.NET: Glossary

.NET terms include the following.

Term	Definition
ActiveX	ActiveX is a framework for defining reusable software components in a programming language independent way. This technology is often used to develop user interface controls, and the controls so developed are therefore called ActiveX controls, or OLE controls after the older terminology.
CCW	COM Callable Wrapper is a proxy that enables you to use .NET code from a COM client.
CLR	Common Language Runtime "brings to the table" cross-language integration, security and versioning support, and garbage collection  (MSDN)
COM	The Microsoft Component Object Model is a binary interface standard to allow for reuse of objects with no knowledge of their internal implementation in environments different from the one they were created in.
Managed Code	Code that operates within the .NET CLR.
.NET	The Microsoft .NET Framework is a software framework that includes a large library of coded solutions to common programming problems and a virtual machine that manages the execution of programs written specifically for the framework.
.NET component	A component is a special type of executable built from a .NET project. typically referenced by applications needing the services provided by the component. (MSDN)
Unmanaged Code	Code that operates outside the .NET CLR. All COM code is unmanaged code.
Win32	The 32-bit Windows of Application Programming Interfaces. This is Microsoft's core set of APIs available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Windows Forms	Windows Forms, or shortly WinForms, is the graphical API included as a part of the Microsoft .NET Framework, providing access to native Windows interface elements and controls. The .NET Framework 4 now includes sophisticated charting features that are based on Windows Forms.
WPF	The Windows Presentation Foundation is a graphical subsystem for rendering user interfaces in Windows-based applications. WPF, initially released as part of .NET Framework 3.0, provides a consistent programming model for building applications with a clear separation between the user interface and the business logic.