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What is metadata in assemblies and how does CLR use it?

Expert .NET Core
Quick Answer Assembly metadata describes every type, method, field, parameter, attribute, and generic constraint in the assembly. The CLR reads this during type loading to understand layout, method resolution, and reflection queries. It makes .NET assemblies self-describing รขโ‚ฌโ€ no header files needed, and tools like Visual Studio's IntelliSense read metadata at design time.

Answer

Metadata includes type, method, field tables, attributes, signatures, and constraints. CLR uses it for JIT compilation, reflection, verification, and type loading.

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