DotNet is a framework to developed many types of software applications. This is designed and developed by Microsoft and the first beta version released in 2000.
This is used to develop applications for the web, Windows, phone. Additionally, that provides a broad range of functionalities and support. The DotNet framework can be used to create both - Form-based and Web-based applications.
DotNet framework contains a huge number of class libraries known as Framework Class Library (FCL) and BCL(Base Class Library). A software program written in .NET is executed in the execution environment, which is called CLR (Common Language Runtime). Those are the core and essential parts of the .NET framework.
The DotNet(.Net) Framework supports more than 60 programming languages such as C#, F#, VB.NET, J#, VC++, JScript.NET, APL, COBOL, Perl, Oberon, ML, Pascal, Eiffel, Smalltalk, Python, Cobra, ADA, etc.
The .NET Framework is composed of four main components:
- Common Language Runtime (CLR)
- Framework Class Library (FCL),
- Core Languages (WinForms, ASP.NET, and ADO.NET), and
- Other Modules (WCF, WPF, WF, Card Space, LINQ, Entity Framework, Parallel LINQ, Task Parallel Library, etc.)
