Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) Certification Practice Test

What attribute do you use to specify assembly probing locations?

1. BasePath

2. Probing

3. AssemblyBinding

4. PrivatePath

The correct answer is: Probing

The correct choice is the Probing attribute. This attribute is used within the configuration file of an application to define assembly probing locations, which specifies where the application should look for assemblies. By utilizing the Probing attribute, developers can indicate additional directories or paths that contain the assembly files, aside from the default locations. Probing is crucial in scenarios where an application might rely on different versions of an assembly or needs to locate assemblies that are not in the standard directories. It allows for flexibility in managing where assemblies are resolved at runtime, thereby making it easier to handle dependency resolution and versioning. The other choices, while related to assembly resolution and configuration, serve different purposes. The BasePath attribute is typically used to set a base directory for assembly resolution but does not directly specify probing locations. AssemblyBinding refers to the configuration section that deals with binding assemblies, but it encompasses more than just probing locations. The PrivatePath attribute specifies a directory for private assemblies but does not have the broader scope of indicating multiple probing locations like Probing does. Understanding how the Probing attribute works helps ensure that applications can locate the necessary assemblies effectively, which is especially important in complex environments with many dependencies.