---
description: >-
  Detailed technical documentation on using RudderStack’s .NET SDK to send
  events to various destinations.
---

# .NET

The **RudderStack .NET SDK** lets you track your customer event data from your .NET applications and send it to your specified destinations via RudderStack.

Check the [**GitHub codebase**](https://github.com/rudderlabs/rudder-sdk-.net) to get a more hands-on understanding of the SDK.

[![Github Badge](https://img.shields.io/nuget/v/RudderAnalytics.svg?style=flat)](https://www.nuget.org/packages/RudderAnalytics/)

## SDK setup requirements

To set up the RudderStack .NET SDK, the following prerequisites must be met:

* You will need to set up a [**RudderStack account**](https://app.rudderstack.com).
* Once signed up, set up a .NET source in the dashboard. For more information, follow [**this guide**](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-cloud/sources/#adding-a-source). You should then see a **Write Key** for this source, as shown below:

![.NET source write key](https://876606571-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-Lq5Ea6fHVg3dSxMCgyQ%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-523e71fa1c48db9d8cf2b673c1f4bf6438a29af8%2Fdot-net-1.png?alt=media)

* You will also need a data plane URL. Follow [**this section**](https://rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-open-source/installing-and-setting-up-rudderstack/#what-is-a-data-plane-url-where-do-i-get-it) for more information on the data plane URL and where to get it.

## Installing the .NET SDK

You can use [**NuGet**](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/nuget/consume-packages/install-use-packages-powershell) to install the .NET SDK into your project.

```csharp
Install-Package RudderAnalytics -Version <version>
```

Our library depends on [Newton.JSON](https://www.newtonsoft.com/json) library for JSON processing.

## Initializing the RudderStack client

To initialize the RudderStack client, run the following code snippet:

```csharp
using RudderStack;

RudderAnalytics.Initialize(
    WRITE_KEY,
    new RudderConfig(dataPlaneUrl: DATA_PLANE_URL)
);
```

## Sending events from RudderStack

Once the RudderStack client is initialized, you can then use it to send relevant customer events.

A sample `track` call is as shown:

```csharp
RudderAnalytics.Client.Track(
    "userId",
    "CTA Clicked",
    new Dictionary<string, object> { {"plan", "premium"}, }
);
```

## Identify

The `identify` call lets you associate a user to their actions as well as captures the relevant traits or properties related to that user.

A sample `identify` call is shown below:

```csharp
RudderAnalytics.Client.Identify(
    "userId",
    new Dictionary<string, object> { {"subscription", "inactive"}, }
);
```

The `identify` method parameters are as described below:

| **Field** | **Type** | **Presence**                          | **Description**                                                               |
| --------- | -------- | ------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `userId`  | String   | Required, unless `anonymousId` is set | Unique identifier for a particular user in your database.                     |
| `traits`  | Object   | Optional                              | Dictionary of the traits associated with the user, such as `name`or `email` . |
| `options` | Object   | Optional                              | Object containing `anonymousId`, `integrations`, `timestamp`, and `context`.  |

Refer to [The options parameter](https://rudderstack.com/docs/stream-sources/rudderstack-sdk-integration-guides/rudderstack-dotnet-sdk/#the-options-parameter) section below for more information on the `options` object and its fields.

## Track

The `track` call lets you record the user actions along with their associated properties. Each user action is called an **event**.

A sample `track` call is shown below:

```csharp
RudderAnalytics.Client.Track(
    "userId",
    "CTA Clicked",
    new Dictionary<string, object> {  {"plan", "premium"}, }
);
```

The `track` method parameters are:

| Name         | Type   | Presence                              | Description                                                                  |
| ------------ | ------ | ------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `userId`     | String | Required, unless `anonymousId` is set | The developer identification for your user.                                  |
| `eventName`  | String | Required                              | Name of the event being performed by the user.                               |
| `properties` | Object | Optional                              | Dictionary of the properties associated with a particular event.             |
| `options`    | Object | Optional                              | Object containing `anonymousId`, `integrations`, `timestamp`, and `context`. |

Refer to [The options parameter](https://rudderstack.com/docs/stream-sources/rudderstack-sdk-integration-guides/rudderstack-dotnet-sdk/#the-options-parameter) section below for more information on the `options` object and its fields.

## Page

The `page` call allows you to record the page views on your website along with the other relevant information about the viewed page.

A sample `page` call is as shown:

```csharp
RudderAnalytics.Client.Page(
    "userId",
    "Sign Up",
    new Dictionary<string, object> { {"url", "https://wwww.example.com/sign-up"}, }
);
```

The `page` method parameters are as described below:

| **Field**    | **Type** | **Presence**                          | **Description**                                                                                   |
| ------------ | -------- | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `userId`     | String   | Required, unless `anonymousId` is set | Unique identifier for a particular user in your database.                                         |
| `name`       | String   | Required                              | Name of the page being viewed.                                                                    |
| `category`   | String   | Optional                              | The category of the page.                                                                         |
| `properties` | Object   | Optional                              | Dictionary of the properties associated with the page being viewed, such as `url` and `referrer`. |
| `options`    | Object   | Optional                              | Object containing `anonymousId`, `integrations`, `timestamp`, and `context`.                      |

Refer to [The options parameter](https://rudderstack.com/docs/stream-sources/rudderstack-sdk-integration-guides/rudderstack-dotnet-sdk/#the-options-parameter) section below for more information on the `options` object and its fields.

