What is the meaning of term "Framework" in Programming Environment ?

[22990atinesh]

Hello,
What is the meaning of term "Framework" (Programming Environment). I've usually keep hearing this term, But didn't understand the meaning.
Suppose we we say .NET Framework, then what actually does it refers.

 

[Filip Larsen]

In very loose terms, a framework usually provides or even enforces much more structure to your application than, say, a mere library. I suggest reading the Wikipedia article on the subject [1] for a general notion of framework. In the .NET case, I would say that it refers to the whole development-side of .NET (with supporting development tools), as opposed to say the run-time part or just the set of libraries.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_framework