Using Application Domains

Application domains provide a unit of isolation for the common language runtime. They are created and run inside a process. Application domains are usually created by a runtime host, which is an application responsible for loading the runtime into a process and executing user code within an application domain. The runtime host creates a process and a default application domain, and runs managed code inside it. Runtime hosts include ASP.NET, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and the Windows shell.

For most applications, you do not need to create your own application domain; the runtime host creates any necessary application domains for you. However, you can create and configure application domains if you create your own runtime host application, or if your application needs to create or work with additional application domains that are not automatically generated by the runtime.

In This Section

• Creating an Application Domain
  Describes how to programmatically create an application domain.
• Unloading an Application Domain
  Describes how to programmatically unload an application domain.
• Configuring an Application Domain
  Provides an introduction to configuring an application domain.
• Retrieving Setup Information from an Application Domain
  Describes how to retrieve setup information from an application domain.
• Loading Assemblies into an Application Domain
  Describes how to load an assembly into an application domain.
• Obtaining Information from an Assembly
  Describes how to retrieve information about an assembly.

Related Sections

• Assemblies Overview
  Provides an overview of the functions performed by assemblies.
• Programming with Assemblies
  Describes how to create, sign, and set attributes on assemblies.
• Emitting Dynamic Assemblies
  Describes how to create dynamic assemblies.
• Application Domains
  Provides a conceptual overview of application domains.
• Reflection Overview
  Describes how to use the Reflection class to obtain information about an assembly.