What is the common language runtime (CLR)?

The common language runtime (CLR) is major component in the .NET Framework and it is the execution engine for .NET Framework applications.

It is responsible for proving the number of services, including the following:

1. Code management (loading and execution)
   
2. Verification of type safety
3. Conversion of Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) to native code
4. Access to metadata (enhanced type information)
5. Managing memory for managed objects
6. Enforcement of code access security (See what is code access security?)
7. Exception handling, including cross-language exceptions
8. Interoperation between managed code, COM objects, and pre-existing DLLs (unmanaged code and data)
9. Automation of object layout
10. Support for developer services (profiling, debugging, and so on)