---
title: "What is .NET Core, and how does it differ from the traditional .NET Framework?"  
description: "What is .NET Core, and how does it differ from the traditional .NET Framework?"  
author: "Utpal Vishwas"  
published: 2023-08-30  
updated: 2023-09-02  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/159738/what-is-dot-net-core-and-how-does-it-differ-from-the-traditional-dot-net-framework  
category: ".net core"  
tags: [".net framework", "asp.net core", ".net core"]  
reading_time: 3 minutes  

---

# What is .NET Core, and how does it differ from the traditional .NET Framework?

What is .NET Core, and how does it [differ from the traditional](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/116293/how-does-agile-sdlc-differ-from-the-traditional-waterfall-model) .NET [Framework](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/34615/software-framework-vs-library)?

## Replies

### Reply by Aryan Kumar

.NET Core is a cross-platform, open-source development platform that is used to build applications for the web, desktop, and mobile. It is a modular framework that can be used to build applications that are smaller, faster, and more secure than applications that are built on the traditional .NET Framework.

Here are some of the key differences between .NET Core and the traditional .NET Framework:

- **Cross-platform:** .NET Core can be used to build applications that run on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The traditional .NET Framework is only available for Windows.
- **Modular:** .NET Core is a modular framework, which means that you can only include the parts of the framework that you need for your application. The traditional .NET Framework is a monolithic framework, which means that you have to include all of the framework, even if you don't need all of it.
- **Open-source:** .NET Core is an open-source framework, which means that it is freely available to anyone to use and modify. The traditional .NET Framework is not open-source.
- **Performance:** .NET Core applications are typically faster than applications that are built on the traditional .NET Framework.
- **Security:** .NET Core is a more secure framework than the traditional .NET Framework.

If you are looking to build a cross-platform, modular, open-source, and secure application, then .NET Core is the best choice.

Here are some of the benefits of using .NET Core:

- **Cross-platform:** .NET Core can be used to build applications that run on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This makes it a good choice for developing applications that need to be portable and can be deployed to multiple platforms.
- **Modular:** .NET Core is a modular framework, which means that you can only include the parts of the framework that you need for your application. This makes it a good choice for developing lightweight applications.
- **Open-source:** .NET Core is an open-source framework, which means that it is freely available to anyone to use and modify. This makes it a good choice for developing applications that need to be customizable and extensible.
- **Performance:** .NET Core applications are typically faster than applications that are built on the traditional .NET Framework. This makes it a good choice for developing high-performance applications.
- **Security:** .NET Core is a more secure framework than the traditional .NET Framework. This makes it a good choice for developing applications that need to be secure.

If you are looking for a modern, cross-platform, and open-source development framework, then .NET Core is a good choice.


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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/159738/what-is-dot-net-core-and-how-does-it-differ-from-the-traditional-dot-net-framework

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