.NET Platforms Feature Comparison

Developer Support

App Dev Manager, Linkai Yu builds a namespace comparison for .NET Core 3.1, .NET Core Standard 2.1, and .NET Framework 4.8 to easily visualize some of the feature differences.


I often get asked about the feature comparison among .NET Framework/.NET Core/.NET Standard during roadmap discussions for application development. There are quite a few documents and blogs about this topic that provide enough information for developers/architects to make decision, but there are situations where people would like to have a comprehensive view of the feature comparison. Instead of digging into every feature across all three platform, I compiled a list of namespaces in each platform and put them side by side so you can easily see the differences.

I copied the name spaces list for .NET Core 3.1, .NET Core Standard 2.1 and .NET Framework 4.8 from:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/index

Framework 4.8 Core 3.1 Standard 2.1
Accessibility Accessibility
Microsoft.Activities.Build
Microsoft.Activities.Build.Debugger
Microsoft.Activities.Build.Expressions
Microsoft.Activities.Build.Validation
Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine
Microsoft.Build.Construction
Microsoft.Build.Conversion
Microsoft.Build.Debugging
Microsoft.Build.Evaluation
Microsoft.Build.Exceptions
Microsoft.Build.Execution
Microsoft.Build.Framework
Microsoft.Build.Framework.XamlTypes
Microsoft.Build.Logging
Microsoft.Build.Tasks
Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Deployment.Bootstrapper
Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Deployment.ManifestUtilities
Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Hosting
Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Windows
Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Xaml
Microsoft.Build.Utilities
Microsoft.CSharp Microsoft.CSharp
Microsoft.CSharp.Activities
Microsoft.CSharp.RuntimeBinder Microsoft.CSharp.RuntimeBinder
Microsoft.JScript
Microsoft.JScript.Vsa
Microsoft.SqlServer.Server
Microsoft.VisualBasic Microsoft.VisualBasic
Microsoft.VisualBasic.Activities
Microsoft.VisualBasic.Activities.XamlIntegration
Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices
Microsoft.VisualBasic.Compatibility.VB6
Microsoft.VisualBasic.CompilerServices Microsoft.VisualBasic.CompilerServices
Microsoft.VisualBasic.Devices
Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO
Microsoft.VisualBasic.Logging
Microsoft.VisualBasic.MyServices
Microsoft.VisualBasic.MyServices.Internal
Microsoft.VisualC
Microsoft.VisualC.StlClr
Microsoft.VisualC.StlClr.Generic
Microsoft.Win32 Microsoft.Win32
Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles
Microsoft.Windows.Input Microsoft.Windows.Input
Microsoft.Windows.Themes Microsoft.Windows.Themes
System System System
System.Activities
System.Activities.Core.Presentation
System.Activities.Core.Presentation.Factories
System.Activities.Core.Presentation.Themes
System.Activities.Debugger
System.Activities.Debugger.Symbol
System.Activities.DurableInstancing
System.Activities.DynamicUpdate
System.Activities.ExpressionParser
System.Activities.Expressions
System.Activities.Hosting
System.Activities.Persistence
System.Activities.Presentation
System.Activities.Presentation.Annotations
System.Activities.Presentation.Converters
System.Activities.Presentation.Debug
System.Activities.Presentation.Expressions
System.Activities.Presentation.Hosting
System.Activities.Presentation.Metadata
System.Activities.Presentation.Model
System.Activities.Presentation.PropertyEditing
System.Activities.Presentation.Services
System.Activities.Presentation.Sqm
System.Activities.Presentation.Toolbox
System.Activities.Presentation.Validation
System.Activities.Presentation.View
System.Activities.Presentation.View.OutlineView
System.Activities.Presentation.ViewState
System.Activities.Statements
System.Activities.Statements.Tracking
System.Activities.Tracking
System.Activities.Validation
System.Activities.XamlIntegration
System.AddIn
System.AddIn.Contract
System.AddIn.Contract.Automation
System.AddIn.Contract.Collections
System.AddIn.Hosting
System.AddIn.Pipeline
System.CodeDom System.CodeDom
System.CodeDom.Compiler System.CodeDom.Compiler System.CodeDom.Compiler
System.Collections System.Collections System.Collections
System.Collections.Concurrent System.Collections.Concurrent System.Collections.Concurrent
System.Collections.Generic System.Collections.Generic System.Collections.Generic
