.NET platform, .NET environment or .NET framework which is correct? And what's the difference between platform/environment/framework?

Question

In some documents (i.e. ECMA-334) the name of '.NET framework' is used, but in other documents (in many books), '.NET platform' is used. I saw someone refer .NET as .NET environment.

• Which one is correct nomenclature for .NET?
• In general, what's the difference between platform/environment/framework?

ADDED

It's not easy to see that those three names are the same as

• We don't say Qt platform, but we say Qt framework
• We say cross platform to indicate the interoperability upon many OS, but not cross framework.

If people just say .NET environment, .NET platform, and .NET framework as the same meaning only for the .NET, I can buy that.

Answer 1

All are correct. They're essentially synonyms.

Answer 2

These are semantically identical. Usage depends only on the context where it is used:

• You build code using .NET framework (equals .NET libraries)

• The code runs on the .NET platform (in the CLR)

• You need to install .NET environment (.NET framework redistributable)

None of them is the only "correct one" while all are correct for all scenarios.

Answer 3

Agreed, although, I'd say general practice is to refer to it as the .NET framework.

.NET covers a lot of areas that in other ecosystems are separate entities/projects. So for example, on the Java platform, you build an app with a framework like Spring or Struts. In .Net you'd use ASP.NET MVC, or say Entity Framework, but those are both inherently part of the platform. Think of platform as "not requiring an additional install".

Answer 4

Environment is a generic one where the needs for platform is provided.

Architectures are usually focused on specific problem contexts while frameworks are designed to be used in entirely different problem contexts.

This is more generic answer which is appicable to all and just not .Net