{"id":54122,"date":"2025-11-23T17:29:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T17:29:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devopsschool.com\/blog\/?p=54122"},"modified":"2025-11-23T17:29:38","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T17:29:38","slug":"an-overview-of-net-asp-net-and-asp-net-core","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devopsschool.com\/blog\/an-overview-of-net-asp-net-and-asp-net-core\/","title":{"rendered":"An Overview of .NET, ASP.NET, and ASP.NET Core"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2705 <strong>1. .NET (formerly .NET Framework \/ now .NET 5+)<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>.NET<\/strong> is the <strong>overall software development platform<\/strong> from Microsoft.<br>It provides:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>runtime<\/strong> (CLR \u2014 Common Language Runtime)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <strong>base class library<\/strong> (BCL)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Languages like <strong>C#, VB.NET, F#<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tools for building many types of apps:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Desktop (WPF, WinForms)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mobile (MAUI\/Xamarin)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Web (ASP.NET)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cloud<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Games (Unity uses C#)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key note:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Originally there was <strong>.NET Framework<\/strong> (Windows-only).<br>Now there is <strong>.NET (Core-based)<\/strong> \u2014 cross-platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2705 <strong>2. ASP.NET<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ASP.NET<\/strong> is <strong>a web application framework<\/strong> that runs on <strong>.NET Framework<\/strong> (old, Windows-only).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Used to build:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Web Forms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MVC<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Web API<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Characteristics:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Runs only on <strong>Windows<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Older technology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Still used in large legacy systems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2705 <strong>3. ASP.NET Core<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ASP.NET Core<\/strong> is the <strong>modern, redesigned, cross-platform<\/strong> version of ASP.NET.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key features:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Faster and more lightweight<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unified framework for:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>MVC<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Razor Pages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minimal APIs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blazor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SignalR<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open-source<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cloud-optimized<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recommended for all new development<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>ASP.NET Core runs on the modern <strong>.NET runtime<\/strong> (formerly .NET Core).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udd25 <strong>Summary Table<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Technology<\/th><th>What It Is<\/th><th>Platform<\/th><th>Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>.NET<\/strong><\/td><td>Platform\/runtime for building apps<\/td><td>Windows\/Linux\/macOS<\/td><td>Current &amp; modern<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>.NET Framework<\/strong><\/td><td>Original .NET (legacy)<\/td><td>Windows only<\/td><td>Maintenance mode<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>ASP.NET<\/strong><\/td><td>Web framework for .NET Framework<\/td><td>Windows only<\/td><td>Legacy<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>ASP.NET Core<\/strong><\/td><td>Modern, cross-platform web framework<\/td><td>Windows\/Linux\/macOS<\/td><td>Recommended for new apps<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udfaf Final Simple Explanation<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>.NET<\/strong> = the platform\/runtime.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ASP.NET<\/strong> = old web framework on .NET Framework (Windows-only).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ASP.NET Core<\/strong> = the new, fast, cross-platform web framework on modern .NET.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2705 <strong>Latest Top 5 Versions of .NET (Modern .NET)<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>.NET 9 (2024)<\/strong> \u2013 Latest stable<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>.NET 8 (2023, LTS)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>.NET 7 (2022)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>.NET 6 (2021, LTS)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>.NET 5 (2020)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2705 <strong>Latest Top 5 Versions of ASP.NET Core<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(ASP.NET Core version = .NET runtime version)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>ASP.NET Core 9<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ASP.NET Core 8 (LTS)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ASP.NET Core 7<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ASP.NET Core 6 (LTS)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ASP.NET Core 5<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u26a0\ufe0f <strong>ASP.NET (Old Framework) \u2013 Latest Versions<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>ASP.NET (WebForms, MVC 5, Web API 2) is part of <strong>.NET Framework<\/strong>, which is no longer developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>latest version is:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>ASP.NET (Framework) 4.8.1<\/strong> (Only one latest version)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No new versions exist after this.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So its \u201ctop 5 latest\u201d is basically:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>ASP.NET 4.8.1<\/strong> (2022)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ASP.NET 4.8<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ASP.NET 4.7.2<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ASP.NET 4.7.1<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ASP.NET 4.7<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udfaf Quick Summary<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Category<\/th><th>Latest Top 5 Versions<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>.NET<\/strong><\/td><td>9, 8 (LTS), 7, 6 (LTS), 5<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>ASP.NET Core<\/strong><\/td><td>9, 8 (LTS), 7, 6 (LTS), 5<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>ASP.NET (Framework)<\/strong><\/td><td>4.8.1, 4.8, 4.7.2, 4.7.1, 4.7<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just tell me!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2705 1. .NET (formerly .NET Framework \/ now .NET 5+) .NET is the overall software development platform from Microsoft.It provides: Key note: Originally there was .NET Framework (Windows-only).Now there is&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[11138],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-best-tools"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devopsschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devopsschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devopsschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devopsschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devopsschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54122"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.devopsschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54123,"href":"https:\/\/www.devopsschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54122\/revisions\/54123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devopsschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devopsschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devopsschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}