.NET Framework

The .NET Framework (pronounced as "dot net") is a proprietary <a href="/facts/Software_framework/EWasA8sG">software framework</a> developed by <a href="/facts/Microsoft/nGIDDXdx">Microsoft</a> that runs primarily on <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a>. It was the predominant implementation of the <a href="/facts/Common_Language_Infrastructure/mu44u01J">Common Language Infrastructure</a> (CLI) until being superseded by the cross-platform <a href="/facts/.NET/PDMQdfFu">.NET</a> project. It includes a large <a href="/facts/Class_library/xRzL3P7q">class library</a> called <a href="/facts/Framework_Class_Library/DtSqC9YS">Framework Class Library</a> (FCL) and provides <a href="/facts/Language_interoperability/Yx6qsv42">language interoperability</a> (each language can use code written in other languages) across several <a href="/facts/Programming_language/cWTYbgWa">programming languages</a>. Programs written for .NET Framework execute in a <a href="/facts/Software/RP79lVSW">software</a> environment (in contrast to a <a href="/facts/Computer_hardware/8jSjsCNv">hardware</a> environment) named the <a href="/facts/Common_Language_Runtime/4Y0cUdkd">Common Language Runtime</a> (CLR). The CLR is an <a href="/facts/Process_virtual_machine/BLevU3sx">application virtual machine</a> that provides services such as security, <a href="/facts/Memory_management/vthLkUpz">memory management</a>, and <a href="/facts/Exception_handling/VrJxgb9r">exception handling</a>. As such, computer code written using .NET Framework is called "<a href="/facts/Managed_code/3jJfe94N">managed code</a>". FCL and CLR together constitute the .NET Framework.
FCL provides the <a href="/facts/User_interface/e9sPEWVD">user interface</a>, <a href="/facts/Data_access/j7m1xs1U">data access</a>, <a href="/facts/Database_connection/k4Co1rVw">database connectivity</a>, <a href="/facts/Cryptography/e94PEVau">cryptography</a>, <a href="/facts/Web_application/BLkF3BIN">web application</a> development, numeric <a href="/facts/Algorithm/fnl5NmRt">algorithms</a>, and <a href="/facts/Computer_networking/3w5RM99p">network communications</a>. Programmers produce software by combining their <a href="/facts/Source_code/o9J6Jv23">source code</a> with the .NET Framework and other libraries. The framework is intended to be used by most new applications created for the Windows platform. Microsoft also produces an <a href="/facts/Integrated_development_environment/jbEINSQf">integrated development environment</a> for .NET software called <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Visual_Studio/omNe6Lej">Visual Studio</a>.
.NET Framework began as <a href="/facts/Proprietary_software/9zcskxYL">proprietary software</a>, although the firm worked to <a href="/facts/Software_standard/HEBXexzw">standardize</a> the software stack almost immediately, even before its first release. Despite the standardization efforts, developers, mainly those in the <a href="/facts/Free_and_open-source_software/1cHtjLCB">free and open-source software</a> communities, expressed their unease with the selected terms and the prospects of any free and open-source implementation, especially regarding <a href="/facts/Software_patent/wI6RrYh3">software patents</a>. Since then, Microsoft has changed .NET development to more closely follow a contemporary model of a community-developed software project, including issuing an update to its patent promising to address the concerns.
In April 2019, Microsoft released .NET Framework 4.8, the last major version of the framework as a proprietary offering, followed by .NET Framework 4.8.1 in August 2022. Only monthly security and reliability <a href="/facts/Software_bug/I1uSXySv">bug</a> fixes to that version have been released since then. No further changes to that version are planned. The .NET Framework will continue to be included with future releases of Windows and continue to receive security updates, with no plans to remove it as of September 2024.

.NET Framework open-in-new

.NET Framework