what is .net?

.Net is a software development platform developed by Microsoft. It is developed by microsoft to compete Java in the market. Using .net there is no need to learn new programming language. It supports 48 programming languages like as C, C++, C#, J#, VB etc. Hence we can do programming in any programming language in which you feel comfortable to yourself. Infact .Net is a collection of :

.Net products :
Visual Studio 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011

.Net Service :

Webservices, Window comunication foundation (WCF)

.Net framework :
Integrated development environment (IDE), Software development kit (SDK)

.Net versions released
1.0 released on 13 feb 2002.

1.1 released in april 2003.

2.0 released on 7 nov 2005.

3.0 released on 6 nov 2006.

3.5 released on 19 nov 2007.

4.0 released on 12 april 2010.

4.5 released on 29 Feb 2012.

Platform support

.Net framework runs on Window Xp, Window 2000, NT4, ME/98, SP6a, Vista, Window 7, Window Server 2003, 2008

Window 95 is not supported.

Window 98/ME can't be used for development.

.Net Framework

.Net framework is a tool of .Net platform for building, deploying and running webservices, web applications and window applications. Mazor elements of .Net framework are CLR (common language runtime), FCL(framework class library), webservices, window & webforms/applications.
Features of .Net framework

It is a layer between operating system(OS) and programming language.

It supports many programming languages.

.Net provides a common set of class library which can be accessed from any .Net based programming language.

Summary

The most/main advantage of .Net is that there is no need to learn new language to program on the .Net platform. It supports multiple language development. Supports high-level of communiction among applications. Supports various protocols such as SOAP, XML, HTTP. A huge and powerful class library with over 2000 classes.