Microsoft .NET Framework

Microsoft .NET framework 3 is required to run certain types of Windows applications. Version 3 was distributed with computers running Windows Server 2008 and Vista. It includes version 2.0 of Microsoft's Common Language Runtime, which converts lines of code into instructions the computer can understand. The .NET framework allows the computer to convert code and execute instructions in real-time, so your applications can run faster.

The CLR component of Microsoft .NET framework 3 also contains memory management tools, exception handling and thread management services for .NET applications. Installing .NET framework gives your computer the ability to execute multiple threads of instructions at the same time. Multithread processing increases the application's efficiency and allows it to scale to a larger scope when needed. Exceptions are processed without terminating the execution of the remainder of the program.

Another key feature of the software is the Framework Class Library, which defines a set of value types, interfaces and classes that can be used by any application written in the .NET framework. Each class includes detailed parameters that define its type, size, name and any other pertinent information. This reduces the amount of code that must be dedicated to establishing these basic items before the programmer can get to the main focus of the application.