System.Collections.ObjectModel System.Collections.ObjectModel System.Collections.ObjectModel
System.Collections.Specialized System.Collections.Specialized System.Collections.Specialized
System.ComponentModel System.ComponentModel System.ComponentModel
System.ComponentModel.Composition
System.ComponentModel.Composition.Hosting
System.ComponentModel.Composition.Primitives
System.ComponentModel.Composition.ReflectionModel
System.ComponentModel.Composition.Registration
System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations
System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.Schema System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.Schema
System.ComponentModel.Design System.ComponentModel.Design System.ComponentModel.Design
System.ComponentModel.Design.Data
System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization
System.Configuration System.Configuration
System.Configuration.Assemblies System.Configuration.Assemblies System.Configuration.Assemblies
System.Configuration.Install
System.Configuration.Internal System.Configuration.Internal
System.Configuration.Provider System.Configuration.Provider
System.Data System.Data System.Data
System.Data.Common System.Data.Common System.Data.Common
System.Data.Common.CommandTrees
System.Data.Common.CommandTrees.ExpressionBuilder
System.Data.Common.CommandTrees.ExpressionBuilder.Spatial
System.Data.Common.EntitySql
System.Data.Design
System.Data.Entity.Design
System.Data.Entity.Design.AspNet
System.Data.Entity.Design.PluralizationServices
System.Data.EntityClient
System.Data.Linq
System.Data.Linq.Mapping
System.Data.Linq.SqlClient
System.Data.Linq.SqlClient.Implementation
System.Data.Mapping
System.Data.Metadata.Edm
System.Data.Objects
System.Data.Objects.DataClasses
System.Data.Objects.SqlClient
System.Data.Odbc System.Data.Odbc
System.Data.OleDb System.Data.OleDb
System.Data.OracleClient System.Data.OracleClient
System.Data.Services
System.Data.Services.BuildProvider
System.Data.Services.Client
System.Data.Services.Common
System.Data.Services.Configuration
System.Data.Services.Design
System.Data.Services.Internal
System.Data.Services.Providers
System.Data.Spatial
System.Data.Sql
System.Data.SqlClient System.Data.SqlClient
System.Data.SqlTypes System.Data.SqlTypes System.Data.SqlTypes
System.Deployment.Application
System.Deployment.Internal
System.Deployment.Internal.CodeSigning
System.Device.Location
System.Diagnostics System.Diagnostics System.Diagnostics
System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis
System.Diagnostics.Contracts System.Diagnostics.Contracts System.Diagnostics.Contracts
System.Diagnostics.Contracts.Internal
System.Diagnostics.Design
System.Diagnostics.Eventing
System.Diagnostics.Eventing.Reader System.Diagnostics.Eventing.Reader
System.Diagnostics.PerformanceData System.Diagnostics.PerformanceData
System.Diagnostics.SymbolStore System.Diagnostics.SymbolStore System.Diagnostics.SymbolStore
System.Diagnostics.Tracing System.Diagnostics.Tracing System.Diagnostics.Tracing
System.DirectoryServices System.DirectoryServices
System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement
System.DirectoryServices.ActiveDirectory System.DirectoryServices.ActiveDirectory
System.DirectoryServices.Protocols
System.Drawing System.Drawing System.Drawing
System.Drawing.Configuration System.Drawing.Configuration
System.Drawing.Design System.Drawing.Design
System.Drawing.Drawing2D System.Drawing.Drawing2D
System.Drawing.Imaging System.Drawing.Imaging
System.Drawing.Printing System.Drawing.Printing
System.Drawing.Text System.Drawing.Text
System.Dynamic System.Dynamic System.Dynamic
System.EnterpriseServices
System.EnterpriseServices.CompensatingResourceManager
System.EnterpriseServices.Internal
System.Globalization System.Globalization System.Globalization
System.IO System.IO System.IO
System.IO.Compression System.IO.Compression System.IO.Compression
System.IO.IsolatedStorage System.IO.IsolatedStorage System.IO.IsolatedStorage
System.IO.Log
System.IO.MemoryMappedFiles System.IO.MemoryMappedFiles System.IO.MemoryMappedFiles
System.IO.Packaging System.IO.Packaging
System.IO.Pipes System.IO.Pipes System.IO.Pipes
System.IO.Ports
System.IdentityModel
System.IdentityModel.Claims
System.IdentityModel.Configuration
System.IdentityModel.Metadata
System.IdentityModel.Policy
System.IdentityModel.Protocols.WSTrust
System.IdentityModel.Selectors
System.IdentityModel.Services
System.IdentityModel.Services.Configuration
System.IdentityModel.Services.Tokens
System.IdentityModel.Tokens
