What is the Difference Between Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and .NET Framework 4.0?

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The main differences between the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and .NET Framework 4.0 are as follows:

  1. Optimization for multi-core systems: .NET Framework 4.0 is optimized for running on computers with multiple cores, while .NET Framework 3.5 was not optimized for multi-core operation.
  2. Code Contracts: .NET Framework 4.0 supports code contracts, which allow developers to express assumptions about their code in a way that can be easily validated and verified.
  3. Data Access and Modeling: .NET Framework 4.0 comes with improvements in data access methods and data modeling techniques, as well as enhancements to ASP.NET, such as new query entity templates and more control over HTML.
  4. Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF): .NET Framework 4.0 showcases improvements in WPF, offering better performance and functionality.
  5. Availability: .NET Framework 3.5 is built into Windows 7, while .NET Framework 4.0 is not. To install .NET Framework 4.0, you must download it from the official website or let the built-in updater install it.

These differences make .NET Framework 4.0 more advanced and capable than .NET Framework 3.5, offering developers a more efficient and feature-rich environment for building applications.

Comparative Table: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 vs .NET Framework 4.0

The main differences between the .NET Framework 3.5 and .NET Framework 4.0 are as follows:

Feature .NET Framework 3.5 .NET Framework 4.0
New Features No significant new features compared to .NET 3.0 Major improvements and new features, such as multi-targeting, parallel computing, dynamic keyword, and code contracts
Targeting Supports multi-targeting, allowing developers to target multiple framework versions No multi-targeting support
Web Installer Size Requires a faster internet connection for installation Smaller web installers (below 1MB) for faster installation
EnableViewState Property Two values: "True" and "False" Three values: "Inherit", "Disable", and "Enable"

Please note that these differences are not exhaustive, as there are many other improvements and changes in .NET Framework 4.0 compared to 3.5. For a complete list of new features and improvements, you can refer to the official documentation.