.NET

What is .NET?

.NET (pronounced "dot net") is a free, open-source developer platform from Microsoft for building and running applications on Windows, Linux and macOS. It combines a runtime that executes code, a large library of ready-made components and languages such as C#, F# and Visual Basic. The modern platform is maintained by Microsoft with the .NET Foundation and the open-source community.

When people say ".NET" today, they usually mean modern .NET (versions 5 and later), not the older, Windows-only .NET Framework. Both still exist, but new projects are built on modern .NET. Learn more on Microsoft's What is .NET? page.

What is .NET used for?

.NET powers enterprise websites, web APIs, cloud services, internal business apps, desktop software, mobile apps and games. For websites, developers use ASP.NET Core, the web framework built into .NET. Many enterprise content management systems and digital experience platforms (DXPs) run on .NET because it scales well, integrates closely with Microsoft tools and Azure, and suits organizations with in-house Microsoft skills.

How did .NET evolve?

.NET started as a Windows-only Microsoft framework and became open source and cross-platform over the following decade. The key milestones:

What are the current .NET versions?

Microsoft releases a new major version of .NET every November. Even-numbered releases are Long Term Support (LTS) with three years of free patches; odd-numbered releases are Standard Term Support (STS) with two years. Both have the same quality; only the support length differs.

.NET 11 reached its second release candidate on 13 October 2026, with general availability expected in November 2026. Teams on .NET 8 or 9 should plan to move to .NET 10 before support ends on 10 November 2026. Dates per Microsoft's .NET support policy. Platforms built on .NET have their own lifecycles too; see Kentico's product support lifecycle and why End of Support differs from End of Life.

Is .NET secure?

.NET is considered a secure platform when it is kept on a supported version and patched regularly. Static typing and compile-time checks catch many errors before code runs, and Microsoft ships security fixes monthly. Like any runtime, .NET does have vulnerabilities; the risk comes from running an out-of-support version or skipping patches.

In October 2026, for example, two critical flaws in PHP affected sites built on WordPress, Drupal and Magento. .NET-based platforms were not affected by those flaws, but they rely on the same discipline: a supported version, regular updates and a vendor that ships fixes. Kentico covers this with security built into the platform and evergreen updates.

Which CMSs run on .NET?

Many enterprise CMS and DXP platforms are built on .NET, especially those aimed at organizations with Microsoft-based IT.

For comparison, WordPress, Drupal, Joomla and Magento run on PHP. See CMS vs. DXP for how these platform types differ.

What is .NET vs PHP?

.NET is a compiled development platform most often used with C#; PHP is an interpreted scripting language built for web pages. Both power websites and CMSs, but they suit different teams and projects.

.NET 11 reached its second release candidate on 13 October 2026, with general availability expected in November 2026. Teams on .NET 8 or 9 should plan to move to .NET 10 before support ends on 10 November 2026. Dates per Microsoft's .NET support policy. Platforms built on .NET have their own lifecycles too; see Kentico's product support lifecycle and why End of Support differs from End of Life.

Is .NET secure?

.NET is considered a secure platform when it is kept on a supported version and patched regularly. Static typing and compile-time checks catch many errors before code runs, and Microsoft ships security fixes monthly. Like any runtime, .NET does have vulnerabilities; the risk comes from running an out-of-support version or skipping patches.

In October 2026, for example, two critical flaws in PHP affected sites built on WordPress, Drupal and Magento. .NET-based platforms were not affected by those flaws, but they rely on the same discipline: a supported version, regular updates and a vendor that ships fixes. Kentico covers this with security built into the platform and evergreen updates.

Does Kentico use .NET?

Yes. Kentico has built on Microsoft .NET since the company's founding in 2004. Today, Xperience by Kentico runs on modern .NET with ASP.NET Core, and its administration interface uses .NET with React (Kentico docs).

Because Xperience by Kentico is evergreen, customers receive regular platform updates rather than facing major version cliffs. Teams can run it on Xperience by Kentico SaaS, where Kentico manages hosting and infrastructure updates, or in their own private cloud. The platform also includes built-in security, and Kentico is ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type II audited.