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Overview of the .NET Framework 

  • Article

This section provides conceptual overviews of the key features of the .NET Framework, including the common language runtime, the .NET Framework class library, and cross-language interoperability.

In This Section

  • Common Language Runtime
    Explains the features and benefits of the common language runtime, a run-time environment that manages the execution of code and provides services that simplify the development process.
  • Metadata and Self-Describing Components
    Explains how the .NET Framework simplifies component interoperation by allowing compilers to emit additional declarative information, or metadata, into all modules and assemblies.
  • Assemblies in the Common Language Runtime
    Defines the concept of assemblies, which are collections of types and resources that form logical units of functionality. Assemblies are the fundamental units of deployment, version control, reuse, activation scoping, and security permissions.
  • Application Domains
    Explains how to use application domains to provide isolation between applications.
  • .NET Framework Class Library Overview
    Introduces the library of types provided by the .NET Framework, which expedites and optimizes the development process and gives you access to system functionality.
  • Runtime Hosts
    Describes the runtime hosts supported by the .NET Framework, including ASP.NET, Internet Explorer, and shell executables.
  • .NET Framework Class Library Reference
    Provides programming information about the classes, interfaces, and value types that are included in the .NET Framework SDK. This library provides access to system functionality and is designed to be the foundation on which .NET Framework applications, components, and controls are built.