What is a Framework and what does the .NET Framework provide?

A framework is a pre built set of tools, libraries, and rules that developers use as a foundation to build applications faster and more consistently, instead of writing every piece of functionality from scratch. The dot NET Framework specifically provides the Common Language Runtime for executing code, the Base Class Library for common tasks like file handling and networking, and technologies such as ASP.NET for web development and Windows Forms or WPF for desktop applications, all running only on Windows.

// The dot NET Framework provides ready made classes
using System.IO;
File.WriteAllText("log.txt", "Application started");