Regarding C#

Question

HI I am confused regarding C# whether to run a C# do we really need a .NET compiler or C# has its own complier like C++. I want to know that when we say C# then it is mandatory to perform it on a .NET compiler or C# is a stand alone language like VB. I want to know more about C# and please suggest me the books

Mike Gold · Answer

Currently .NET runs requiring a runtime (Common Language Runtime or CLR) and requires a C# (or VB.NET) compiler to compile the code into IL (Intermediate Language) to be interpreted by the CLR. That is not to say that someone cannot create a compiler with C# (the language) to create a pure binary x86 executable or create an equivalent library in .NET that also gets built into the executable but the .NET concept as it currently stands uses a runtime on the PC. Mike Gold (Microsoft MVP)