalid file links in moved unmanaged API documentation

a635021

Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot finished work on behalf of gewarren June 26, 2025 12:16

human edits

987c709

dotnet-policy-service bot added the dotnet-wcf/subsvc label Jun 26, 2025

more human edits

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add redirects

e596d05

gewarren changed the title ~~Move .NET Core unmanaged APIs to /core folder~~ Move unmanaged APIs for hosting to /core folder Jun 27, 2025

gewarren changed the title ~~Move unmanaged APIs for hosting to /core folder~~ Move unmanaged APIs for Metadata to /core folder Jun 27, 2025

gewarren marked this pull request as ready for review June 27, 2025 18:15

gewarren requested review from adegeo and a team as code owners June 27, 2025 18:15

gewarren added 2 commits June 27, 2025 20:31

final touchups

d3201b5

fix build warnings

98f9cee

gewarren approved these changes Jul 2, 2025

View reviewed changes

gewarren added 14 commits July 22, 2025 16:07

undo non-imetadata moves

22bfa4f

undo move of imetadata* apis

93d7f89

update TOCs, add imetadata interfaces index

005a38b

fix build errors

a4207de

fix more build errors

84ef0bb

move more enums to .net core

886363b

build fixes

e22cf15

more organization

98dde3f

add redirects

373c038

more fixes

6b6c441

more fixes

e6ab459

more fixes

79a1fc3

more fixes

814fe4f

fix typo

5e874b4

reset unrelated files

045111a

gewarren requested a review from a team July 24, 2025 21:27

jkotas approved these changes Jul 27, 2025

View reviewed changes


		This section includes information on unmanaged APIs that can be used by managed-code-related applications, such as runtime hosts, compilers, disassemblers, obfuscators, debuggers, and profilers.

		These articles describe APIs that were introduced in .NET Core 2.0 and later versions, or APIs that can be used with both .NET Framework and .NET.

	These articles describe APIs that were introduced in .NET Core 2.0 and later versions, or APIs that can be used with both .NET Framework and .NET.
	These articles describe APIs that can be used with both .NET Framework and .NET.


		Header: MsCorEE.h

		Library: Included as a resource in MsCorEE.dll

	\|`afPA_AMD64`\|Indicates that the processor architecture is AMD X64 (PE32+).\|
	\|`afPA_AMD64`\|Indicates that the processor architecture is x86-64 (PE32+).\|

-    gpDefaultConstructorConstraint     =   0x0010
+    gpDefaultConstructorConstraint     =   0x0010,
+    gpAllowByRefLike                   =   0x0020,

	\|`gpDefaultConstructorConstraint`\|Indicates that the <xref:System.Type> parameter must have a default public constructor that takes no parameters.\|
	\|`gpDefaultConstructorConstraint`\|Indicates that the <xref:System.Type> parameter must have a default public constructor that takes no parameters.\|
	\|`gpAllowByRefLike`\|Indicates that the <xref:System.Type> parameter can be a [byref-like type](xref:System.Type.IsByRefLike). (available since .NET 7) \|

	Gets the directory that holds the current common language runtime (CLR). This method is supported only for use by out-of-process debuggers. If called from another component, it will return E_NOTIMPL.
	Gets the directory that holds the current common language runtime (CLR). This method is supported only for use by .NET Framework out-of-process debuggers. If called from another component, it will return E_NOTIMPL.

Move unmanaged APIs for Metadata to /core folder #46991

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Move unmanaged APIs for Metadata to /core folder #46991

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