.NET Core vs .NET Framework

The .NET core vs .NET Framework debate has been going on for a while now. .NET Core and .NET Framework are two different framework implementations from Microsoft, with one having evolved from the other. Wondering what is .NET used for? Though both the platforms are used for building server-side applications, there are subtle, yet significant differences between the two. In fact, both .NET Core and .NET Framework have several functional components in common, and you can even share your code across the two platforms.

At the outset, you must be wondering — What is .NET Core, what is .NET Framework, and why do we have two different platforms at all? Even if we have two platforms, do we need to prioritize one framework over the other, and how? Why are we even pitching .NET Core vs .NET Framework? Well, the answer to all these questions lies in understanding the fundamental differences between the nature and purpose of the two platforms, and the intricacies of their functional components.