.NET: Web Development Explained

The .NET framework, developed by Microsoft, is a versatile and powerful tool for web development. It provides a unified programming model and a comprehensive software infrastructure for building robust and scalable web applications. This glossary article will delve into the intricacies of .NET in the context of web development, providing a thorough understanding of its various components, functionalities, and applications.

Understanding .NET for web development requires a grasp of several key concepts and terminologies. This includes the .NET framework itself, its various components like ASP.NET and MVC, the languages used in .NET development such as C# and VB.NET, and the tools and technologies that support .NET web development. Each of these elements plays a crucial role in the .NET web development process, and this article will explore each in detail.

Understanding the .NET Framework

The .NET framework is a software framework developed by Microsoft that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It provides a consistent object-oriented programming environment, whether object code is stored and executed locally, executed locally but Internet-distributed, or executed remotely. This simplifies the development process and allows developers to focus on the core functionality of their applications.

The .NET framework includes a large class library known as the Framework Class Library (FCL), which provides language interoperability across several programming languages. This means that each language can use code written in other languages, including those not yet created. The .NET framework also includes a common language runtime (CLR) that manages the execution of code and provides services such as memory management, debugging, and exception handling.

The .NET Framework Class Library (FCL)

The Framework Class Library (FCL) is a comprehensive collection of reusable classes, interfaces, and value types that provide solutions to common programming tasks. These include string manipulation, data collection, database connectivity, file access, and web development. The FCL is designed to be used by multiple languages and to provide a consistent object-oriented programming model.

The FCL is organized into namespaces, each of which contains a set of related classes and types. This hierarchical organization makes it easy to find and use the classes and types you need. The FCL also provides a set of base classes that can be inherited and extended to create new classes.

The Common Language Runtime (CLR)

The Common Language Runtime (CLR) is the virtual machine component of the .NET framework. It manages the execution of .NET programs and provides services such as memory management, thread management, and remoting. The CLR also provides a type system, an exception handling model, and a security model.

The CLR uses a just-in-time (JIT) compiler to convert the intermediate language (IL) code that .NET programs are compiled into, into machine code that can be executed by the computer's processor. This allows .NET programs to be platform-independent, as the same IL code can be executed on any computer that has the .NET framework installed.

ASP.NET and MVC

ASP.NET is a free, open-source, server-side web application framework designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. It was developed by Microsoft to allow programmers to build dynamic web sites, applications and services. ASP.NET is built on the Common Language Runtime (CLR), allowing programmers to write ASP.NET code using any supported .NET language.

The ASP.NET MVC framework is a lightweight, highly testable presentation framework that is integrated with the existing ASP.NET features. MVC stands for Model-View-Controller, a design pattern that separates an application into three main components. The Model represents the application core (for instance a list of database records), the View displays the data (the database records), and the Controller handles the input (to the database records).

Understanding ASP.NET

ASP.NET is a server-side web application framework that allows developers to build dynamic web sites, web applications, and web services. It provides a programming model, a comprehensive software infrastructure, and various services required to build robust web applications for PC, as well as mobile devices.

ASP.NET works on top of the HTTP protocol and uses the HTTP commands and policies to set a browser-to-server bilateral communication and cooperation. It is a part of Microsoft .NET platform and is used to create web pages and web technologies. It is the successor of Microsoft's Active Server Pages (ASP) technology.

Understanding MVC

MVC stands for Model-View-Controller. It is a design pattern that separates an application into three main aspects: Model, View, and Controller. The Model represents the application core (for instance a list of database records), the View displays the data (the database records), and the Controller handles the input (to the database records).

The MVC model also provides full control over HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It is designed to be lightweight, providing a clean and organized code, which can be as detailed as necessary, depending on the developer’s requirements. The MVC model also includes many features that enable fast, TDD-friendly development for creating sophisticated applications that use the latest web standards.

Languages Used in .NET Development

The .NET framework supports several programming languages, including C#, Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET), C++, and F#. Each of these languages can be used to develop .NET applications, and they all have access to the same set of features provided by the .NET framework.

