.NET Framework 

Welcome to the Microsoft® .NET Framework version 2.0. The .NET Framework is an integral Windows component that supports building and running the next generation of applications and Web services. The key components of the .NET Framework are the common language runtime and the .NET Framework class library, which includes ADO.NET, ASP.NET, and Windows Forms. The .NET Framework provides a managed execution environment, simplified development and deployment, and integration with a wide variety of programming languages. For a brief introduction to the architecture of the .NET Framework, see .NET Framework Conceptual Overview.

The documentation for the .NET Framework includes an extensive class library reference, conceptual overviews, step-by-step procedures, and information about samples, compilers, and command-line tools. To locate the information that interests you most, see the following list of main topic areas.

In This Section

• Quick Technology Finder
  Provides a table of links to the main technology areas of the .NET Framework.

• What's New in the .NET Framework
  Describes key features that have been added or modified in the latest versions of the .NET Framework.

• Overview of the .NET Framework
  Describes key .NET Framework concepts such as the common language runtime, the common type system (CTS), cross-language interoperability, managed execution, assemblies, and security.

• .NET Framework Class Library Reference
  Supplies syntax, code examples, and related information for each class contained in the .NET Framework namespaces.

• Guidelines and Best Practices
  Provides a list of links, categorized by technology, to Guidelines and Best Practices topics.

• How-to and Walkthrough Directory
  Provides a list of links, categorized by technology, to How-to and Walkthrough topics.

• Samples and QuickStarts
  Provides information about samples and QuickStarts.

• Security in the .NET Framework
  Provides information about the classes and services in the .NET Framework that facilitate secure application development.

• Core Development Technologies
  Explains common programming tasks that apply to a range of .NET Framework applications. Includes topics such as accessing data, file and stream I/O, configuration, encoding, deployment and debugging.

• Advanced Development Technologies
  Provides information about sophisticated development tasks and techniques in the .NET Framework.

• ASP.NET Web Applications in the .NET Framework
  Provides instructive overviews and detailed, step-by-step procedures for creating ASP.NET applications, Web Forms, and Web Services.

• Windows-based Applications
  Provides information about working with Windows Forms and console applications.

• .NET Compact Framework
  Introduces the .NET Framework-based, hardware-independent environment for running applications on resource-constrained computing devices.

• .NET Framework General Reference
  Provides reference information related to the .NET Framework. Includes sections on languages and compilers, tools, technical references, and a glossary of terms.

• Product Information
  Contains information about document conventions, system requirements, Product Support Services, and other auxiliary information.