.NET Core is an open source development platform maintained by Microsoft that allows developers to write cross-platform applications using C# and F# that run on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is not based on .NET Framework or Mono, but is compatible with apps and libraries that target the .NET Standard Library. .NET Core focuses on cloud development and does not support all features of .NET Framework like Windows Forms. ASP.NET Core is also cross-platform and uses a modular package-based approach rather than depending on System.Web.dll. The .NET Core roadmap includes adding support for more platforms and features like WebSockets and SignalR in upcoming releases.