What is .NET Framework?

The .NET Framework Includes the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and the .NET Framework class library. The CLR is a standard foundation for building a range of new applications, while the .NET Framework class library provides standard implementations of many new services for CLR-based applications. Among the technologies in the library are ASP.NET, which is the next generation of Active Server Pages; ADO.NET, the next generation of ActiveX Data Objects; support for building and using Web services; and much more. Microsoft is also releasing a trimmed-down incarnation of the .NET Framework called the .NET Compact Framework. This version is intended for use in smaller devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs).