CoreFX is .NET’s class library: a reusable collection of APIs for base-level programming tasks. It includes collections, algorithms, console output, file I/O, and network I/O, so applications can rely on established framework functionality instead of rebuilding common infrastructure. section 1.1
CoreFX sits alongside the CoreCLR runtime and language compilers in the .NET platform. The runtime executes compiled code and supplies services such as just-in-time compilation and memory management; CoreFX supplies reusable application-facing types and operations. section 1.1
Use CoreFX APIs when an application needs to:
- Store and process data with collections and algorithms. section 1.1
- Interact with the operating environment through console output and file I/O. section 1.1
- Communicate with external systems through network I/O. section 1.1
- Determine which capabilities are already available in .NET and which require external packages. section 1.4
Choosing a platform capability
A .NET application that reads files, writes console output, organizes values in collections, or performs network I/O can begin with CoreFX APIs. Broader application features may instead use related projects such as Entity Framework Core or ASP.NET Core. section 1.1
Figure 1.1 .NET compilers, CIL, and CoreCLR
Use the platform diagram to see how compilers, CIL, CoreCLR, and CoreFX fit together. section 1.1
