junior.NET Core

What is .NET Core and how is it different from .NET Framework?

Updated Apr 28, 2026

Short answer

.NET Core is a cross-platform framework, while .NET Framework is Windows-only.

Deep explanation

.NET Core is open-source, modular, and supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. It is optimized for cloud-native and microservices architectures, whereas .NET Framework is tightly coupled to Windows and monolithic.

Real-world example

Building APIs deployed on Linux containers using Docker.

Common mistakes

  • Using Windows-only libraries in .NET Core applications.

Follow-up questions

  • What is CoreCLR?
  • Why is .NET Core preferred for microservices?

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