System.Linq System.Linq System.Linq
System.Linq.Expressions System.Linq.Expressions System.Linq.Expressions
System.Management
System.Management.Instrumentation
System.Media System.Media
System.Messaging
System.Messaging.Design
System.Net System.Net System.Net
System.Net.Cache System.Net.Cache System.Net.Cache
System.Net.Configuration
System.Net.Http System.Net.Http System.Net.Http
System.Net.Http.Headers System.Net.Http.Headers System.Net.Http.Headers
System.Net.Mail System.Net.Mail System.Net.Mail
System.Net.Mime System.Net.Mime System.Net.Mime
System.Net.NetworkInformation System.Net.NetworkInformation System.Net.NetworkInformation
System.Net.PeerToPeer System.Net.PeerToPeer
System.Net.PeerToPeer.Collaboration System.Net.PeerToPeer.Collaboration
System.Net.Security System.Net.Security System.Net.Security
System.Net.Sockets System.Net.Sockets System.Net.Sockets
System.Net.WebSockets System.Net.WebSockets System.Net.WebSockets
System.Numerics System.Numerics System.Numerics
System.Printing System.Printing
System.Printing.IndexedProperties System.Printing.IndexedProperties
System.Printing.Interop System.Printing.Interop
System.Reflection System.Reflection System.Reflection
System.Reflection.Context
System.Reflection.Emit System.Reflection.Emit System.Reflection.Emit
System.Resources System.Resources System.Resources
System.Resources.Tools
System.Runtime System.Runtime System.Runtime
System.Runtime.Caching
System.Runtime.Caching.Configuration
System.Runtime.Caching.Hosting
System.Runtime.CompilerServices System.Runtime.CompilerServices System.Runtime.CompilerServices
System.Runtime.ConstrainedExecution System.Runtime.ConstrainedExecution System.Runtime.ConstrainedExecution
System.Runtime.DesignerServices
System.Runtime.DurableInstancing
System.Runtime.ExceptionServices System.Runtime.ExceptionServices System.Runtime.ExceptionServices
System.Runtime.Hosting
System.Runtime.InteropServices System.Runtime.InteropServices System.Runtime.InteropServices
System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes
System.Runtime.InteropServices.CustomMarshalers
System.Runtime.InteropServices.Expando
System.Runtime.InteropServices.WindowsRuntime System.Runtime.InteropServices.WindowsRuntime
System.Runtime.Remoting System.Runtime.Remoting
System.Runtime.Remoting.Activation
System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels
System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.Http
System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.Ipc
System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.Tcp
System.Runtime.Remoting.Contexts
System.Runtime.Remoting.Lifetime
System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging
System.Runtime.Remoting.Metadata
System.Runtime.Remoting.Metadata.W3cXsd2001
System.Runtime.Remoting.MetadataServices
System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies
System.Runtime.Remoting.Services
System.Runtime.Serialization System.Runtime.Serialization System.Runtime.Serialization
System.Runtime.Serialization.Configuration
System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters
System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary
System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Soap
System.Runtime.Serialization.Json System.Runtime.Serialization.Json System.Runtime.Serialization.Json
System.Runtime.Versioning System.Runtime.Versioning System.Runtime.Versioning
System.Security System.Security System.Security
System.Security.AccessControl System.Security.AccessControl
System.Security.Authentication System.Security.Authentication System.Security.Authentication
System.Security.Authentication.ExtendedProtection System.Security.Authentication.ExtendedProtection System.Security.Authentication.ExtendedProtection
System.Security.Authentication.ExtendedProtection.Configuration
System.Security.Claims System.Security.Claims System.Security.Claims
System.Security.Cryptography System.Security.Cryptography System.Security.Cryptography
System.Security.Cryptography.Pkcs System.Security.Cryptography.Pkcs
System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates
System.Security.Cryptography.Xml System.Security.Cryptography.Xml
System.Security.Permissions System.Security.Permissions System.Security.Permissions
System.Security.Policy System.Security.Policy
System.Security.Principal System.Security.Principal System.Security.Principal
System.Security.RightsManagement System.Security.RightsManagement
System.ServiceModel
System.ServiceModel.Activation
