Microsoft .NET Framework is a software component that is a part of several Microsoft Windows operating systems. The .NET Framework is a key Microsoft offering and is intended to be used by most new applications created for the Windows platform.



The principal structure and design of the .NET Framework includes its interoperability, its common runtime engine, language independence, its base class library, its simplified deployment, security, and portability.

Because interaction between new and older applications is commonly required, the .NET Framework provides means to access functionality that is implemented in programs that execute outside the .NET environment.

Access to COM components is provided in the System.Runtime.InteropServices and System.EnterpriseServices namespaces of the framework; access to other functionality is provided using the P/Invoke feature. Learn more about .NET Framework's interoperability with the houston .net consultant.

Programming languages on the .NET Framework compile into an intermediate language known as the Common Intermediate Language (CIL). In Microsoft's implementation this intermediate language is not interpreted but rather compiled in a manner known as just-in-time compilation (JIT) into native code. The combination of these concepts is called the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI). Microsoft's implementation of the CLI is known as the Common Language Runtime (CLR). Learn more about .NET Framework's common runtime engine with the houston .net consultant.

The .NET Framework introduces a Common Type System, or CTS. The CTS specification defines all possible datatypes and programming constructs supported by the CLR and how they may or may not interact with each other. Because of this feature, the .NET Framework supports the exchange of instances of types between programs written in any of the .NET languages. Learn more about .NET Framework's language independence with the houston .net consultant.

The Base Class Library (BCL), part of the Framework Class Library (FCL), is a library of functionality available to all languages using the .NET Framework. The BCL provides classes which encapsulate a number of common functions, including file reading and writing, graphic rendering, database interaction and XML document manipulation. Learn more about this with the houston .net consultant.

Installation of computer software must be carefully managed to ensure that it does not interfere with previously installed software, and that it conforms to increasingly stringent security requirements. The .NET framework includes design features and tools that help address these requirements. Learn more about .NET Framework's simplified deployment with the houston .net consultant.

The design is meant to address some of the vulnerabilities, such as buffer overflows, that have been exploited by malicious software. Additionally, .NET provides a common security model for all applications. Learn more about this with the houston .net consultant.

The design of the .NET Framework allows it to theoretically be platform agnostic, and thus cross-platform compatible. That is, a program written to use the framework should run without change on any type of system for which the framework is implemented.

In addition, Microsoft submits the specifications for the Common Language Infrastructure, the C# language, and the C++/CLI language to both ECMA and the ISO, making them available as open standards. If you want to learn more about the .NET Framework's structure and design, then visit the houston .net consultant for more details.