ActiveX
Microsoft's brand name for the technologies that enable interoperability among components using the Component Object Model (COM)

Active Server Pages (ASP.NET)
ASP technology provides an open, compile-free application environment in which Web developers can combine HTML, scripts, and reusable Active Server components. ASP technology enables server-side scripting for IIS with native support for both Visual Basic Scripting Edition and JScript.

Assembly
A collection of functionality built, versioned, and deployed as a single implementation unit (one or multiple files). An assembly is the primary building block of a .NET Framework application. All managed types and resources are marked either as accessible only within their implementation unit or as exported for use by code outside that unit.

Assembly Manifest
The manifest establishes the assembly identity, specifies the files that make up the assembly implementation, specifies the types and resources that make up the assembly, itemizes the compile-time dependencies on other assemblies, and specifies the set of permissions required for the assembly to run properly.

Boxing
The conversion of a value type instance to an object, which implies that the instance will carry full type information at run time and will be allocated in the heap.

Common Language Runtime (CLR)
Manages the execution of  code compiled for the .NET platform.

Component Object Model (COM)
The programming model and binary standard on which ActiveX and Automation technologies are based. COM defines how ActiveX and OLE objects and their clients interact within processes or across process boundaries.

COM object
An object that conforms to the Component Object Model. Such objects implement and use the set of interfaces that support object interaction.

Dynamic Link Library (DLL)
A Dynamic Link Library (DLL) is a file of code containing functions that can be called from other executable code (either an application or another DLL). Programmers use DLLs to provide code that they can reuse and to parcel out distinct jobs. Unlike an executable (EXE) file, a DLL cannot be directly run. DLLs must be called from other code that is already executing.

Encapsulation
The ability of an object to hide its internal data and methods, making only the intended parts of the object programmatically accessible.

Global Assembly Cache (GAC)
A machine-wide code cache that stores assemblies specifically installed to be shared by many applications on the computer. Applications deployed in the global assembly cache must have a strong name.

Managed Code
Code that runs under a "contract of cooperation" with the common language runtime. Managed code must supply the metadata necessary for the runtime to provide services such as memory management, cross-language integration, code access security, and automatic lifetime control of objects. All code based on Microsoft intermediate language (MSIL) executes as managed code. See also: Microsoft intermediate language (MSIL).

Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL)
A language used as the output of a number of compilers and as the input to a just-in-time (JIT) compiler. The common language runtime includes a JIT compiler for converting MSIL to native code. See also: JIT compilation.

Namespaces
A logical naming scheme for grouping related types. The .NET Framework uses a hierarchical naming scheme for grouping types into logical categories of related functionality, such as the ASP.NET technology or remoting functionality.

.NET Framework
A platform for building, deploying, and running XML Web services and applications. The .NET Framework consists of three main parts: the common language runtime, a hierarchical set of unified class libraries, and ASP.NET.

Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)
A simple, XML-based protocol for exchanging structured and type information on the Web. The protocol contains no application or transport semantics, which makes it highly modular and extensible.
 
Strong Name
A name that consists of an assembly's identity—its simple text name, version number, and culture information (if provided)—strengthened by a public key and a digital signature generated over the assembly.