What is the .NET Framework?
The .NET Framework is the managed code programming model for Windows. It provides a highly productive environment for software developers and offers excellent skills reuse across multiple application architectures. The .NET Framework is available with the same consistent API across different development platforms, including the full .NET Framework for the desktop and server, the .NET Compact Framework for mobile devices, the .NET Framework on SQL Server, the .NET Micro Framework for small embedded systems such as SPOT watches, and Silverlight version 1.1 for cross-platform, cross-browser development of rich Internet applications. The .NET Framework is in use by 90% of fortune 100 companies and is easily deployable to end user PCs.
.NET Framework 3.5 Common Namespaces and Types Poster: