.NET Framework

.NET Framework (pronounced dot net) is a product of Microsoft. It is a programming framework used by Software applications in order to run.^[1] It has two major parts: the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and the .NET Framework Class Library. The CLR is an execution engine used to handle running programs. The class library provides a library of reusable code that applications can use.^[2] These are designed to greatly simplify the development of larger applications.^[2] .NET Framework supports Object-oriented programming (OOP).^[3] Everything in .NET is contained in an object.^[3] It also greatly simplifies Windows programming.^[3]

Often, a program will ask for a particular version of .NET Framework to be installed (see below).^[4] It is usually recommended to install the latest version your operating system (OS) will support.^[4] This is because of backward compatibility; the newer version will also support older versions.

Visual Studio is the major development tool for .NET Framework. Visual Studio 2013 Community Edition is the first full-featured edition for personal development. It also has compilers for computer programming languages such as C++ and others.

Version

Overview of .NET Framework release history

Version	CLR	Release date	Shipped With Visual Studio	Comprising Components of Windows		Embraces
				Client	Server
1.0[0]	1.0	February 13, 2002	.NET 2002	—	—	—
1.1	1.1	April 24, 2003	.NET 2003	—	2003	—
2.0	2.0	November 7, 2005	2005	—	2003 R2	—
3.0	2.0	November 6, 2006	—	Vista	2008	2.0
3.5	2.0	November 19, 2007	2008	7	2008 R2	3.0
4.0	4	April 12, 2010	2010	—	—	—
4.5	4	August 15, 2012	2012	8	2012	4.0
4.5.1	4	October 17, 2013	2013	8.1	2012 R2	4.5
4.5.2	4	May 5, 2014	—	—	—	4.5.1
4.6	4	July 20, 2015	2015	10	—	4.5.2
4.6.1	4	November 17, 2015	2015 Update 1	—	—	4.6

Platform Support Information

Version	Instruction Set Architecture	Installable on Windows
		Client	Server
1.0	IA-32[1]	98, Me, NT 4.0 SP6a, 2000, XP	NT 4.0 SP6a, 2000
1.1		NT 4.0 SP6a, 2000, XP,Vista	NT 4.0 SP6a, 2000, 2003, 2008
2.0 ~ 3.5	IA-32, x86-64, Itanium[2]	XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10	2003, 2003 R2, 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2
4.0		XP SP3, Vista SP1, 7, 8, 8.1, 10	2003 SP2, 2003 R2 SP2, 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2
4.5 ~ 4.6	IA-32, x86-64, ARM[3]	Vista SP2, 7 SP1, 8, 8.1, 10	2008 SP2, 2008 R2 SP1, 2012, 2012 R2
4.6.1		7 SP1, 8, 8.1, 10	2008 R2 SP1, 2012, 2012 R2

0.^{^} Since service pack 1, .NET Framework 1.0 has been shipped with all Windows XP installation media, CD or ISO files. It is also the integral part of Windows XP Tablet PC and Media Center Edition.

1.^{^} .NET Framework 1.1 could also be installed on Itanium and x86-64 platforms.

2.^{^} .NET Framework 4.0 lacks support of some features on Itanium platform, such as WPF.

3.^{^} Since version 4.5, .NET Framework is also preinstalled on Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1, formed as stripped down version.

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