Welcome to the Microsoft .NET Framework version 3.5. 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 (CLR) and the .NET Framework class library, which includes ADO.NET, ASP.NET, Windows Forms, and Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF). 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. For a discussion of .NET Framework version 3.5 and its relationship to previous versions of the .NET Framework, see .NET Framework 3.5 Architecture.
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, see the following list of main topic areas.
Supplies syntax, code examples, and related information for each class contained in the .NET Framework namespaces.
Provides a table of links to the main technology areas of the .NET Framework.
Describes key features that have been added or modified in the latest versions 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.
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.
Provides information about sophisticated development tasks and techniques in the .NET Framework.
Provides information about the classes and services in the .NET Framework that facilitate secure application development.
Provides links to documentation about ASP.NET applications, Web Forms, and Web services.
Provides links to documentation about common programming tasks in Windows Forms applications.
Introduces the .NET Framework-based, hardware-independent environment for running applications on resource-constrained computing devices.
Provides information about developing applications using Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).
Provides information on the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) programming model for building service-oriented applications.
Provides information about CardSpace, which is Microsoft's implementation of an identity metasystem.
Provides information on the framework, programming model, and tools for Windows Workflow Foundation (WF).
Provides reference information related to the .NET Framework. Includes sections on languages and compilers, tools, technical references, and a glossary of terms.
Provides information about tools that make it easier for you to create, deploy, and manage applications and components that target the .NET Framework.
Provides samples that illustrate various aspects of the .NET Framework.
.NET Framework applications are built on the services of the common language runtime and take advantage of the .NET Framework class library. The documentation listed below is located in the "Development Tools and Languages" section of the MSDN Library.
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) is a component of the later versions of .NET that provides developers with a unified programming model for building rich Windows smart client user experiences that incorporate UI, media, and documents.