.NET Framework Class Library

The .NET Framework class library is a library of classes, interfaces, and value types that provides access to system functionality and is designed to be the foundation on which .NET Framework applications, components, and controls are built.

Namespaces

The .NET Framework class library provides the following namespaces, which are documented in detail in this reference.

  • Accessibility
    Contains types that are part of a managed wrapper for the Component Object Model (COM) accessibility interface.

  • Microsoft.Aspnet.Snapin
    Contains classes that are necessary for the ASP.NET management console application to interact with the Microsoft Management Console (MMC).

  • Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine
    Contains the classes that represent the MSBuild engine.

  • Microsoft.Build.Construction
    Contains types that the MSBuild object model uses to construct project roots with unevaluated values.

  • Microsoft.Build.Conversion
    Contains types that Visual Studio uses to convert project files.

  • Microsoft.Build.Debugging
    Contains types for managing the debugger.

  • Microsoft.Build.Evaluation
    Contains types that the MSBuild object model uses to evaluate projects.

  • Microsoft.Build.Exceptions
    Contains exception types used by the MSBuild engine.

  • Microsoft.Build.Execution
    Contains types that the MSBuild object model uses to build projects.

  • Microsoft.Build.Framework
    Contains classes that make up the tasks, loggers, and events of MSBuild.

  • Microsoft.Build.Framework.XamlTypes
    Contains classes used to represent XAML types parsed from files, rules, and other sources.

  • Microsoft.Build.Logging
    Contains types used for logging the progress of a build.

  • Microsoft.Build.Tasks
    Contains the implementation of all tasks shipping with MSBuild.

  • Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Deployment.Bootstrapper
    Contains classes used internally by MSBuild.

  • Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Deployment.ManifestUtilities
    Contains classes used internally by MSBuild.

  • Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Hosting
    Contains classes used internally by MSBuild.

  • Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Windows
    Contains classes used internally by MSBuild.

  • Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Xaml
    Contains types that process XAML.

  • Microsoft.Build.Utilities
    Provides helper classes that you can use to create your own MSBuild loggers and tasks.

  • Microsoft.CSharp
    Contains classes that support compilation and code generation using the C# language.

  • Microsoft.CSharp.RuntimeBinder
    Contains types that support interoperation between the dynamic language runtime (DLR) and C#.

  • Microsoft.Data.Entity.Build.Tasks
    Contains types that represent MSBuild tasks used by the ADO.NET Entity Data Model Designer.

  • Microsoft.JScript
    Contains classes that support compilation and code generation using the JScript language.

  • Microsoft.SqlServer.Server
    Contains classes that are specific to the integration of the.NET Framework common language runtime (CLR) component into Microsoft SQL Server, and the SQL Server database engine process execution environment.

  • Microsoft.VisualBasic
    Contains classes that support compilation and code generation using the Visual Basic language.

  • Microsoft.VisualBasic.Activities
    Contains classes that provide Visual Basic expressions that can be bound to In and Out arguments, and Visual Basic expression settings.

  • Microsoft.VisualBasic.Activities.XamlIntegration
    Provides a type converter and XAML serializer for Microsoft.VisualBasic.Activities.VisualBasicSettings.

  • Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices
    Contains types that support the Visual Basic Application Model and provide access to application information.

  • Microsoft.VisualBasic.Compatibility.VB6
    Contains types used by tools for upgrading from Visual Basic 6.0 to Visual Basic .NET.

  • Microsoft.VisualBasic.CompilerServices
    Contains internal-use only types that support the Visual Basic compiler.

  • Microsoft.VisualBasic.Devices
    Contains types that support the My objects related to devices in Visual Basic.

  • Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO
    Contains types that support the My file system object in Visual Basic.

  • Microsoft.VisualBasic.Logging
    Contains types that support the My logging objects in Visual Basic and provides a simple log listener that directs logging output to file.

  • Microsoft.VisualBasic.MyServices
    Contains types that support My in Visual Basic.

  • Microsoft.VisualBasic.MyServices.Internal
    Contains internal-use only types that support My in Visual Basic.

  • Microsoft.VisualC
    Contains types that support the Visual C++ compiler.  

  • Microsoft.VisualC.StlClr
    Contains types that implement the STL/CLR Library.

  • Microsoft.VisualC.StlClr.Generic
    Contains types that implement the generic interface to the STL/CLR Library.

  • Microsoft.Win32
    Provides two types of classes: those that handle events raised by the operating system and those that manipulate the system registry.

  • Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles
    Contains classes that are abstract derivations of safe handle classes that provide common functionality supporting file and operating system handles.

  • Microsoft.Windows.Themes
    Provides exposure to the set of themes defined by Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).

  • System
    Contains fundamental classes and base classes that define commonly used value and reference data types, events and event handlers, interfaces, attributes, and processing exceptions. Other classes provide services supporting data type conversion, method parameter manipulation, mathematics, remote and local program invocation, application environment management, and supervision of managed and unmanaged applications.

  • System.Activities
    Contains all the classes necessary to create and work with activities. The classes in this namespace enable you to define activities, the data flow into and out of activities, and variables.

  • System.Activities.Core.Presentation
    Contains helper classes used in the default and extensibility scenarios for Windows Workflow Foundation.

  • System.Activities.Core.Presentation.Factories
    Provides factories for creating activities that interact with collections and enable control flow in Windows Workflow Foundation.

  • System.Activities.Core.Presentation.Themes
    Contains a class that is a collection of style configuration values used by the activity designers.

  • System.Activities.Debugger
    Contains classes that provide support for debugging workflows.

  • System.Activities.DurableInstancing
    Contains the SqlWorkflowInstanceStore class, which provides durability to workflow instances, and its helper classes.

  • System.Activities.ExpressionParser
    Contains classes that support the compilation of expressions.

  • System.Activities.Expressions
    Contains classes and expression activities that support the use of expressions in a workflow.

  • System.Activities.Hosting
    Contains classes that provide the base support for hosting and executing a workflow.

  • System.Activities.Persistence
    Contains classes for capturing an object’s state independent of process or machine information.

  • System.Activities.Presentation
    Contains base activity designer classes used to create custom activity designers.

  • System.Activities.Presentation.Converters
    Provides converts for arguments, UI property data, and items in the editing model of the Windows Workflow Foundation.

  • System.Activities.Presentation.Debug
    Contains classes that provide breakpoint management for a debugging process.

  • System.Activities.Presentation.Hosting
    Contains classes that enable the host to interact with assemblies, commands, and imported namespaces.

  • System.Activities.Presentation.Metadata
    Contains classes that enable you to work with custom attributes of elements.

  • System.Activities.Presentation.Model
    Contains classes that enable you to work with items in the model tree of the designer, such as accessing the model items properties and attached properties. Also provides functionality to manage the model tree.

  • System.Activities.Presentation.PropertyEditing
    Contains classes that enable updating properties by providing property editors, category editors, and access to properties, property values, and filters.

