I have this issue in which I'm currently targeting .NET Framework 4.7.2 in my solution but the Azure Web App Service only supports up to .NET Framework 4.7.1. So, my question is this: As long as I only use 4.7.1 features, should it work without issue on the Azure Web App Service (which only supports up to 4.7.1) even though I'm targeting 4.7.2? Are the .NET Frameworks backwards compatible? So far, I haven't seen any issues. I just want to make sure there will be no future complications. Ideally, I would like to keep targeting 4.7.2 so that I can start using the 4.7.2 features once it becomes available on Azure Web App Service.
The .NET Framework 4.7.2 builds on previous versions of the .NET Framework 4.x by adding many new fixes and several new features while remaining a very stable product.
The .NET Framework 4.7.2 is included with the Windows 10 April 2018 Update
The .NET Framework 4.7.2 can be used to run applications built for the .NET Framework 4.0 through 4.7.1.
Azure App Service now supports 4.7.2
I think that you did a good thing in upgrading and targeting .NET Framework 4.7.2 ; I also have an Azure App Service and upgraded it to 4.7.2 and it is running very well. As said before, it brings updates and fixes, and it is backward compatible on almost all cases.
Note that the recommended is that the target machine have a .Net version Equal or Greater of the of the .NET Framework 4.x than your compiled version.
See:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/whats-new/index#v472
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/install/on-windows-10