The Microsoft .NET Framework is a software technology that is available with several Microsoft Windows operating systems. It includes a large library of pre-coded solutions to common programming problems, a runtime or virtual machine that manages the execution of programs written specifically for the framework, and a set of tools for configuring and building applications.

There are several principal design features that can be found within the Microsoft .NET Framework, and that is Interoperability, the Common Runtime Engine, its Language Independence, its Base Class Library, Simplified Deployment, Security, and Portability.

Interoperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together or inter-operate. 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

In its common runtime engine, Programming languages on the .NET Framework compile into an intermediate language known as the Common Intermediate Language or the 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. Learn more about its common runtime engine with the austin .net developer.

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 its language independence, the .NET Framework supports the exchange of instances of types between programs written in any of the .NET languages. Learn more about its language independence with the austin .net developer.

The Base Class Library or BCL, part of the Framework Class Library or 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 its base class library with the austin .net developer.

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 its simplified deployment with the austin .net developer.

The design of its security 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 its security with the austin .net developer.

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. Learn more about its portability with the austin .net developer.