What is Microsoft.Net Framework?

The Microsoft.Net Framework is the window developer platform that connects the information, people, system and devices.

The .NET Framework is a development and execution environment that allows different programming languages and libraries to work together seamlessly to create Windows-based applications that are easier to build, manage, deploy, and integrate with other networked systems.

Built on Web service standards, .NET enables both new and existing personal and business applications to connect with software and services across platforms, applications, and programming languages. These connections give users access to key information, whenever and wherever you need it.

Microsoft .NET - connected software makes the “real-time” enterprise real by enabling information to flow freely throughout the organization, accessible to business partners, and delivering value to customers. With .NET-connected software, users can increase the value of existing systems and seamlessly extend those systems to partners, suppliers, and customers.

Connected

.NET Framework empowers developers to build applications that require robust messaging systems or flexible workflows.

Compelling

With the .NET Framework, developers and designers can collaborate to create rich user experiences.

Ubiquitous and Productive

The .NET Framework, including improvements like LINQ, provides a single platform to quickly build mobile desktop and server-based applications.

Easier installation of commercial applications

Many commercial applications from Microsoft and from third-party companies rely on the .NET Framework to support their core functionality. If you have the .NET Framework installed, commercial applications are easier to install.

Easier updates

After the .NET Framework is installed, it is updated automatically by the Microsoft Update service. If you receive Automatic Updates through Control Panel, any versions of the .NET Framework that are installed on the computer will always be up to date with the latest service packs.

Comprehensive interoperability with existing code

This is (of course) a good thing. Existing COM binaries can commingle (i.e., interop) with newer .NET binaries and vice versa. Also, Platform Invocation Services (PInvoke) allows you to call C-based libraries (including the underlying API of the operating system) from .NET code.

Complete and total language integration

.NET supports cross-language inheritance, cross-language exception handling, and cross-language debugging of code.

One aspect of this engine is a well-defined set of types that each .NET-aware language “understands.”

A comprehensive base class library

This library provides shelter from the complexities of raw API calls and offers a consistent object model used by all .NET-aware languages.

No more COM plumbing

IClassFactory, IUnknown, IDispatch, IDL code, and the evil aria compliant data types (BSTR, SAFEARRAY, and so forth) have no place in a .Net binary.

A truly simplified deployment model

Under .NET, there is no need to register a binary unit into the system registry. Furthermore, .NET allows multiple versions of the same *.dll to exist in harmony on a single machine.