---
title: "Assembly in .Net"  
description: "In this blog, I’m explaining about assembly in .Net  An assembly is grouping of files deployed as a single file. An assembly almost always consists of"  
author: "priyanka kushwaha"  
published: 2015-01-21  
updated: 2015-01-21  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/724/assembly-in-dot-net  
category: ".net"  
tags: [".net", ".net assembly"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# Assembly in .Net

In this blog, I’m explaining about [assembly in .Net](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/155581/what-is-assembly-in-dot-net-framework)\

An assembly is grouping of files deployed as a [single file](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/161633/how-do-you-merge-multiple-text-files-into-a-single-file). An assembly almost always consists of at least [two files](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/2597/can-you-have-two-files-with-the-same-file-name-in-gac):

1) Executable

2) Manifest.

Assemblies are the [building blocks](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/2557/what-are-the-core-building-blocks-of-android) of .NET framework [application](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/12824/calculator-application-in-android). During compile time Metadata is create with [Microsoft](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/12301/microsoft-is-trying-to-kill-passwords) Intermediate language (MSIL) and store in a file called assembly manifest. Both Metadata and Microsoft Intermediate language (MSIL) wrapped in a portable Executable file.

The manifest is a list of all the files that exist inside the assembly.

Conceptually, modules correspond to DLLs or EXEs; each module contains metadata, in addition to the metadata of its parent assembly. The assembly format is an enhanced version of the current Portable Executable (PE) format.

Note: Each Assembly can have only one [entry point](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/675/what-is-the-entry-point-for-window-based-application) (that is, DllMain, WinMain, or Main).

##### Types Of assembly

1. Shared assembly

2. Private assembly

3. Satellite assembly

##### Private assembly

A private Assembly is used only by single application. It is generally stored in application [root folder](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/486/jquery-file-in-root-folder).

##### Shared assembly

A shared Assembly is one that can be referenced by more than on application. If [multiple applications](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/109321/what-to-do-if-my-computer-freezes-when-opening-multiple-applications) need to access an assembly.

##### Satellite Assembly

A Satellite Assembly contains only static objects like images and other non-executable files required by the application.

---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/724/assembly-in-dot-net

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