Download.NET Framework 3.5 SPDownloadNET Framework 4.5 The .NET Framework has two main components: the common language runtime and the .NET Framework class library. The common language runtime is the foundation of the .NET Framework. You can think of the runtime as an agent that manages code at execution time, providing core services such as memory management, thread management, and remoting, while also enforcing strict type safety and other forms of code accuracy that promote security and robustness. In fact, the concept of code management is a fundamental principle of the runtime. Code that targets the runtime is known as managed code, while code that does not target the runtime is known as unmanaged code. The class library, the other main component of the .NET Framework, is a comprehensive, object-oriented
collection of reusable types that you can use to develop applications ranging from traditional command-line or graphical user interface (GUI) applications to applications based on the latest innovations provided by ASP.NET, such as Web Forms and XML Web services.
The .NET Framework can be hosted by unmanaged components that load the
common language runtime into their processes and initiate the execution
of managed code, thereby creating a software environment that can
exploit both managed and unmanaged features. The .NET Framework not
only provides several runtime hosts, but also supports the development
of third-party runtime hosts.
For example, ASP.NET hosts the runtime to provide a scalable,
server-side environment for managed code. ASP.NET works directly with
the runtime to enable ASP.NET applications and XML Web services, both
of which are discussed later in this topic.
Internet Explorer is an example of an unmanaged application that hosts
the runtime (in the form of a MIME type extension). Using Internet
Explorer to host the runtime enables you to embed managed components or
Windows Forms controls in HTML documents. Hosting the runtime in this
way makes managed mobile code possible, but with significant
improvements that only managed code can offer, such as semi-trusted
execution and isolated file storage.
The following illustration shows the relationship of the common
language runtime and the class library to your applications and to the
overall system. The illustration also shows how managed code operates
within a larger architecture.
*Offline installer
*Offline installer