## Screen

The `screen` call is the mobile equivalent of the `page` call. It allows you to record the screen views on your mobile app along with the other relevant information about the app screen.

A sample `screen` call is as shown:

```csharp
RudderAnalytics.Client.Screen(
    "userId",
    "Dashboard",
    new Dictionary<string, object> { {"name", "Paid Dashboard"}, }
);
```

The `screen` method parameters are as described below:

| **Field**    | **Type** | **Presence**                          | **Description**                                                                                   |
| ------------ | -------- | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `userId`     | String   | Required, unless `anonymousId` is set | Unique identifier for a particular user in your database.                                         |
| `name`       | String   | Required                              | Name of the screen being viewed.                                                                  |
| `category`   | String   | Optional                              | The category of the screen.                                                                       |
| `properties` | Object   | Optional                              | Dictionary of the properties associated with the page being viewed, such as `url` and `referrer`. |
| `options`    | Object   | Optional                              | Object containing `anonymousId`, `integrations`, `timestamp`, and `context`.                      |

Refer to [The options parameter](https://rudderstack.com/docs/stream-sources/rudderstack-sdk-integration-guides/rudderstack-dotnet-sdk/#the-options-parameter) section below for more information on the `options` object and its fields.

## Group

The `group` call lets you associate an identified user to a group - either a company, project, or a team, and record any custom traits or properties associated with that group.

A sample `group` call is as shown:

```csharp
RudderAnalytics.Client.Group(
    "userId",
    "accountId",
    new Dictionary<string, object> { {"role", "Owner"}, }
);
```

The `group` method parameters are as follows:

| **Field** | **Type** | **Presence**                          | **Description**                                                                              |
| --------- | -------- | ------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `userId`  | String   | Required, unless `anonymousId` is set | Unique identifier for a particular user in your database.                                    |
| `groupId` | String   | Required                              | Unique identifier of the group, as present in your database.                                 |
| `traits`  | Object   | Optional                              | Dictionary of the properties or traits associated with the group, such as `email` or `name`. |
| `options` | Object   | Optional                              | Object containing `anonymousId`, `integrations`, `timestamp`, and `context`.                 |

Refer to [The options parameter](https://rudderstack.com/docs/stream-sources/rudderstack-sdk-integration-guides/rudderstack-dotnet-sdk/#the-options-parameter) section below for more information on the `options` object and its fields.

## Alias

The `alias` call allows you to associate one identity with another.

`alias` is an advanced method that lets you change the tracked user's ID explicitly. This method is useful when managing identities for some of the downstream destinations.

For a detailed explanation of the `alias` call, refer to the [RudderStack API Specification](https://rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-api/api-specification/rudderstack-spec/alias/) guide.

A sample `alias` call is as shown:

```csharp
RudderAnalytics.Client.Alias("anonUserId", "userId");
```

The `alias` method parameters are as mentioned below:

| **Field**    | **Type** | **Presence**                          | **Description**                                                              |
| ------------ | -------- | ------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `previousId` | String   | Required                              | The previous unique identifier of the user.                                  |
| `userId`     | String   | Required, unless `anonymousId` is set | Unique identifier for a particular user in your database.                    |
| `options`    | Object   | Optional                              | Object containing `anonymousId`, `integrations`, `timestamp`, and `context`. |

Refer to [The options parameter](https://rudderstack.com/docs/stream-sources/rudderstack-sdk-integration-guides/rudderstack-dotnet-sdk/#the-options-parameter) section below for more information on the `options` object and its fields.

## The `options` parameter

The `options` object contains the following fields:

| **Field**      | **Type** | **Presence** | **Description**                                                                                                            |
| -------------- | -------- | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `anonymousId`  | String   | Optional     | Sets the user ID for cases where there is no unique identifier for the user. Either `userId` or `anonymousId` is required. |
| `integrations` | Object   | Optional     | A dictionary containing the destinations to be either enabled or disabled.                                                 |
| `timestamp`    | Date     | Optional     | The timestamp of the message's arrival.                                                                                    |
| `context`      | Object   | Optional     | Dictionary of information that provides context about a message. However, it is not directly related to the API call.      |

## Flushing events

To make sure no events are left in the queue, you can flush the events explicitly by using the SDK's `flush()` method, as shown:

```csharp
RudderAnalytics.Client.Flush();
```

Calling `flush()` again is blocked until all the messages are flushed from the queue.

## Logging

The RudderStack .NET SDK supports detailed logging. You can enable this feature as shown:

```csharp
using RudderStack;

Logger.Handlers += LoggingHandler;

static void LoggingHandler(Logger.Level level, string message, IDictionary<string, object> args)
{
    if (args != null)
    {
        foreach (string key in args.Keys)
        {
            message += String.Format(" {0}: {1},", "" + key, "" + args[key]);
        }
    }
    Console.WriteLine(String.Format("[RudderAnalytics] [{0}] {1}", level, message));
}
```

The logger must be on a minimum version of .NET Core 2.1.

## Contact us

For queries on any of the sections covered in this guide, you can [**contact us**](mailto:%20docs@rudderstack.com) or start a conversation in our [**Slack**](https://rudderstack.com/join-rudderstack-slack-community) community.

If you come across any issues while using the .NET SDK, you can open a new issue on our [**GitHub Issues page**](https://github.com/rudderlabs/rudder-sdk-.net/issues/new).
