Gagan Jagdev

The .NET Framework consists of different components that help to build and run .NET-based applications:

• Platform Substrate
  The .NET Framework must run on an operating system. Currently, the .NET Framework is built to run on the Microsoft Win32® operating systems, such as Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows 98. In the future, the .NET Framework will be extended to run on other platforms, such as Windows CE.
  
• Application Services
  When running on Windows 2000, application services, such as Component Services, Message Queuing, Internet Information Services (IIS), and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), are available to the developer. The .NET Framework exposes application services through classes in the .NET Framework class library.
  
• .NET Framework Class Library
  The .NET Framework class library exposes features of the runtime and simplifies the development of .NET-based applications. In addition, developers can extend classes by creating their own libraries of classes.
  The .NET Framework class library implements the .NET Framework. All applications (Web, Windows, and XML Web services) access the same .NET Framework class libraries, which are held in namespaces. All .NET‑based languages also access the same libraries.
  
• Common Language Runtime
  The common language runtime simplifies application development, provides a robust and secure execution environment, supports multiple languages, and simplifies application deployment and management.
  The common language runtime environment is also referred to as a managed environment, in which common services, such as garbage collection and security, are automatically provided.
  
• Microsoft ADO.NET
  ADO.NET is the next generation of Microsoft ActiveX® Data Objects (ADO) technology. ADO.NET provides improved support for the disconnected programming model. ADO.NET also provides extensive XML support.
  
• ASP.NET
  ASP.NET is a programming framework that is built on the common language runtime. ASP.NET can be used on a server to build powerful Web applications. ASP.NET Web Forms provide an easy and powerful way to build dynamic Web user interfaces (UIs).
  n XML Web Services
  XML Web services are programmable Web components that can be shared among applications on the Internet or the intranet. The .NET Framework provides tools and classes for building, testing, and distributing XML Web services.
  
• User Interfaces
  The .NET Framework supports three types of UIs:
  · Web Forms, which work through ASP.NET and the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
  · Windows Forms, which run on Win32 client computers
  · The Command Console
  
• Languages
  Any language that conforms to the Common Language Specification (CLS) can run with the common language runtime. In the .NET Framework, Microsoft provides support for Microsoft Visual Basic® .NET, Microsoft Visual C++® .NET, C#, and Microsoft JScript® .NET. Third parties can provide additional languages.