This book explores ASP.NET, which is a core part of Microsoft’s .NET Framework. The .NET Framework

is not a single application—it’s actually a collection of technologies bundled into one marketing term.

The .NET Framework includes languages such as C# 2010 and VB 2010, an engine for hosting

programmable web pages, a model for interacting with databases (ADO.NET), a higher-level

framework for performing queries (LINQ and the Entity Framework), and a class library stocked with

tools for everything from reading files to validating a password. To master ASP.NET, you need to learn

about each of these ingredients.

This book covers all these topics from the ground up. As a result, you’ll find yourself learning

many techniques that will interest any .NET developer, even those who create Windows applications.

For example, you’ll learn about component-based programming; you’ll discover structured error

handling; and you’ll see how to access files, XML, and relational databases. You’ll also learn the key

topics you need for web programming, such as state management, web controls, and caching. By the

end of this book, you’ll be ready to create your own rich web applications and make them available

over the Internet.