.NET Framework

[ming]

I've come across a very small number of applications that had this as part of the system requirements, but I've never bothered installing it after a clean install of Windows.

What is .NET Framework and what does it do?

 

[o0RaidR0o]

What Is .NET?
Microsoft® .NET is a set of software technologies for connecting information, people, systems, and devices. This new generation of technology is based on Web services—small building-block applications that can connect to each other as well as to other, larger applications over the Internet.

The Basics of .NET
The foundation of .NET is Web services: small, reusable applications written in Extensible Markup Language (XML) that allow users to connect with applications and data over a network.

In otherwords in a home environment it is absolutely useless and you'll never use it.