Welcome to the .NET Framework version 4. 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 an introduction to the architecture and key features of the .NET Framework, see Overview of the .NET Framework.
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.
In This Section
- .NET Framework Class Library
Supplies syntax, code examples, and related information for each class contained in the .NET Framework namespaces.
- Quick Technology Finder (.NET Framework)
Provides a table of links to the main technology areas of the .NET Framework.
- What's New in the .NET Framework 4
Describes key new features, breaking changes, and obsolete types and members in the latest version of the .NET Framework.
- Overview of the .NET Framework
Describes key .NET Framework concepts such as the common language runtime, the common type system, cross-language interoperability, managed execution, assemblies, and security.
- .NET Framework Core Development
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.
- .NET Framework Advanced Development
Provides information about advanced development tasks and techniques in the .NET Framework, including interoperability, threading, and reflection.
- Security in the .NET Framework
Provides information about the classes and services in the .NET Framework that facilitate secure application development.
- ASP.NET Portal
Provides links to the ASP.NET Development section of the documentation for information about ASP.NET applications, Web Forms, and Web services.
- Windows Forms Portal
Provides links to the Windows Forms section for information about common programming tasks in Windows Forms applications.
- .NET Compact Framework Portal
Provides links to information about developing managed applications for resource-constrained computing devices in Visual Studio 2008. .NET Compact Framework application development is not supported in Visual Studio 2010.
- Windows Presentation Foundation
Provides information about developing applications using Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).
- Windows Communication Foundation
Provides information on the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) programming model for building service-oriented applications.
- Windows Workflow Foundation
Provides information on the framework, programming model, and tools for Windows Workflow Foundation (WF).
- General Reference for the .NET Framework
Provides reference information related to the .NET Framework. Includes sections on languages and compilers, tools, technical references, and a glossary of terms.
- .NET Framework Tools
Provides information about tools that make it easier for you to create, deploy, and manage applications and components that target the .NET Framework.
- .NET Framework Samples
Provides links to the MSDN Code Gallery for samples that illustrate various aspects of the .NET Framework.