.NET and C# (CSharp ) are two closely related technologies, but they are not the same thing. Understanding the difference between the two can be confusing, especially for those new to programming. Here’s a quick breakdown of what each technology is and how they relate to one another.
.NET is a software framework developed by Microsoft. It provides a runtime environment for executing code written in various languages, including C#, F# and VB.NET. The .NET framework includes a large library of pre-built code that developers can use to build their own applications. It also includes a common language runtime (CLR), which is responsible for managing the execution of .NET code.
C#, on the other hand, is a programming language. It was developed by Microsoft as part of its .NET initiative and is designed to be a simple, modern and object-oriented language. C# is used to write code that can run on the .NET framework and make use of the tools and libraries provided by the framework.
In short, .NET is a framework that provides a runtime environment and a library of code for building applications, while C# is a programming language that can be used to write code that runs on the .NET framework.
It’s worth noting that while C# was developed by Microsoft and is closely tied to the .NET framework, it is not limited to running on Windows. Thanks to the open source .NET Core, C# can now be used to build applications that run on multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux and macOS.
I hope this helps clear up any confusion you might have had about the difference between .NET and C#.
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BEN ABT
Ben is Chief Engineering Officer and Principal Software Engineer at Medialesson.de, with a strong focus on .NET and Microsoft Azure. In his professional role, he designs and builds highly scalable platforms for hybrid and cloud-based scenarios. He also advises companies and C-levels on migrating to the sovereign cloud.
He runs myCSharp.de, the largest and most active German-speaking C# community forum, actively contributes to both his own and external open-source projects and regularly shares his knowledge through his blog, at community events, conferences and as a writer for technical magazines.
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