.NET Framework

• Type: Framework
• Purpose: .NET is a software development framework developed by Microsoft.
• Components:
  • .NET Runtime: The execution environment for .NET applications, providing services like memory management, type safety, and exception handling.
  • .NET Libraries: A collection of reusable classes, interfaces, and value types that provide a wide range of functionalities, such as file I/O, data access, cryptography, and more.
  • ASP.NET: A framework for building web applications and services.
  • Entity Framework: An object-relational mapper (ORM) for database access
  • Xamarin: A framework for building mobile applications

Versions:

• .NET Framework: The original implementation of .NET, primarily for Windows.
• .NET Core: A cross-platform, open-source implementation of .NET.
• .NET 5 and later: A unified platform that combines the best of .NET Framework and .NET Core, supporting cross-platform development.