  • System.Activities.Presentation.Services
    Provides classes that enable interacting with the model tree to perform tasks such as creating and locating model items, and mapping view items with model items.

  • System.Activities.Presentation.Toolbox
    Provides support for classifying and using tools when rehosting outside of Visual Studio 2010.

  • System.Activities.Presentation.Validation
    Contains classes that provide activity validation functionality for activities.

  • System.Activities.Presentation.View
    Provides functionality related to the view elements in the workflow designer, including accessing and creating view elements, accessing commands, working with the view state, selections, and the expression textbox.

  • System.Activities.Statements
    Contains activities that can be used to create workflows, for flow control, interacting with collections and variables, exceptions, compensation, transactions, and interacting with legacy workflows.

  • System.Activities.Tracking
    Contains classes used to create and interact with workflow tracking records.

  • System.Activities.Validation
    Contains classes used for custom activity validation.

  • System.Activities.XamlIntegration
    Contains classes that provide support for the serialization of activities into XAML.

  • System.AddIn
    Contains an attribute for identifying add-ins.

  • System.AddIn.Contract
    Contains types that provide the basis for communication between components that are updated independently.

  • System.AddIn.Contract.Automation
    Contains types that components use to access type information and invoke type members.

  • System.AddIn.Contract.Collections
    Contains types used to implement collection classes for add-in development.

  • System.AddIn.Hosting
    Provides types for discovering, registering, activating, and controlling add-ins.

  • System.AddIn.Pipeline
    Provides classes for constructing the communication pipeline between a host application and an add-in.

  • System.CodeDom
    Contains classes that can be used to represent the elements and structure of a source code document. These elements can be used to model the structure of a source code document that can be output as source code in a supported language using the functionality provided by the System.CodeDom.Compiler namespace.

  • System.CodeDom.Compiler
    Contains types for managing the generation and compilation of source code in supported programming languages. Code generators can each produce source code in a particular programming language based on the structure of Code Document Object Model (CodeDOM) source code models consisting of elements provided by the System.CodeDom namespace.

  • System.Collections
    Contains interfaces and classes that define various collections of objects, such as lists, queues, bit arrays, hashtables and dictionaries.

  • System.Collections.Concurrent
    Contains interfaces and classes that define various collection objects for concurrent processing.

  • System.Collections.Generic
    Contains interfaces and classes that define generic collections, which enable users to create strongly typed collections that provide better type safety and performance than non-generic strongly typed collections.

  • System.Collections.ObjectModel
    Contains classes that can be used as collections in the object model of a reusable library. Use these classes when properties or methods return collections.

  • System.Collections.Specialized
    Contains specialized and strongly typed collections; for example, a linked list dictionary, a bit vector, and collections that contain only strings.

  • System.ComponentModel
    Provides classes that are used to implement the run-time and design-time behavior of components and controls. This namespace includes the base classes and interfaces for implementing attributes and type converters, binding to data sources, and licensing components.

  • System.ComponentModel.Composition
    Provides classes that constitute the majority of the Managed Extensibility Framework (MEF).

  • System.ComponentModel.Composition.Hosting
    Provides classes for MEF that are useful to developers of extensible applications, or hosts.

  • System.ComponentModel.Composition.Primitives
    Provides the primitive types underlying the MEF programming model.

  • System.ComponentModel.Composition.ReflectionModel
    Provides types for the Managed Extensibility Framework (MEF) that are useful to developers using a reflection-based programming model.

  • System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations
    Provides attribute classes that are used to define metadata for ASP.NET Dynamic Data controls.

  • System.ComponentModel.Design
    Contains classes that developers can use to build custom design-time behavior for components and user interfaces for configuring components at design time. The design time environment provides systems that enable developers to arrange components and configure their properties.

  • System.ComponentModel.Design.Data
    Contains classes for implementing design-time behavior of data-related components.

  • System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization
    Provides types that support customization and control of serialization at design time.

  • System.Configuration
    Contains the types that provide the programming model for handling configuration data.

  • System.Configuration.Assemblies
    Contains classes that are used to configure an assembly.

  • System.Configuration.Install
    Provides classes that enable you to write custom installers for your own components. The Installer class is the base class for all custom installers in the .NET Framework.

  • System.Configuration.Provider
    Contains the base classes shared by both server and client applications to support a pluggable model to easily add or remove functionality.

  • System.Data
    Contains classes that constitute most of the ADO.NET architecture. The ADO.NET architecture enables you to build components that efficiently manage data from multiple data sources.

  • System.Data.Common
    Contains classes shared by the .NET Framework data providers. A .NET Framework data provider describes a collection of classes used to access a data source, such as a database, in the managed space.

  • System.Data.Common.CommandTrees
    Provides classes to build expressions that make up a command tree.

  • System.Data.Design
    Contains classes that can be used to generate a custom typed dataset.

  • System.Data.Entity.Design
    Contains classes to generate Entity Data Model (EDM) files and object source code.

  • System.Data.Entity.Design.AspNet
    Contains the Entity Data Model (EDM) build providers for the ASP.NET build environment.

  • System.Data.Entity.Design.PluralizationServices
    Provides types for changing words from singular to plural form, and vice versa.

  • System.Data.EntityClient
    Contains the .NET Framework Data Provider for the Entity Framework.

  • System.Data.Linq
    Contains classes that support interaction with relational databases in LINQ to SQL applications.

  • System.Data.Linq.Mapping
    Contains classes that are used to generate a LINQ to SQL object model that represents the structure and content of a relational database.

  • System.Data.Mapping
    Provides types for storing data mapping information.

  • System.Data.Metadata.Edm
    Contains a set of types that represent concepts throughout the models used by the Entity Framework and a set of classes that help applications work with metadata.

  • System.Data.Objects
    Includes classes that provide access to the core functionality of Object Services.

  • System.Data.Objects.DataClasses
    Includes classes that are base classes for types that are defined in an Entity Data Model (EDM), base classes for the types that are returned by navigation properties, and classes that define attributes that map common language runtime (CLR) objects to types in the conceptual model.

  • System.Data.Objects.SqlClient
    Provides a type that contains common language runtime (CLR) methods that translate to database functions.

  • System.Data.Odbc
    Contains classes that encapsulate the .NET Framework Data Provider for ODBC, which describes a collection of classes used to access an ODBC data source in the managed space.

  • System.Data.OleDb
    Contains classes that encapsulate the .NET Framework Data Provider for OLE DB, which describes a collection of classes used to access an OLE DB data source in the managed space.

  • System.Data.OracleClient
    Contains classes that encapsulate the .NET Framework Data Provider for Oracle, which describes a collection of classes used to access an Oracle data source in the managed space.

  • System.Data.Services
    Provides access to classes used to build WCF Data Services.

