Full Name:
ASP.NET Compilation Overview

Short Name:
ASP.NET Compilation Overview

Type of Entity:
C#

Abstract:
In order for application code to service requests by users, ASP.NET must first compile the code into one or more assemblies. Assemblies are files that have the file name extension .dll. You can write ASP.NET code in many different languages, such as Visual Basic, C#, J#, and others. When the code is compiled, it is translated into a language-independent and CPU-independent representation called Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL). At run time, MSIL runs in the context of the .NET Framework, which translates MSIL into CPU-specific instructions for the processor on the computer running the application.

MSDN Source URL:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/ms178466.aspx