Key new technologies enable Mathematica 5 to outperform dedicated numerical systems in raw computational speed, while introducing a host of innovative features. Until now, technical users had to make a choice between Mathematica’s comprehensive, mixed numeric-symbolic environment and the faster numerical routines available in Fortran libraries or specialized numerical systems. With the release of Mathematica 5, this choice is no longer necessary. In addition to updated versions of J/Link™ and MathLink^®, Mathematica's standard connections to Java and C/C++, Mathematica 5 comes with the new .NET/Link™, a much requested feature that allows developers to seamlessly integrate Mathematica into applications using Microsoft's .NET Framework.