What is the difference between .NET Framework/Co...

The differences between .NET Framework, .NET Core, and .NET Standard class library project types are significant and revolve around their intended use cases, compatibility, and platform support. Here is a detailed comparison:

.NET Framework Class Library

• Platform Support: .NET Framework class libraries are designed to work exclusively on Windows. They are not cross-platform.
• Compatibility: These libraries can only be used within applications that are also targeting the .NET Framework. They are not compatible with .NET Core or other .NET implementations.
• Use Cases: Ideal for legacy applications or applications that need to leverage specific Windows-only technologies such as Windows Forms, WPF, or ASP.NET Web Forms.
• Deployment: Typically installed as a single package on the Windows operating system[1][3][4].

.NET Core Class Library

• Platform Support: .NET Core class libraries are cross-platform and can run on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
• Compatibility: These libraries are designed to be used within .NET Core applications. They are not directly compatible with .NET Framework applications.
• Use Cases: Suitable for modern, cloud-based, and high-performance applications that need to run on multiple operating systems. They support microservices and containerized applications.
• Deployment: Packaged and installed independently of the underlying operating system, making them more modular and portable[1][3][4].

.NET Standard Class Library

• Platform Support: .NET Standard is a specification that defines a set of APIs that all .NET implementations must support. Libraries targeting .NET Standard can run on any .NET platform that implements the corresponding version of .NET Standard, including .NET Framework, .NET Core, Xamarin, and others.
• Compatibility: These libraries are the most versatile, as they can be used across different .NET implementations. This makes them ideal for creating reusable libraries that need to be shared across various .NET platforms.
• Use Cases: Best for creating libraries that need to be used in multiple .NET environments, ensuring maximum compatibility and code reuse.
• Deployment: The .NET Standard libraries are distributed via NuGet packages and can be referenced by any project that targets a compatible .NET Standard...