What is .NET?
.NET is a free, cross-platform, open-source developer platform for building many types of applications. With .NET, you can use C#, F#, or Visual Basic to build desktop, web, and mobile apps, games, IoT devices, and cloud services.
- Cross-Platform: Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and more.
- Open-Source: Developed by Microsoft and the community on GitHub.
- High Performance: Designed for speed and efficiency, especially with .NET 6 and later.
- Modern Language Support: Robust support for C#, F#, and Visual Basic.
- Versatile: Build web apps (ASP.NET Core), microservices, APIs, mobile apps (MAUI), desktop apps (WPF, WinForms, AvaloniaUI), IoT, AI, and more.
A Unified Platform
.NET brings together the .NET Framework, .NET Core, and other .NET runtimes into a single, unified .NET platform. This unification provides a consistent developer experience and allows developers to share code across all application types.
Core Components
The .NET platform consists of several key parts:
- The .NET Runtime: Includes the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and the Base Class Library (BCL).
- The .NET SDK: A set of tools that includes the .NET CLI, compilers, and other libraries for building and deploying .NET applications.
- Language Compilers: For C#, F#, and Visual Basic.
- Frameworks: Such as ASP.NET Core for web development, .NET MAUI for cross-platform mobile and desktop apps, and WPF/WinForms for Windows desktop applications.
Getting Started with .NET
Ready to start building? Check out our guides to get your development environment set up and build your first .NET application.
Learn More: Install .NET | Build your first app
Community and Contributions
.NET thrives on its vibrant community. We welcome contributions from developers worldwide. You can find the source code on GitHub and participate in discussions.
dotnet new console -o MyConsoleApp
cd MyConsoleApp
dotnet run