  • System.Data.Services.BuildProvider
    Contains classes that generate C# or Visual Basic code for a WCF Data Services client application based on the metadata returned by the data service.

  • System.Data.Services.Client
    Represents the .NET Framework Client library that applications can use to interact with WCF Data Services.

  • System.Data.Services.Common
    Contains a class that denotes the key property or properties of an entity.

  • System.Data.Services.Providers
    Provides a series of interfaces that are implemented to define a custom data service provider for WCF Data Services.

  • System.Data.Sql
    Contains classes that support SQL Server-specific functionality. The API extensions in this class add to the .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server (System.Data.SqlClient).

  • System.Data.SqlClient
    Contains classes that encapsulate the .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server. The .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server describes a collection of classes used to access a SQL Server database in the managed space.

  • System.Data.SqlTypes
    Contains classes for native data types within SQL Server. These classes provide a faster alternative to other data types. Using the classes in this namespace helps prevent type conversion errors caused in situations where loss of precision could occur. Because other data types are converted to and from SqlTypes behind the scenes, explicitly creating and using objects within this namespace results in faster code as well.

  • System.Deployment.Application
    Provides types to create custom upgrade behavior in ClickOnce applications.

  • System.Device.Location
    Contains classes that provide a single API to encapsulate the multiple location providers on a computer and support seamless prioritization and transitioning between them. An application developer who uses this API does not need to know which location-sensing technologies are available on a particular computer and is freed from the burden of tailoring an application to a specific hardware configuration

  • System.Diagnostics
    Provides classes that enable you to interact with system processes, event logs, and performance counters. This namespace also provides classes that let you debug your application and trace the execution of your code.

  • System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis
    Contains classes for interaction with code analysis tools. Code analysis tools are used to analyze code for conformance to coding conventions such as naming or security rules.

  • System.Diagnostics.Contracts
    Contains static classes for representing program constructs such as preconditions, postconditions, and invariants.

  • System.Diagnostics.Contracts.Internal
    Provides classes that the binary rewriter can use to handle a contract failure.

  • System.Diagnostics.Design
    Contains classes that can be used to extend design-time support for application monitoring and instrumentation.

  • System.Diagnostics.Eventing
    Contains types to support implementation of an application on Windows Vista. The instrumentation, when enabled, logs event data to the Event Tracing for Windows (ETW) tracing subsystem.

  • System.Diagnostics.Eventing.Reader
    Contains types to support reading from and managing event logs.

  • System.Diagnostics.PerformanceData
    Contains classes that are used to provide counter data, which expose performance metrics to consumers.

  • System.Diagnostics.SymbolStore
    Provides classes that enable you to read and write debug symbol information, such as source line to Microsoft intermediate language (MSIL) maps. Compilers targeting the .NET Framework can store the debug symbol information into programmer's database (PDB) files. Debuggers and code profiler tools can read the debug symbol information at run time.

  • System.DirectoryServices
    Provides easy access to Active Directory from managed code. The namespace contains two component classes, DirectoryEntry and DirectorySearcher, which use the Active Directory Services Interfaces (ADSI) technology. ADSI is the set of interfaces that Microsoft provides as a flexible tool for working with a variety of network providers. ADSI gives the administrator the ability to locate and manage resources on a network with relative ease, regardless of the network's size.

  • System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement
    Provides uniform access and manipulation of user, computer, and group security principals across multiple principal stores.

  • System.DirectoryServices.ActiveDirectory
    Provides a high-level abstraction object model that builds around Active Directory directory service tasks. The Active Directory directory service concepts such as forest, domain, site, subnet, partition, and schema are part of the object model.

  • System.DirectoryServices.Protocols
    Provides the methods defined in the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) version 3 and Directory Services Markup Language (DSML) version 2.0 standards.

  • System.Drawing
    Provides access to GDI+ basic graphics functionality. More advanced functionality is provided in the System.Drawing.Drawing2D, System.Drawing.Imaging, and System.Drawing.Text namespaces.

  • System.Drawing.Design
    Contains classes that extend design-time user interface (UI) logic and drawing. You can further extend this design-time functionality to create custom toolbox items, type-specific value editors that can edit and graphically represent values of their supported types, or type converters that can convert values between certain types. This namespace provides the basic frameworks for developing extensions to the design-time UI.

  • System.Drawing.Drawing2D
    Provides advanced two-dimensional and vector graphics functionality. This namespace includes the gradient brushes, the Matrix class (used to define geometric transforms), and the GraphicsPath class.

  • System.Drawing.Imaging
    Provides advanced GDI+ imaging functionality. Basic graphics functionality is provided by the System.Drawing namespace.

  • System.Drawing.Printing
    Provides print-related services. Typically, you create a new instance of the PrintDocument class, set the properties that describe what to print, and call the Print method to actually print the document.

  • System.Drawing.Text
    Provides advanced GDI+ typography functionality. Basic graphics functionality is provided by the System.Drawing namespace. The classes in this namespace enable users to create and use collections of fonts.

  • System.Dynamic
    Provides classes and interfaces that support the dynamic language runtime (DLR).

  • System.EnterpriseServices
    Provides an important infrastructure for enterprise applications. COM+ provides a services architecture for component programming models deployed in an enterprise environment. This namespace provides .NET Framework objects with access to COM+ services, making the .NET Framework objects more practical for enterprise applications.

  • System.EnterpriseServices.CompensatingResourceManager
    Provides classes that enable you to use a Compensating Resource Manager (CRM) in managed code. A CRM is a service provided by COM+ that enables you to include non-transactional objects in Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC) transactions. Although CRMs do not provide the capabilities of a full resource manager, they do provide transactional atomicity (all-or-nothing behavior) and durability through the recovery log.

  • System.Globalization
    Contains classes that define culture-related information, including the language, the country/region, the calendars in use, the format patterns for dates, currency, and numbers, and the sort order for strings. These classes are useful for writing globalized (internationalized) applications.

  • System.IdentityModel.Claims
    Contains types that support the use of claims in the Extensible Identity Model.

  • System.IdentityModel.Policy
    Contains types to build or use authorization policies in Windows Communication Foundation (WCF).

  • System.IdentityModel.Selectors
    Contains the types that provide security tokens for outgoing SOAP messages and that authenticate security tokens in incoming SOAP messages.

  • System.IdentityModel.Tokens
    Contains the types that are related to the predefined security tokens that ship with Windows Communication Foundation (WFC).

  • System.IO
    Contains types that enable synchronous and asynchronous reading and writing on data streams and files.

  • System.IO.Compression
    Contains classes that provide basic compression and decompression for streams.

  • System.IO.IsolatedStorage
    Contains types that support the creation and use of isolated stores. With these stores, you can read and write data that less trusted code cannot access and help prevent the exposure of sensitive information that can be saved elsewhere on the file system. Data is stored in compartments that are isolated by the current user and by the assembly in which the code exists.

