ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

.NET

Okay kiddo, so .net is like a big box of toys that people who make computer programs can borrow from. It has lots of tools in it to help them make their programs work better and faster.

You know how you have different toys for different things? Like a puzzle for your brain or a ball for playing outside? .net has toys like that too, but for computer programs. There are tools for making web applications, tools for talking to databases, tools for making pretty pictures and more!

And just like how you have to follow rules when playing with your toys (like not throwing the ball inside), people who use .net have to follow certain rules so that their programs will work right. But if they do it right, their programs will be super duper awesome!