Common language runtime
Microsoft's .NET initiated this virtual machine component called Common Language Runtime (CLR). CLR is Microsoft's commercial implementation of the Common Line infrastructure (CLI). CLI is an international standard. It helps to create a development and execution virtual environments where computer languages and libraries can work seamlessly. The CLI can run on operating systems other than Microsoft's Windows operating system. On the other hand the CLR runs only on the Windows operating system. The Common Language Runtime is referred to be a "managed execution environment" by Microsoft.
The common language runtime is the basis on which the .NET Framework is best. Microsoft considers it to be an essential part of .NET. The CLR is plays an important role in the execution of applications. It allows these applications to interact with the other components of the Framework. This means that the CLR controls the execution process of programs. The CLR can be compared to Sun Microsystems Java Virtual Machine. This Java Virtual Machine helps to compile files written the Java script. These programs could be written in any language supported by the operating system. The command language runtime secures, optimizes and provides various robust capabilities like side-by-side execution and application deployment.
A bytecode called as the Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) is executed by the CLR. The MSIL is Microsoft's implementation of the Common Intermediate Language. Program developers who write codes in high level language such as C#, c++ or VB.Net (i.e. Visual Basic) use the CLR write code. The Common Language Runtime's virtual machine aspect allows the developers and programmers to overlook a lot of details related to the specific Central Processing Unit (CPU), which does the process of executing the program. During the compilation of these high-level languages a .Net compiler will convert the codes into Microsoft's Intermediate Language (MSIL). During the runtime of the program, Common Language Runtime's compiler called the Just-in-time (JIT) compiler converts the MSIL code in a code that is recognized and understood by the operating system (OS). The code can be converted into the operating systems native language from the Microsoft's Intermediate Language (MSIL) before runtime. This will add an additional step to the compilation of the program. The compilation from the MSIL code to the operating systems native language is no longer necessary during the later runs. This will enhance the speed of the later runs. The program compiled for the CLR can be easily moved or executed on any system, which has a Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system. The program will not need a language specific execution environment.
Metadata is the program in which the environment specific descriptive information is stored. The Metadata helps the CLR to detect the type of the language used and its version. It also tells the CLR the class of the library required by the program.
The CLR provides a variety of other important services. Some of the services provided by the CLR are security, thread management, debugging services, exception management, memory management and returns the memory that is not required back to the computer i.e. garbage collection.
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