System.Net Namespaces

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The System.Net namespaces contain classes that provide a simple programming interface for a number of network protocols, programmatically access and update configuration settings for the System.Net namespaces, define cache policies for web resources, compose and send e-mail, represent Multipurpose Internet Mail Exchange (MIME) headers, access network traffic data and network address information, and access peer-to-peer networking functionality. Additional child namespaces provide a managed implementation of the Windows Sockets (Winsock) interface and provide access to network streams for secure communications between hosts.

Namespaces

Namespace Description
System.Net The System.Net namespace 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.Classes in the System.Net namespace can be used to develop Windows Store apps or desktop apps. When used in a Windows Store app, classes in the System.Net namespace are affected by network isolation feature, part of the application security model used by the Windows Developer Preview. The appropriate network capabilities must be enabled in the app manifest for a Windows Store app for the system to allow network access by a Windows Store app. For more information, see the Network Isolation for Windows Store Apps.
System.Net.Cache The System.Net.Cache namespace defines the types and enumerations used to define cache policies for resources obtained using the WebRequest and HttpWebRequest classes.
System.Net.Configuration The System.Net.Configuration namespace contains classes that applications use to programmatically access and update configuration settings for the System.Net namespaces.
System.Net.Http The System.Net.Http namespace provides a programming interface for modern HTTP applications.
System.Net.Http.Headers Provides support for collections of HTTP headers used by the System.Net.Http namespace
System.Net.Mail The System.Net.Mail namespace contains classes used to send electronic mail to a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server for delivery.
System.Net.Mime The System.Net.Mime namespace holds 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 using the SmtpClient class to send e-mail.
System.Net.NetworkInformation The System.Net.NetworkInformation namespace 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 The System.Net.PeerToPeer namespace provides access to peer networking functionality.
System.Net.PeerToPeer.Collaboration The System.Net.PeerToPeer.Collaboration namespace enhances System.Net.PeerToPeer networking functionality and provides capabilities for serverless managed collaboration sessions.
System.Net.Security The System.Net.Security namespace provides network streams for secure communications between hosts.
System.Net.Sockets The System.Net.Sockets namespace provides a managed implementation of the Windows Sockets (Winsock) interface for developers who need to tightly control access to the network.
System.Net.WebSockets The System.Net.WebSockets namespace provides a managed implementation of the WebSocket interface for developers.