What is meant by language interoperability and language integration?

Prior to the introduction of .Net, the code written in one programming language is considered to be usable only in the programs written with the same programming languages. For example, an algorithm implemented in Perl programming language can not be reused in the programs written in the C++. At Windows platform, Microsoft introduced the standards for COM (Component Object Model) which allows components written in one programming language to be used in other programming language. In Java, JNI (Java Native Interface) is presented to use-up the code written in non-Java languages into Java programs. But both the standards (COM and JNI) are too complex and have their own limitations. They also don’t allow the language integration, which means that you can use the components written in other programming languages but you can’t extend the functionality of the components.

In Microsoft.Net, the code written in any programming language is compiled to the same Intermediate Language (Microsoft Intermediate Language - MSIL or Common Intermediate Language – CIL) and to same component standard (assembly). Hence, it is possible for developers to employ the language interoperability by using and extending the solution implemented by other developers which might be using different programming language provided developers at both end are using.Net compliant programming languages.

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