  • System.IO.Log
    Contains types for implementing a custom diagnostic logging or transaction processing system.

  • System.IO.MemoryMappedFiles
    Provides classes for using a memory-mapped file, which maps the contents of a file to an application's logical address space.

  • System.IO.Packaging
    Contains types that support storage of multiple data objects in a single container.

  • System.IO.Pipes
    Contains types that provide a means for interprocess communication through anonymous and/or named pipes.

  • System.IO.Ports
    Contains classes that control serial ports, providing a framework for synchronous and event-driven I/O, access to pin and break states, access to serial driver properties, and enumerations for specifying port characteristics.

  • System.Linq
    Contains classes and interfaces that support queries that use Language-Integrated Query (LINQ).

  • System.Linq.Expressions
    Contains types that enable language-level code expressions to be represented as objects in the form of expression trees.

  • System.Management
    Provides access to a rich set of management information and management events about the system, devices, and applications instrumented to the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) infrastructure.

  • System.Management.Instrumentation
    Provides the classes necessary for instrumenting applications for management and exposing their management information and events through WMI to potential consumers.

  • System.Media
    Contains classes for playing sound files and accessing system sounds.

  • System.Messaging
    Provides classes that enable you to connect to, monitor, and administer message queues on the network and send, receive, or peek messages.

  • System.Messaging.Design
    Contains classes that can be used to extend design-time support for System.Messaging classes.

  • System.Net
    Provides a simple programming interface for many of the protocols used on networks today. The WebRequest and WebResponse classes form the basis of what are called pluggable protocols, an implementation of network services that enables you to develop applications that use Internet resources without worrying about the specific details of the individual protocols.

  • System.Net.Cache
    Defines the types and enumerations used to define cache policies for resources obtained using the WebRequest and HttpWebRequest classes.

  • System.Net.Configuration
    Contains classes that applications use to programmatically access and update configuration settings for the System.Net namespaces.

  • System.Net.Mail
    Contains classes used to send electronic mail to a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server for delivery.

  • System.Net.Mime
    Contains types that are used to represent Multipurpose Internet Mail Exchange (MIME) headers. These types are used with the types in the System.Net.Mail namespace to specify Content-Type, Content-Disposition and Content-transfer-Encoding headers when sending e-mail using the SmtpClient class.

  • System.Net.NetworkInformation
    Provides access to network traffic data, network address information, and notification of address changes for the local computer. The namespace also contains classes that implement the Ping utility. You can use Ping and related classes to check whether a computer is reachable across the network.

  • System.Net.PeerToPeer
    Provides access to peer networking functionality.

  • System.Net.PeerToPeer.Collaboration
    Provides types that enhance peer-to-peer networking functionality and provide capabilities for serverless managed collaboration sessions.

  • System.Net.Security
    Provides network streams for secure communications between hosts.

  • System.Net.Sockets
    Provides a managed implementation of the Windows Sockets (Winsock) interface for developers who need to help control access to the network.

  • System.Numerics
    Contains types that complement the numeric primitives, such as Byte, Double, and Int32, that are defined by the .NET Framework.

  • System.Printing
    Contains types to support printing.

  • System.Printing.IndexedProperties
    Contains classes that provide access to the properties of print system objects without using reflection, and enable rapid copying of the property settings to another object of the same type.

  • System.Printing.Interop
    Provides types to support interconversion of managed PrintTicket objects and unmanaged Graphics Device Interface (GDI) DEVMODE structures.

  • System.Reflection
    Contains classes and interfaces that provide a managed view of loaded types, methods, and fields, with the ability to dynamically create and invoke types.

  • System.Reflection.Emit
    Contains classes that enable a compiler or tool to emit metadata and Microsoft intermediate language (MSIL) and optionally generate a PE file on disk. The primary clients of these classes are script engines and compilers.

  • System.Resources
    Provides classes and interfaces that enable developers to create, store, and manage various culture-specific resources used in an application.

  • System.Resources.Tools
    Contains the StronglyTypedResourceBuilder class, which provides support for strongly typed resources. Beginning with the .NET Framework version 2.0, this compile-time feature encapsulates access to resources by creating classes that contain a set of static read-only (get) properties, thus making it easier to consume resources.

  • System.Runtime
    Contains advanced types that support diverse namespaces such as System, the Runtime namespaces, and the Security namespaces.

  • System.Runtime.Caching
    Contains types that let you implement output caching in applications that are built on the .NET Framework.

  • System.Runtime.Caching.Configuration
    Contains configuration handler classes for the .NET Framework caching feature.

  • System.Runtime.Caching.Hosting
    Contains types that support the .NET Framework hosting environments that use caching features.

  • System.Runtime.CompilerServices
    Provides functionality for compiler writers who use managed code to specify attributes in metadata that affect the run-time behavior of the common language runtime. The classes in this namespace are for compiler writers use only.

  • System.Runtime.ConstrainedExecution
    Defines a set of types that enumerate and define a contract for reliability between the author of some code and the developers who take a dependency on that code. The types are intended for use in constrained execution regions (CERs) only.

  • System.Runtime.DurableInstancing
    Contains classes that are used by the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) infrastructure to implement a persistence provider.

  • System.Runtime.ExceptionServices
    Provides classes for advanced exception handling.

  • System.Runtime.Hosting
    Contains advanced types that are used in application activation within application domains.

  • System.Runtime.InteropServices
    Provides a wide variety of members that support COM interop and platform invoke services. If you are unfamiliar with these services, see Interoperating with Unmanaged Code.

  • System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes
    Contains methods that are definitions of COM functions for managed code. These functions replace the now-obsolete UCOM methods in the System.Runtime.InteropServices namespace.

  • System.Runtime.InteropServices.Expando
    Contains the IExpando interface, which lets you modify an object by adding or removing its members.

  • System.Runtime.Remoting
    Provides classes and interfaces that enable developers to create and configure distributed applications.

  • System.Runtime.Remoting.Activation
    Provides classes and objects that support server and client activation of remote objects.

  • System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels
    Contains classes that support and handle channels and channel sinks, which are used as the transport medium when a client calls a method on a remote object.

  • System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.Http
    Contains channels that use the HTTP protocol to transport messages and objects to and from remote locations. By default, the HTTP channels encode objects and method calls in SOAP format for transmission, but other encoding and decoding formatter sinks can be specified in the configuration properties of a channel.

  • System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.Ipc
    Defines a communication channel for remoting that uses the Interprocess Communication (IPC) system of the Windows operating system. Because it does not use network communication, the IPC channel is much faster than the HTTP and TCP channels, but it can only be used for communication between application domains on the same physical computer.

  • System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.Tcp
    Contains channels that use the TCP protocol to transport messages and objects to and from remote locations. By default, the TCP channels encode objects and method calls in binary format for transmission, but other encoding and decoding formatter sinks can be specified in the configuration properties of a channel.

