Introduction

What is C#? Pronounced “see-sharp,” C# is a brand-new language from Microsoft. It looks a lot like a mixture of C++ and Java, but it’s as easy to use as Microsoft Visual Basic, and can be used to build Web applications, desktop Windows applications, and Console Applications, which are applications that look like DOS applications.

C# is one of the languages for Microsoft’s new development platform: the .NET Framework; some would argue that it’s the premier language for the .NET Framework. Media reports have made .NET sound like the latest marketing buzz word from Microsoft to describe any Web-related product they might have, sort of like their obsession with the letter X (as in ActiveX or even Xbox), but the press is usually clueless ...

Get C# Web Development with ASP.NET: Visual QuickStart Guide now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.