C# is the most commonly used language for .NET development. It is a modern, object-oriented programming language that provides strong type checking, array bounds checking, automatic garbage collection, and more. VB.NET is a simple, modern, object-oriented, and type-safe programming language. C++ with .NET support, also known as C++/CLI, provides a powerful and flexible language for writing applications that access the .NET framework.

C# in .NET Development

C# (pronounced "C sharp") is a modern, object-oriented programming language that was developed by Microsoft as part of the .NET initiative. It was designed to be simple and easy to use, while still providing the power and flexibility of C++. C# is strongly typed, meaning that all variables must be declared before they can be used, and it supports both static and dynamic typing.

C# is often used for developing desktop applications and, more recently, Windows 8/10 applications. It is also commonly used for web development, and can be used to write both client-side and server-side code. C# is also the primary language for Unity 3D game development.

VB.NET in .NET Development

Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET) is a multi-paradigm, object-oriented programming language, implemented on the .NET Framework. Microsoft launched VB.NET in 2002 as the successor to its original Visual Basic language. Although the ".NET" portion of the name was dropped in 2005, this article uses "VB.NET" to refer to Visual Basic and Visual Basic .NET, to avoid confusion with the original Visual Basic.

While it is not as popular as C#, VB.NET is still widely used, particularly in business settings. It is a relatively easy language to learn and use, making it a good choice for beginners. VB.NET is also a good choice for developing Windows applications, and it can also be used for web development.

Tools and Technologies Supporting .NET Web Development

There are several tools and technologies that support .NET web development. These include Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) like Visual Studio, libraries and frameworks like Entity Framework and SignalR, and deployment tools like Docker and Azure DevOps.

Visual Studio is a powerful IDE from Microsoft that provides a comprehensive set of tools for developing .NET applications. It includes a code editor, a debugger, a designer for building GUI applications, and support for version control systems. Visual Studio also includes tools for profiling, static code analysis, and automated and manual testing.

Visual Studio

Visual Studio is a full-featured Integrated Development Environment (IDE) from Microsoft. It is used to develop computer programs, websites, web apps, web services, and mobile apps. Visual Studio uses Microsoft software development platforms such as Windows API, Windows Forms, Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows Store, and Microsoft Silverlight.

Visual Studio includes a code editor supporting IntelliSense (the code completion component) as well as code refactoring. The integrated debugger works both as a source-level debugger and a machine-level debugger. Other built-in tools include a forms designer for building GUI applications, web designer, class designer, and database schema designer.

Entity Framework

Entity Framework (EF) is an open-source object-relational mapping (ORM) framework for .NET. It enables developers to work with data as objects and properties, eliminating the need for most of the data-access code that developers usually need to write. EF supports a wide range of database systems, including Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, SQLite, and PostgreSQL.

Entity Framework allows developers to work with data in the form of domain-specific objects and properties, such as customers and customer addresses, without having to concern themselves with the underlying database tables and columns where this data is stored. With Entity Framework, developers can work at a higher level of abstraction when they deal with data, and can create and maintain data-oriented applications with less code than in traditional applications.

Docker and Azure DevOps

Docker is an open-source platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of applications. It uses containerization technology to encapsulate applications and their dependencies into a single, self-contained unit that can be run on any platform. Docker is widely used in .NET development for deploying and managing applications.

Azure DevOps is a Microsoft product that provides version control, reporting, requirements management, project management, automated builds, lab management, testing and release management capabilities. It covers the entire application lifecycle, and enables DevOps capabilities. Azure DevOps can be used with .NET applications to manage the development and deployment process.

Conclusion

The .NET framework is a powerful and versatile tool for web development. It provides a unified programming model and a comprehensive software infrastructure that simplifies the development process and allows developers to focus on the core functionality of their applications. With its support for multiple programming languages, extensive class library, and robust runtime environment, .NET is a compelling choice for web developers.

Understanding .NET for web development requires a grasp of several key concepts and terminologies. This includes the .NET framework itself, its various components like ASP.NET and MVC, the languages used in .NET development such as C# and VB.NET, and the tools and technologies that support .NET web development. Each of these elements plays a crucial role in the .NET web development process, and this article has explored each in detail.