  • System.Runtime.Remoting.Contexts
    Contains objects that define the contexts all objects reside within. A context is an ordered sequence of properties that defines an environment for the objects within it. Contexts are created during the activation process for objects that are configured to require certain automatic services such synchronization, transactions, just-in-time (JIT) activation, security, and so on. Multiple objects can live inside a context.

  • System.Runtime.Remoting.Lifetime
    Contains classes that manage the lifetime of remote objects. Traditionally, distributed garbage collection uses reference counts and pinging for control over the lifetime of objects. This works well when there are a few clients per service, but does not scale well to thousands of clients per service. The remoting lifetime service associates a lease with each service, and deletes a service when its lease time expires. The lifetime service can take on the function of a traditional distributed garbage collector, and it also adjusts well when the numbers of clients per server increases.

  • System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging
    Contains classes used to create and remote messages. The remoting infrastructure uses messages to communicate with remote objects. Messages are used to transmit remote method calls, to activate remote objects, and to communicate information. A message object carries a set of named properties, including action identifiers, envoy information, and parameters.

  • System.Runtime.Remoting.Metadata
    Contains classes and attributes that can be used to customize generation and processing of SOAP for objects and fields. The classes of this namespace can be used to indicate the SOAPAction, type output, XML element name, and the method XML namespace Uniform Resource Identifier (URI).

  • System.Runtime.Remoting.Metadata.W3cXsd2001
    Contains the XML Schema Definition (XSD) defined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in 2001. The XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes specification from W3C identifies format and behavior of various data types. This namespace contains wrapper classes for the data types that conform to the W3C specification. All date and time types conform to the ISO standards specification.

  • System.Runtime.Remoting.MetadataServices
    Contains the classes used by the Soapsuds.exe command line tool and the user code to convert metadata to and from XML schema for the remoting infrastructure.

  • System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies
    Contains classes that control and provide functionality for proxies. A proxy is a local object that is an image of a remote object. Proxies enable clients to access objects across remoting boundaries.

  • System.Runtime.Remoting.Services
    Contains service classes that provide functionality to the .NET Framework.

  • System.Runtime.Serialization
    Contains classes that can be used for serializing and deserializing objects. Serialization is the process of converting an object or a graph of objects into a linear sequence of bytes for either storage or transmission to another location. Deserialization is the process of taking in stored information and recreating objects from it.

  • System.Runtime.Serialization.Configuration
    Contains classes used to read the values found in application configuration files in the <system.xml.serialization> section.

  • System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters
    Provides common enumerations, interfaces, and classes that are used by serialization formatters.

  • System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary
    Contains the BinaryFormatter class, which can be used to serialize and deserialize objects in binary format.

  • System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Soap
    Contains the SoapFormatter class, which can be used to serialize and deserialize objects in the SOAP format.

  • System.Runtime.Serialization.Json
    Contains types for serializing objects to JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) and deserializing objects from JSON.

  • System.Runtime.Versioning
    Contains advanced types that support versioning in side-by-side implementations of the .NET Framework.

  • System.Security
    Provides the underlying structure of the .NET Framework security system, including base classes for permissions.

  • System.Security.AccessControl
    Provides programming elements that control access to, and audit security-related actions on, securable objects.

  • System.Security.Authentication
    Provides a set of enumerations that describe the security of a connection.

  • System.Security.Authentication.ExtendedProtection
    Provides support for authentication using extended protection for applications.

  • System.Security.Authentication.ExtendedProtection.Configuration
    Provides support for configuration of authentication using extended protection for applications.

  • System.Security.Cryptography
    Provides cryptographic services, including secure encoding and decoding of data, as well as many other operations, such as hashing, random number generation, and message authentication.

  • System.Security.Cryptography.Pkcs
    Provides programming elements for Public Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS), including methods for signing data, exchanging keys, requesting certificates, public key encryption and decryption, and other security functions.

  • System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates
    Contains the common language runtime implementation of the Authenticode X.509 v.3 certificate. This certificate is signed with a private key that uniquely and positively identifies the holder of the certificate.

  • System.Security.Cryptography.Xml
    Contains classes to support the creation and validation of XML digital signatures.

  • System.Security.Permissions
    Defines classes that control access to operations and resources based on policy.

  • System.Security.Policy
    Contains code groups, membership conditions, and evidence. These three types of classes are used to create the rules applied by the .NET Framework security policy system. Evidence classes are the input to security policy, and membership conditions are the switches; together these create policy statements and determine the granted permission set. Policy levels and code groups are the structure of the policy hierarchy. Code groups are the encapsulation of a rule and are arranged hierarchically in a policy level.

  • System.Security.Principal
    Defines a principal object that represents the security context under which code is running.

  • System.Security.RightsManagement
    Contains classes to support rights management of application-created content, such as content stored in a Package or XpsDocument.

  • System.ServiceModel
    Contains the types necessary to build Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) service and client applications that can be used to build widely distributed applications.

  • System.ServiceModel.Activation
    Contains the types required to construct and modify the dynamic creation of service hosts in a managed hosting environment.

  • System.ServiceModel.Activation.Configuration
    Contains classes that represent the configuration elements in the SMSvcHost.exe.config file.

  • System.ServiceModel.Activities
    Contains classes that enable you to send messages to and receive messages from workflows.

  • System.ServiceModel.Activities.Activation
    Contains the WorkflowServiceHostFactory class that provides instances of WorkflowServiceHost in managed hosting environments where the host instance is created dynamically in response to incoming messages.

  • System.ServiceModel.Activities.Configuration
    Contains classes that are used to configure workflow services. These classes allow you to apply service and endpoint behaviors and configure tracking.

  • System.ServiceModel.Activities.Description
    Contains classes that enable you to control various behaviors related to workflow services.

  • System.ServiceModel.Activities.Presentation.Factories
    Contains factories that create Receive/SendReply and Send/ReceiveReply activity pairs.

  • System.ServiceModel.Activities.Tracking
    Contains classes used to create tracking records for a workflow service instance. Tracking records are created by the workflow runtime during the execution of a workflow instance, and are sent to registered tracking participants.

  • System.ServiceModel.Activities.Tracking.Configuration
    Contains classes used to configure workflow tracking. These classes enable you to specify the tracking information you want your workflow to generate.

  • System.ServiceModel.Channels
    Contains the types required to construct and modify the messages used by clients and services to communicate with each other, the types of channels used to exchange messages, the channel factories and channel listeners used to construct those channels, and the binding elements used to configure them.

  • System.ServiceModel.ComIntegration
    Contains the types necessary to integrate Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) service and client applications with COM components.

  • System.ServiceModel.Configuration
    Contains types used by the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) infrastructure to convert XML into Common Language Runtime (CLR) types.

  • System.ServiceModel.Description
    Contains the types requires to construct and modify descriptions of services, contract, and endpoints that are used to build service runtimes and to export metadata.