System.ServiceModel.Activation.Configuration
System.ServiceModel.Activities
System.ServiceModel.Activities.Activation
System.ServiceModel.Activities.Configuration
System.ServiceModel.Activities.Description
System.ServiceModel.Activities.Presentation
System.ServiceModel.Activities.Presentation.Factories
System.ServiceModel.Activities.Tracking
System.ServiceModel.Activities.Tracking.Configuration
System.ServiceModel.Channels
System.ServiceModel.ComIntegration
System.ServiceModel.Configuration
System.ServiceModel.Description
System.ServiceModel.Diagnostics
System.ServiceModel.Discovery
System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Configuration
System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Version11
System.ServiceModel.Discovery.VersionApril2005
System.ServiceModel.Discovery.VersionCD1
System.ServiceModel.Dispatcher
System.ServiceModel.MsmqIntegration
System.ServiceModel.PeerResolvers
System.ServiceModel.Persistence
System.ServiceModel.Routing
System.ServiceModel.Routing.Configuration
System.ServiceModel.Security
System.ServiceModel.Security.Tokens
System.ServiceModel.Syndication
System.ServiceModel.Web
System.ServiceModel.XamlIntegration
System.ServiceProcess System.ServiceProcess
System.ServiceProcess.Design
System.Speech.AudioFormat
System.Speech.Recognition
System.Speech.Recognition.SrgsGrammar
System.Speech.Synthesis
System.Speech.Synthesis.TtsEngine
System.Text System.Text System.Text
System.Text.RegularExpressions System.Text.RegularExpressions System.Text.RegularExpressions
System.Threading System.Threading System.Threading
System.Threading.Tasks System.Threading.Tasks System.Threading.Tasks
System.Timers System.Timers System.Timers
System.Transactions System.Transactions System.Transactions
System.Transactions.Configuration
System.Web System.Web System.Web
System.Web.ApplicationServices
System.Web.Caching
System.Web.ClientServices
System.Web.ClientServices.Providers
System.Web.Compilation
System.Web.Configuration
System.Web.Configuration.Internal
System.Web.DynamicData
System.Web.DynamicData.Design
System.Web.DynamicData.ModelProviders
System.Web.Globalization
System.Web.Handlers
System.Web.Hosting
System.Web.Instrumentation
System.Web.Mail
System.Web.Management
System.Web.Mobile
System.Web.ModelBinding
System.Web.Profile
System.Web.Query.Dynamic
System.Web.RegularExpressions
System.Web.Routing
System.Web.Script
System.Web.Script.Serialization
System.Web.Script.Services
System.Web.Security
System.Web.Security.AntiXss
System.Web.Services
System.Web.Services.Configuration
System.Web.Services.Description
System.Web.Services.Discovery
System.Web.Services.Protocols
System.Web.SessionState
System.Web.UI
System.Web.UI.Adapters
System.Web.UI.DataVisualization.Charting
System.Web.UI.Design
System.Web.UI.Design.Directives
System.Web.UI.Design.MobileControls
System.Web.UI.Design.MobileControls.Converters
System.Web.UI.Design.WebControls
System.Web.UI.Design.WebControls.WebParts
System.Web.UI.HtmlControls
System.Web.UI.MobileControls
System.Web.UI.MobileControls.Adapters
System.Web.UI.MobileControls.Adapters.XhtmlAdapters
System.Web.UI.WebControls
System.Web.UI.WebControls.Adapters
System.Web.UI.WebControls.Expressions
System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts
System.Web.Util
System.Web.WebSockets
System.Windows System.Windows
System.Windows.Annotations System.Windows.Annotations
System.Windows.Annotations.Storage System.Windows.Annotations.Storage
System.Windows.Automation System.Windows.Automation
System.Windows.Automation.Peers System.Windows.Automation.Peers
System.Windows.Automation.Provider System.Windows.Automation.Provider
System.Windows.Automation.Text System.Windows.Automation.Text
System.Windows.Baml2006 System.Windows.Baml2006
System.Windows.Controls System.Windows.Controls
System.Windows.Controls.Primitives System.Windows.Controls.Primitives
System.Windows.Controls.Ribbon System.Windows.Controls.Ribbon
System.Windows.Controls.Ribbon.Primitives System.Windows.Controls.Ribbon.Primitives
System.Windows.Converters System.Windows.Converters
System.Windows.Data System.Windows.Data
System.Windows.Diagnostics System.Windows.Diagnostics
System.Windows.Documents System.Windows.Documents
System.Windows.Documents.DocumentStructures System.Windows.Documents.DocumentStructures
System.Windows.Documents.Serialization System.Windows.Documents.Serialization
System.Windows.Forms System.Windows.Forms
System.Windows.Forms.Automation System.Windows.Forms.Automation
