.NET Framework

What is .NET?

Basically, .NET is a software development framework created by Microsoft.

So .NET framework is the foundation to build, deploy, and run applications that use .NET technologies, for desktop, mobile, or web applications. We can use multiple programming languages in .NET. Because when it comes to programming, Microsoft has designed and developed some major programming languages. Some of them are still the top most used languages in the world to develop software.

Here are some of the major programming languages that were designed and developed by Microsoft:

• C# - An object-oriented language designed for the .NET framework. It has similarities to Java but includes features like properties, events, delegates etc. C# is used for web, desktop, mobile and game development.

• Visual Basic - It is used primarily for desktop apps.
• F#
• JScript
• Microsoft Visual C++ 
• J#

    Etc. Etc. 

Unlike Java virtual machine, NET framework was only able to run on Windows platforms. But Microsoft took the initiative and this was also changed when they introduced .NET Core in 2016 which is cross-platform and supports Windows, Linux and macOS.   

In summary, .NET provides a robust and consistent development framework for building Windows, web and mobile applications using various programming languages. It handles a lot of low-level details for the developer.

Some key features of .NET include:

• Common Language Runtime (CLR) - We also call this the heart of the .NET program. This provides services like memory management, garbage collection, exception handling, etc. This allows developers to focus on application logic rather than low-level details.
• Base Class Library (BCL) - A large library of pre-built classes and types that handle common programming tasks. This eliminates the need to rewrite the same functionality.
• Language Interoperability - Multiple languages can use the same .NET libraries and runtime. This allows developers to use their preferred language.
• Cross-Platform Support - With .NET Core, applications can run on Windows, Linux and MacOS. The full .NET Framework runs only on Windows.
• Integrated Development Environments - Microsoft's Visual Studio provides an IDE tailored for .NET development.
• Open Source - .NET Core and many libraries are open source allowing community collaboration.

.NET Class Libraries

The .NET class libraries, also known as the Framework Class Library (FCL), provide a large set of reusable classes, interfaces and types that developers can utilize when building .NET applications.

The class libraries handle a lot of low-level functionality and common requirements so developers can focus on application-specific logic. They provide a consistent, unified object-oriented programming model across .NET languages. The FCL is one of the key items .NET Framework.