  • System.ServiceModel.Diagnostics
    Contains an enumeration that is used to configure performance counters for diagnostic purposes.

  • System.ServiceModel.Discovery
    Contains the types required for the creation and use of discoverable services.

  • System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Configuration
    Contains classes that enable you to configure discovery settings in a configuration file.

  • System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Version11
    Contains the classes required to create and use discoverable services. These classes implement the WS-Discovery version 1.1 protocol.

  • System.ServiceModel.Discovery.VersionApril2005
    Contains the classes required to create and use discoverable services. These classes implement the April 2005 version of the WS-Discovery protocol.

  • System.ServiceModel.Discovery.VersionCD1
    Contains the classes required to create and use discoverable services. These classes implement the Committee Draft 1 version of the WS-Discovery protocol.

  • System.ServiceModel.Dispatcher
    Contains the types necessary to modify the run-time execution behavior of service and client applications.

  • System.ServiceModel.MsmqIntegration
    Contains classes for Microsoft Message Queuing Service (MSMQ) integration, which enables communication between MSMQ applications and Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) applications.

  • System.ServiceModel.PeerResolvers
    Contains classes that enable developers to customize and extend the Peer Name Resolution Protocol (PNRP) service.

  • System.ServiceModel.Persistence
    Contains classes that allow workflow services (WCF services implemented as workflows) to be persisted into the persistence store.

  • System.ServiceModel.Routing
    Contains classes that are used by the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) infrastructure to implement the routing of messages between WCF endpoints.

  • System.ServiceModel.Routing.Configuration
    Contains configuration classes that are used by the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) infrastructure to convert XML into common language runtime (CLR) types.

  • System.ServiceModel.Security
    Contains classes that support general Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) security.

  • System.ServiceModel.Security.Tokens
    Contains types that represent security tokens and certificates for Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) security.

  • System.ServiceModel.ServiceMoniker40

  • System.ServiceModel.Syndication
    Contains the types that make up the syndication object model.

  • System.ServiceModel.Web
    Contains types that make up the Web HTTP programming model.

  • System.ServiceModel.XamlIntegration
    Provides utility classes to enable the serialization of entities to XAML.

  • System.ServiceProcess
    Provides classes that enable you to implement, install, and control Windows service applications. Services are long-running executables that run without a user interface. Implementing a service involves inheriting from the ServiceBase class and defining specific behavior to process when start, stop, pause, and continue commands are passed in, as well as custom behavior and actions to take when the system shuts down.

  • System.ServiceProcess.Design
    Contains classes that can be used to extend design-time support for Windows service applications.

  • System.Speech.AudioFormat

  • System.Speech.Recognition
    Contains Windows Desktop Speech technology types for implementing speech recognition.

  • System.Speech.Recognition.SrgsGrammar

  • System.Speech.Synthesis

  • System.Speech.Synthesis.TtsEngine
    Contains types that support the creation of custom engines based on the Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) for rendering Text-to-Speech (TTS).

  • System.Text
    Contains classes representing ASCII, Unicode, UTF-7, and UTF-8 character encodings; abstract base classes for converting blocks of characters to and from blocks of bytes; and a helper class that manipulates and formats String objects without creating intermediate instances of String.

  • System.Text.RegularExpressions
    Contains classes that provide access to the .NET Framework regular expression engine. The namespace provides regular expression functionality that can be used from any platform or language that runs within the.NET Framework.

  • System.Threading
    Provides classes and interfaces that enable multithreaded programming. In addition to classes for synchronizing thread activities and access to data (Mutex, Monitor, Interlocked, AutoResetEvent, and so on), this namespace includes a ThreadPool class that lets you use a pool of system-supplied threads, and a Timer class that executes callback methods on thread pool threads.

  • System.Threading.Tasks
    Provides types that simplify the work of writing concurrent and asynchronous code.

  • System.Timers
    Provides the Timer component, which enables you to raise an event on a specified interval.

  • System.Transactions
    Contains classes that enable your code to participate in transactions. The classes support transactions with multiple, distributed participants, multiple phase notifications, and durable enlistments.

  • System.Transactions.Configuration
    Contains classes that describe configuration options used by System.Transactions classes.

  • System.Web
    Provides classes and interfaces that enable browser-server communication. This namespace includes the HttpRequest class, which provides extensive information about the current HTTP request, the HttpResponse class, which manages HTTP output to the client, and the HttpServerUtility class, which provides access to server-side utilities and processes. System.Web also includes classes for cookie manipulation, file transfer, exception information, and output cache control.

  • System.Web.ApplicationServices
    Provides classes that provide access to ASP.NET forms authentication, roles, and profiles application services as Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) services.

  • System.Web.Caching
    Provides classes for caching frequently used data on the server. This includes the Cache class, a dictionary that lets you store arbitrary data objects, such as hash tables and data sets. It also provides expiration functionality for those objects, and methods that let you add and remove the objects. You can also add the objects with a dependency upon other files or cache entries, and perform a callback to notify your application when an object is removed from the cache.

  • System.Web.ClientServices
    Contains classes that support access to the ASP.NET login, roles, and profiles services from Windows-based applications.

  • System.Web.ClientServices.Providers
    Contains client service providers and other classes that support access to the ASP.NET login, roles, and profiles services from Windows-based applications.

  • System.Web.Compilation
    Contains classes for generating and compiling custom file types within the ASP.NET build environment.

  • System.Web.Configuration
    Contains classes that are used to set up ASP.NET configuration.

  • System.Web.DynamicData
    Contains classes that provide the core functionality for ASP.NET dynamic data and extensibility features that let you customize dynamic data behavior.

  • System.Web.DynamicData.Design
    Contains classes that provide design-time support for the classes in the System.Web.DynamicData namespace.

  • System.Web.DynamicData.ModelProviders
    Contains classes that define the core functionality for ASP.NET Dynamic Data providers.

  • System.Web.Handlers
    Contains HTTP handler classes that process HTTP requests to a Web server.

  • System.Web.Hosting
    Provides the functionality for hosting ASP.NET applications from managed applications outside of Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS).

  • System.Web.Management
    Contains classes and interfaces for managing and monitoring the health of Web applications.

  • System.Web.Mobile
    Contains the core capabilities, including authentication and error-handling, required for building ASP.NET mobile Web applications.

  • System.Web.Profile
    Contains classes that are used to implement the ASP.NET user profile in Web server applications.

  • System.Web.Query.Dynamic
    Contains classes that are used to parse expressions from a LinqDataSource control into a Language-Integrated Query (LINQ).

  • System.Web.RegularExpressions
    Provides regular expressions used to parse ASP.NET files. All members of the System.Web.RegularExpressions namespace are descendants of the Regex class.

  • System.Web.Routing
    Provides classes that are used with URL routing, which enables you to use URLs that do not map to a physical file.

  • System.Web.Script
    Contains classes that provide script resource information.

