The .NET Framework (pronounced dot net) is a software framework for MicrosoftWindows operating systems. It includes a large library, and it supports severalprogramming languages which allows language interoperability (each language can use code written in other languages). The .NET library is available to all the programming languages that .NET supports.
The framework's Base Class Library provides user interface, data access, database connectivity, cryptography, web application development, numeric algorithms, andnetwork communications. The class library is used by programmers, who combine it with their own code to produce applications.
Programs written for the .NET Framework execute in a software (as contrasted tohardware) environment, known as the Common Language Runtime (CLR). The CLR is an application virtual machine so that programmers need not consider the capabilities of the specific CPU that will execute the program. The CLR also provides other important services such as security, memory management, and exception handling. The class library and the CLR together constitute the .NET Framework.
