Introduction to .NET Framework




The .NET platform software development framework that was introduced by Microsoft in the late 1990s, when NGWS. On February 13, 2002, Microsoft launched the first version of the .NET Framework, called the .NET Framework 1.0.

In this section, we are to understand by the .NET Framework, its features, and components of versions.

What is the .NET Framework

It is a virtual machine that provides a common platform to run an application that has been created using different language like C #, VB.NET, Visual Basic, etc. It is also used to create a console, mobile, mobile and web-based applications or services available in the Microsoft environment. In addition, the .NET framework is a pure object oriented, similar to the Java language. But it's not an independent platform like Java. Hence, its application runs only on the Windows platform.
The main goal of this framework is to develop an application that can be run on the Windows platform. The current version of the .Net framework is 4.8.

Note - The .NET Framework is not only a language, but it is also a Software and a Language neutral platform..

Components of .Net Framework

There are some components of .Net Framework given below :
  1. FCL (Framework Class Library)
  2. CTS (Common Type System)
  3. CLR (Common Language Runtime)
  4. BCL (Base Class Library)
  5. CLS (Common Language Specification)
  6. .Net Assemblies
  7. Windows Services
  8. XML Web Services
FCL (Framework Class Library)

Provides various system functionality in the .NET Framework, which includes classes, interfaces and data types, etc. To create multiple functions and different types of applications such as desktop, web, mobile applications, etc. In other words, it can be defined as, provides a foundation upon which various applications, controls and components are built in the .NET Framework.

Key Components of FLC :
  1. Object type
  2. Implementation of data structure
  3. Base data types
  4. Garbage collection
  5. Security and database connectivity
  6. Creating common platform for window and web-based application
CTS (Common Type System)

Specifies a standard that represents what data type and value can be defined and managed in the computer's memory at run time. A CTS ensures that programming data defined in various languages ​​must interact with each other to share information. For example, in C # we define the data type as int, while in VB.NET we define the integer as a data type.

CLR (Common Language Runtime)

It is an important part of a .NET framework that functions as a virtual component of the .NET Framework to run programs of different languages ​​such as C #, Visual Basic, etc. A CLR also helps convert a source code into byte code and this byte code is known as Common Intermediate Language (CIL) or Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL). After converting to a byte code, a CLR uses a JIT compiler at run time that allows you to convert a CIL or MSIL code to the machine or native code.

BCL (Base Class Library)

The base class library has a rich collection of library features and functions that help implement many programming languages ​​in the .NET Framework, such as C #, F #, Visual C ++ and more. In addition, BCL is divided into two parts:
  1. User-defined class library
  • Assemblies - Is the collection of small parts of the distribution of a part of the application. Contains the Dynamic Link Library (DLL) or exe (executable) file.
    1. In LL, it uses code reusability, while in exe it only contains output / application files.
    2. The DLL file cannot be opened while the .exe file can be opened.
    3. The DLL file cannot be executed individually, while in exe it can be executed individually.
    4. In the DLL file there is no main method, while the exe file has the main method.
       2. Default class library
  • Namespace: is the collection of predefined classes and methods present in .Net. In other languages ​​like C we used header files, in java we used the package in a similar way we used "using system" in .NET, where using is a keyword and system is a namespace.

CLS (common language specification)

It is a subset of the Common Type System (CTS) which defines a set of rules and regulations that should be followed by each language that falls within the .net framework. In other words, a CLS language should be integration or interoperability between languages. For example, in C # and VB.NET language, the C # language ends each statement with a semicolon, while in VB.NET it does not end with a semicolon and when these instructions are executed in the .NET Framework, it provides a common platform to interact and share information with each other.

Microsoft .NET assemblies

A .NET assembly is the main building block of the .NET Framework. It is a small unit of code that contains a logical compiled code in the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI), which is used for distribution, security and version control. It defines two parts (process) DLLs and assembly libraries (exe). When the .NET program is compiled, it generates a metadata with Microsoft Intermediate Language, which is stored in a file called Assembly.

Versions of .NET Framework :

This are some Versions
  1. On 13 February 2002, Microsoft launched first version of .Net framework 1.0.
  2. The second version 2.0 of .net framework was launched on 22 January 2006.
  3. Third version 3.0 of .Net framework was released on 21 November 2006.
  4. A .Net framework version 3.5 was released on 19 November 2007.
  5. Version 4.0 of .Net framework was released on 29 September 2008
  6. Version 4.5 of .Net framework was released on 15 August 2012.
  7. .Net framework 4.5.1 version was announced on 17 October 2013
  8. On 5 May 2014, a 4.5.2 version of .Net framework was released.
  9. .Net framework 4.6 version was announced on 12 November 2014
  10. .Net framework 4.6.1 version was released on 30 October 2015
  11. .Net framework 4.6.2 version was announced on March 30, 2016
  12. .Net framework 4.7 version was announced on April 5, 2017
  13. .Net framework 4.7.1 version was announced on October 17, 2017
  14. Version 4.7.2 of .Net framework was released on 30 April 2018.
  15. And currently we are using .Net framework version 4.8 that was released on 18 April 2019