  • System.Web.Script.Serialization
    Contains classes that provide JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) serialization and deserialization for managed types. It also provides extensibility features to customize serialization behavior.

  • System.Web.Script.Services
    Provides attributes to customize Web service support for using AJAX functionality in ASP.NET.

  • System.Web.Security
    Contains classes that are used to implement ASP.NET security in Web server applications.

  • System.Web.Services
    Consists of the classes that enable you to create XML Web services using ASP.NET and XML Web service clients. XML Web services are applications that provide the ability to exchange messages in a loosely coupled environment using standard protocols such as HTTP, XML, XSD, SOAP, and WSDL. XML Web services enable the building of modular applications within and across companies in heterogeneous environments, making them interoperable with a broad variety of implementations, platforms, and devices.

  • System.Web.Services.Configuration
    Consists of the classes that configure how XML Web services created using ASP.NET run.

  • System.Web.Services.Description
    Consists of the classes that enable you to publicly describe an XML Web service by using the Web Services Description Language (WSDL). Each class in this namespace corresponds to a specific element in the WSDL specification, and the class hierarchy corresponds to the XML structure of a valid WSDL document.

  • System.Web.Services.Discovery
    Consists of the classes that enable XML Web service clients to locate the available XML Web services on a Web server through a process called XML Web Services Discovery.

  • System.Web.Services.Protocols
    Consists of the classes that define the protocols used to transmit data across the wire during the communication between XML Web service clients and XML Web services created using ASP.NET.

  • System.Web.SessionState
    Supplies classes and interfaces that enable storage of data specific to a single client within a Web application on the server. The session state data is used to give the client the appearance of a persistent connection with the application. State information can be stored within local process memory or, for Web farm configurations, out-of-process using either the ASP.NET State service or a SQL Server database.

  • System.Web.UI
    Provides classes and interfaces that enable you to create ASP.NET server controls and ASP.NET Web pages for the user interface of your ASP.NET Web applications. This namespace includes the Control class, which provides all HTML server controls, Web server controls, and user controls with a common set of functionality. It also includes the Page control, which is generated automatically whenever a request is made for an .aspx file in an ASP.NET Web application. Also included are classes which provide the server controls with data-binding functionality, the ability to save the view state of a given control or page, and parsing functionality.

  • System.Web.UI.Adapters
    Contains the base classes for control adapters and page adapters, which you can use to override life-cycle states of pages and controls to modify their default markup or behavior for new markup standards or for specific browsers.

  • System.Web.UI.DataVisualization.Charting
    Contains types for the Chart Web server control.

  • System.Web.UI.Design
    Contains classes that can be used to extend design-time support for ASP.NET Web pages and for Web server controls.

  • System.Web.UI.Design.MobileControls
    Obsolete. Contains classes that provide design-time support for the classes in the System.Web.UI.MobileControls namespace. The classes in this namespace are obsolete; use the classes in System.Web.UI.Design.WebControls instead.

  • System.Web.UI.Design.MobileControls.Converters
    Contains classes that provide design-time support for data type converters in mobile controls.

  • System.Web.UI.Design.WebControls
    Contains classes that can be used to extend design-time support for Web server controls.

  • System.Web.UI.Design.WebControls.WebParts
    Contains classes that provide design-time support for controls derived from classes in the System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts namespace.

  • System.Web.UI.HtmlControls
    Consists of a collection of classes that enable you to create HTML server controls on a Web Forms page. HTML server controls run on the server and map directly to standard HTML tags supported by most browsers. This enables you to programmatically control the HTML elements on a Web Forms page.

  • System.Web.UI.MobileControls
    Obsolete. Contains a set of ASP.NET server controls that can intelligently render your application for different mobile devices. The classes in this namespace are obsolete; use the controls in System.Web.UI.WebControls instead.

  • System.Web.UI.MobileControls.Adapters
    Contains classes you can use to override life-cycle stages of a mobile control to modify its default HTML, CHTML, or WML markup or behavior for new markup standards or for specific browsers and mobile devices.

  • System.Web.UI.MobileControls.Adapters.XhtmlAdapters
    Contains classes you can use to override life-cycle stages of a mobile control to modify its default XHTML markup or behavior for new markup standards or for specific browsers and mobile devices.

  • System.Web.UI.WebControls
    Contains classes that enable you to create Web server controls on a Web page. Web server controls run on the server and include form controls such as buttons and text boxes. They also include special-purpose controls such as a calendar. Because Web server controls run on the server, you can programmatically control these elements. Web server controls are more abstract than HTML server controls. Their object model does not necessarily reflect HTML syntax.

  • System.Web.UI.WebControls.Adapters
    Contains classes you can use to override life-cycle stages of a Web control to modify a control's default markup or behavior for new markup standards or for specific browsers.

  • System.Web.UI.WebControls.Expressions
    Provides classes for filtering data in a Web page using the QueryExtender control.

  • System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts
    Contains an integrated set of classes and interfaces for creating Web pages whose appearance and behavior can be modified (personalized) by end users. The user-defined settings for each page are saved for future browser sessions.

  • System.Web.Util
    Contains classes that enable callback methods to be run under the scope of a transaction and that enable work to be posted to separate threads.

  • System.Windows
    Provides several important Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) base element classes, various classes that support the WPF property system and event logic, and other types that are more broadly consumed by the WPF core and framework.

  • System.Windows.Annotations
    Contains types that support user-created annotations on content displayed in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) document viewing controls.

  • System.Windows.Annotations.Storage
    Contains classes that define the storage architecture and media to save and retrieve user-created annotations.

  • System.Windows.Automation
    Contains classes that provide support for Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) user interface automation clients.

  • System.Windows.Automation.Peers
    Defines the AutomationPeer base class and a set of types derived from it that correspond to.NET Framework controls.

  • System.Windows.Automation.Provider
    Contains types for creating UI Automation providers for Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).

  • System.Windows.Automation.Text
    Contains enumerations that specify text formatting and related behavior for Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) UI automation.

  • System.Windows.Baml2006
    Contains reader and writer classes that can consume XAML in BAML form.

  • System.Windows.Controls
    Contains classes to create controls that enable a user to interact with an application.

  • System.Windows.Controls.Primitives
    Contains base classes and controls that are intended to be used as part of other, more complex controls.

  • System.Windows.Converters
    Contains classes that support type conversion during serialization in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).

  • System.Windows.Data
    Contains classes used for binding properties to data sources, data source provider classes, and data-specific implementations of collections and views.

  • System.Windows.Documents
    Contains classes that support FixedDocument, FlowDocument, and XML Paper Specification (XPS) document creation.

  • System.Windows.Documents.DocumentStructures
    Contains classes that describe the structure of an XpsDocument in terms of sections, paragraphs, figures, bulleted or numbered lists, and tables.

  • System.Windows.Documents.Serialization
    Contains classes that support the creation and use of run-time accessible plug-in serializers which read and write documents in different data formats.

