C# 5.0 Unleashed

The Managed Code Story

Processes running managed code are no different with respect to execution and can have multiple threads. In fact, the CLR itself creates a number of threads (for example, for finalization and garbage collection). Threads running managed code are typically referred to as managed threads, and others are called native threads. Not only can the CLR create native threads; often, interoperability with native libraries within a managed code process is responsible for the creation of new threads as well. In fact, some .NET Framework libraries do so, and hybrid managed/native applications, such as Visual Studio, have a rich collection of threads plowing away.

Managed threads happen to be backed by native threads on which the CLR ...