What is. NET Framework?
A programming infrastructure created by Microsoft for building, deploying, and running applications and services that use .NETtechnologies, such as desktop applications and Web services.
The .NET Framework contains three major parts:
What is the main components of.NET Framework?
(1) Common Language Runtime or CLR
It performs memory management, exception handling, debugging, security checking, thread execution, code execution, code safety, verification, and compilation. The code that is directly managed by the CLR is called the managed code. When the managed code is compiled, the compiler converts the source code into a CPU independent intermediate language (IL) code. A Just In Time(JIT) compiler compiles the IL code into native code, which is CPU specific.
(2) .Net Framework Class Library
It contains a huge library of reusable types. classes, interfaces, structures, and enumerated values, which are collectively called types.
(3) Common Language Specification
It contains the specifications for the .Net supported languages and implementation of language integration.
(4) Common Type System
It provides guidelines for declaring, using, and managing types at runtime, and cross-language communication.
(5) Metadata and Assemblies
Metadata is the binary information describing the program, which is either stored in a portable executable file (PE) or in the memory. Assembly is a logical unit consisting of the assembly manifest, type metadata, IL code, and a set of resources like image files.
(6) Windows Forms
Windows Forms contain the graphical representation of any window displayed in the application.
(7) The Official Microsoft ASP.NET Site and The Official Microsoft ASP.NET Site AJAX
The Official Microsoft ASP.NET Site is the web development model and AJAX is an extension of The Official Microsoft ASP.NET Site for developing and implementing AJAX functionality. The Official Microsoft ASP.NET Site AJAX contains the components that allow the developer to update data on a website without a complete reload of the page.
(8) Web Page is Unavailable
It is the technology used for working with data and databases. It provides access to data sources like SQL server, OLE DB, XML etc. The Web Page is Unavailable allows connection to data sources for retrieving, manipulating, and updating data.
(9) Windows Workflow Foundation (WF)
It helps in building workflow-based applications in Windows. It contains activities, workflow runtime, workflow designer, and a rules engine.
(10)Windows Presentation Foundation
It provides a separation between the user interface and the business logic. It helps in developing visually stunning interfaces using documents, media, two and three dimensional graphics, animations, and more.
(11) Windows Communication Foundation (WCF)
It is the technology used for building and executing connected systems.
(12) Windows CardSpace
It provides safety for accessing resources and sharing personal information on the internet.
(13) LINQ
It imparts data querying capabilities to .Net languages using a syntax which is similar to the tradition query language SQL.
What are the components of the .Net Framework?
- .Net framework provides tools and technologies to develop windows and web applications.The .Net framework mainly contains two components:
1. Common Language Runtime(CLR)
2. .Net Framework Class Library (FCL)
- It provides the necessary compile and run time foundation to build and run any language.
1. Common Language Runtime(CLR):
- It provides runtime environment.
- It runs all the .Net programs.
- CLR provides memory management and thread management.
- It allocates the memory for scope and deallocates the memory.
2. .Net Framework Class Library(FCL):
- It accesses the library classes and methods.
- It is also called as Base Class Library.
- It is common for all types of application.
Following are the applications in .Net Class Library:
a. XML web services
b. Windows services
c. Windows application
d. Web applications
e. Console application
3. Common Type System(CTS):
- CTS describes the set of datatypes which is used in different .Net languages.
- It ensures that objects are written in different .Net languages.
It supports two categories of types:
a. Value type:
- It is allocated on the stack or inline in a structure.
- It can be built-in types, user-defined or enumerations.
b. Reference type:
- It stores a reference to the value's memory address and allocated on the heap.
- It can be self-describing types, pointer types or interface types.
4. Common Language Specification(CLS):
- CLS specifies a set of rules.
- It is a subset of CTS.
- CLS helps in cross language inheritance and debugging.
- CLS ensures that the products of compilers will work properly in .NET environment.