The .NET Framework is a technology that supports building and running the next generation of applications and XML Web services. The .NET Framework is designed to fulfil the following objectives:
To provide a consistent object-oriented programming environment whether object code is stored and executed locally, executed locally but Internet-distributed, or executed remotely.
To provide a code-execution environment that minimizes software deployment and versioning conflicts.
To provide a code-execution environment that promotes safe execution of code, including code created by an unknown or semi-trusted third party.
To provide a code-execution environment that eliminates the performance problems of scripted or interpreted environments.
To make the developer experience consistent across widely varying types of applications, such as Windows-based applications and Web-based applications.
To build all communication on industry standards to ensure that code based on the .NET Framework can integrate with any other code.

Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) is a framework for building service-oriented applications. Using WCF, you can send data as asynchronous messages from one service endpoint to another. A service endpoint can be part of a continuously available service hosted by IIS, or it can be a service hosted in an application. An endpoint can be a client of a service that requests data from a service endpoint. The messages can be as simple as a single character or word sent as XML, or as complex as a stream of binary data. A few sample scenarios include:
A secure service to process business transactions.
A service that supplies current data to others, such as a traffic report or other monitoring service.
A chat service that allows two people to communicate or exchange data in real time.
A dashboard application that polls one or more services for data and presents it in a logical presentation.
Exposing a workflow implemented using Windows Workflow Foundation as a WCF service.
A Silverlight application to poll a service for the latest data feeds.

Windows Workflow Foundation is a framework that enables users to create system or human workflows in their applications written for Windows Vista, Windows XP, and the Windows Server 2003 operating systems. It consists of a namespace, an in-process workflow engine, and designers for Visual Studio 2005. Windows Workflow Foundation can be used to solve simple scenarios, such as showing UI controls based on user input, or complex scenarios encountered by large enterprises, such as order processing and inventory control. Windows Workflow Foundation comes with a programming model, a rehostable and customizable workflow engine, and tools for quickly building workflow-enabled applications on Windows.
Scenarios that Windows Workflow Foundation addresses include:
Enabling workflow within line-of-business applications.
User-interface page flows.
Document-centric workflows.
Human workflows.
Composite workflows for service-oriented applications.
Business rule-driven workflows.
Workflows for systems management.

Windows Presentation Foundation (or WPF) is a graphical subsystem for rendering user interfaces in Windows-based applications by Microsoft. WPF, was initially released as part of .NET Framework 3.0. Rather than relying on the older GDI subsystem, WPF uses DirectX. WPF attempts to provide a consistent programming model for building applications and separates the user interface from business logic. It resembles similar XML-oriented object models, such as those implemented in XUL and SVG.

WPF employs XAML, an XML-based language, to define and link various interface elements. WPF applications can be deployed as standalone desktop programs or hosted as an embedded object in a website. WPF aims to unify a number of common user interface elements, such as 2D/3D rendering, fixed and adaptive documents, typography, vector graphics, runtime animation, and pre-rendered media. These elements can then be linked and manipulated based on various events, user interactions, and data bindings.