System.Windows.Forms.ComponentModel.Com2Interop System.Windows.Forms.ComponentModel.Com2Interop
System.Windows.Forms.DataVisualization.Charting
System.Windows.Forms.Design System.Windows.Forms.Design
System.Windows.Forms.Design.Behavior System.Windows.Forms.Design.Behavior
System.Windows.Forms.Integration System.Windows.Forms.Integration
System.Windows.Forms.Layout System.Windows.Forms.Layout
System.Windows.Forms.PropertyGridInternal System.Windows.Forms.PropertyGridInternal
System.Windows.Forms.VisualStyles System.Windows.Forms.VisualStyles
System.Windows.Ink System.Windows.Ink
System.Windows.Input System.Windows.Input System.Windows.Input
System.Windows.Input.Manipulations System.Windows.Input.Manipulations
System.Windows.Input.StylusPlugIns System.Windows.Input.StylusPlugIns
System.Windows.Input.StylusWisp System.Windows.Input.StylusWisp
System.Windows.Interop System.Windows.Interop
System.Windows.Markup System.Windows.Markup
System.Windows.Markup.Localizer System.Windows.Markup.Localizer
System.Windows.Markup.Primitives System.Windows.Markup.Primitives
System.Windows.Media System.Windows.Media
System.Windows.Media.Animation System.Windows.Media.Animation
System.Windows.Media.Converters System.Windows.Media.Converters
System.Windows.Media.Effects System.Windows.Media.Effects
System.Windows.Media.Imaging System.Windows.Media.Imaging
System.Windows.Media.Media3D System.Windows.Media.Media3D
System.Windows.Media.Media3D.Converters System.Windows.Media.Media3D.Converters
System.Windows.Media.TextFormatting System.Windows.Media.TextFormatting
System.Windows.Navigation System.Windows.Navigation
System.Windows.Resources System.Windows.Resources
System.Windows.Shapes System.Windows.Shapes
System.Windows.Shell System.Windows.Shell
System.Windows.Threading System.Windows.Threading
System.Windows.Xps System.Windows.Xps
System.Windows.Xps.Packaging System.Windows.Xps.Packaging
System.Windows.Xps.Serialization System.Windows.Xps.Serialization
System.Workflow.Activities
System.Workflow.Activities.Configuration
System.Workflow.Activities.Rules
System.Workflow.Activities.Rules.Design
System.Workflow.ComponentModel
System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Compiler
System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Design
System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Serialization
System.Workflow.Runtime
System.Workflow.Runtime.Configuration
System.Workflow.Runtime.DebugEngine
System.Workflow.Runtime.Hosting
System.Workflow.Runtime.Tracking
System.Xaml System.Xaml
System.Xaml.Permissions System.Xaml.Permissions
System.Xaml.Schema System.Xaml.Schema
System.Xml System.Xml System.Xml
System.Xml.Linq System.Xml.Linq System.Xml.Linq
System.Xml.Resolvers System.Xml.Resolvers System.Xml.Resolvers
System.Xml.Schema System.Xml.Schema System.Xml.Schema
System.Xml.Serialization System.Xml.Serialization System.Xml.Serialization
System.Xml.Serialization.Advanced
System.Xml.Serialization.Configuration
System.Xml.XPath System.Xml.XPath System.Xml.XPath
System.Xml.XmlConfiguration
System.Xml.Xsl System.Xml.Xsl System.Xml.Xsl
System.Xml.Xsl.Runtime
UIAutomationClientsideProviders UIAutomationClientsideProviders
System.Buffers System.Buffers
System.Buffers.Binary System.Buffers.Binary
System.Buffers.Text System.Buffers.Text
System.Collections.Immutable
System.IO.Enumeration System.IO.Enumeration
System.Reflection.Metadata
System.Reflection.Metadata.Ecma335
System.Reflection.PortableExecutable
System.Resources.Extensions
System.Runtime.Intrinsics
System.Runtime.Intrinsics.X86
System.Runtime.Loader
System.Text.Encodings.Web
System.Text.Json
System.Text.Json.Serialization
System.Text.Unicode
System.Threading.Channels
System.Threading.Tasks.Dataflow
System.Threading.Tasks.Sources System.Threading.Tasks.Sources

 

Additionally, here are some links that have more helpful information on this topic:

Portability Analyzer

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/standard/analyzers/portability-analyzer

Immo blogged about this in his Introduction to .NET Standard 2.0:

Announcing .NET Standard 2.0

Choose your platform:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/desktop/choose-your-platform

.NET Core is the Future of .NET

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/net-core-is-the-future-of-net/

Introducing .NET 5

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/introducing-net-5/

.NET Core Roadmap

https://github.com/dotnet/core/blob/master/roadmap.md

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