  • System.Windows.Forms
    Contains classes for creating Windows-based applications that take full advantage of the rich user interface features available in the Windows operating system.

  • System.Windows.Forms.DataVisualization.Charting
    Contains types for the Chart Windows Forms control.

  • System.Windows.Forms.Design
    Contains classes that support design-time configuration and behavior for Windows Forms components. These classes consist of: Designer classes that provide support for Windows Forms components, a set of design time services, UITypeEditor classes for configuring certain types of properties, and classes for importing ActiveX controls.

  • System.Windows.Forms.Design.Behavior
    Contains classes for creating custom user interface behavior for components at design time.

  • System.Windows.Forms.Integration
    Contains classes that support interoperation of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) controls.

  • System.Windows.Forms.Layout
    Contains classes that support design-time and run-time layout behaviors.

  • System.Windows.Forms.VisualStyles
    Contains classes for rendering controls and other Windows user interface elements with visual styles.

  • System.Windows.Ink
    Provides classes to interact with and manipulate ink on the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) platform.

  • System.Windows.Input
    Contains classes that support the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) input system.

  • System.Windows.Input.Manipulations
    Provides functionality for monitoring and responding to a collection of manipulators as a single composite, enabling an application to track the changes to the composite instead of the individual components.

  • System.Windows.Input.StylusPlugIns
    Provides classes that support manipulating data from a tablet pen on the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) platform.

  • System.Windows.Interop
    Contains classes that support interoperation between Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and other technologies.

  • System.Windows.Markup
    Contains classes to support serialization and Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications.

  • System.Windows.Markup.Localizer
    Contains types that assist in the localization of binary XAML (BAML) sources.

  • System.Windows.Markup.Primitives
    Contains classes that support Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications.

  • System.Windows.Media
    Contains classes that enable integration of rich media, including drawings, text, and audio/video content, within Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications.

  • System.Windows.Media.Animation
    Contains classes that provide property animation functionality in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications.

  • System.Windows.Media.Converters
    Contains types used by the MarkupWriter for serialization of Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML).

  • System.Windows.Media.Effects
    Contains types that can be used to apply visual effects to bitmap images.

  • System.Windows.Media.Imaging
    Contains types used to encode and decode bitmap images.

  • System.Windows.Media.Media3D
    Contains types that support 3-D presentation in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications.

  • System.Windows.Media.Media3D.Converters
    Defines types used by the MarkupWriter class for serialization of Extensible Markup Language (XAML).

  • System.Windows.Media.TextFormatting
    Contains classes that control formatting of text, typically at a lower level than control-based text presentation or the text object model.

  • System.Windows.Navigation
    Contains types used for navigation, including navigating between windows, and navigation journaling.

  • System.Windows.Resources
    Contains low-level classes that support the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) resource model and the Resources build action.

  • System.Windows.Shapes
    Contains a library of shapes that can be used in Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) or code.

  • System.Windows.Shell
    Contains types that provide managed code access to the enhanced functionality of the Windows 7 taskbar.

  • System.Windows.Threading
    Contains classes that support the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) threading system.

  • System.Windows.Xps
    Contains classes that write XML Paper Specification (XPS) documents to a data store or print queue.

  • System.Windows.Xps.Packaging
    Contains classes that enable applications to read and write the components of an XPS document.

  • System.Windows.Xps.Serialization
    Contains classes that support serialization of XPS documents.

  • System.Workflow.Activities
    Contains classes that define activities that can be added to workflows to create and run an executable representation of a work process.

  • System.Workflow.Activities.Configuration
    Contains classes that represent sections of a configuration file.

  • System.Workflow.Activities.Rules
    Contains classes that define the conditions and actions that form a rule.

  • System.Workflow.Activities.Rules.Design
    Contains classes that manage the Rule Set Editor and the Rule Condition Editor dialog boxes.

  • System.Workflow.ComponentModel
    Contains the types that are used to create activities and workflows.

  • System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Compiler
    Provides the infrastructure for validating and compiling activities and workflows.

  • System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Design
    Contains classes that developers can use to build custom design-time behavior for workflows and activities.

  • System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Serialization
    Provides the infrastructure for managing the serialization of activities and workflows to and from Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) and CodeDOM.

  • System.Workflow.Runtime
    Contains types that can be used to control the workflow runtime engine and the execution of a workflow instance.

  • System.Workflow.Runtime.Configuration
    Contains classes that are used to configure the workflow runtime engine.

  • System.Workflow.Runtime.DebugEngine
    Contains types for use in debugging workflow instances.

  • System.Workflow.Runtime.Hosting
    Contains classes that are related to services provided to the workflow runtime engine by the host application.

  • System.Workflow.Runtime.Tracking
    Contains types related to tracking services.

  • System.Xaml
    Provides types that relate to XAML parsers and processors.

  • System.Xaml.Hosting
    Contains classes related to XAML hosting.

  • System.Xaml.Hosting.Configuration
    Contains classes related to XAML hosting configuration.

  • System.Xaml.Permissions
    Contains types that specify permissions for certain XAML loading scenarios, such as loading under partial trust.

  • System.Xaml.Schema
    Contains types that support the XAML type system for the XAML information set.

  • System.Xml
    Provides standards-based support for processing XML.

  • System.Xml.Linq
    Contains the types for LINQ to XML, which is an in-memory XML programming interface that enables you to modify XML documents efficiently and easily.

  • System.Xml.Resolvers
    Provides support for prepopulating the cache with DTDs or XML streams.

  • System.Xml.Schema
    Contains the XML classes that provide standards-based support for XML Schema definition language (XSD) schemas.

  • System.Xml.Serialization
    Contains classes that are used to serialize objects into XML format documents or streams.

  • System.Xml.Serialization.Advanced
    Contains classes that enable you to customize the code generated from a Web Services Description Language (WSDL) document.

  • System.Xml.Serialization.Configuration
    Contains classes used to read the values found in application configuration files in the system.xml.serialization element section.

  • System.Xml.XPath
    Contains the classes that define a cursor model for navigating and editing XML information items as instances of the XQuery 1.0 and XPath 2.0 Data Model.

  • System.Xml.Xsl
    Provides support for Extensible Stylesheet Transformation (XSLT) transforms. This namespace supports the W3C XSL Transformations (XSLT) Version 1.0 Recommendation.

  • System.Xml.Xsl.Runtime
    Provides internal support for the classes in the System.Xml.Xsl namespace. The classes in this namespace support the .NET Framework infrastructure and are not intended to be used directly from your code.

  • UIAutomationClientsideProviders
    Contains a single class that maps client automation providers.

Deprecated and Internal Namespaces

Minimal documentation is provided for the following namespaces, either because they have been deprecated or because they are for internal use only.

See Also

Concepts

.NET Framework Class Library Overview

Other Resources

General Reference for the .NET Framework