Essential .NET, Volume 1: The Common Language Runtime

Where Are We?

Modules and assemblies are the component building blocks of the CLR. Each CLR type resides in exactly one physical file (called a module), which contains the code and metadata that make that type real. To be deployed, a module must be associated with a logical assembly that gives the module's types a fully qualified name. The CLR loader works primarily in terms of assemblies, with modules (and types) being loaded only as they are needed. The CLR loader typically works in terms of location-independent assembly names that are resolved to physical file paths or URLs prior to loading. This not only allows more flexible deployment and versioning, but it also ensures that the component's origin cannot be spoofed through the use of public ...