ASP.NET Core is an open-source, cross-platform framework for building modern, high-performance web applications and services using the .NET platform. It provides features such as MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture, dependency injection, and built-in support for cloud-native development and microservices. Readers can explore ASP.NET Core's architecture, development workflows, and best practices for building scalable, secure, and maintainable web applications and APIs, leveraging its performance optimizations and integration with the .NET ecosystem for cross-platform development and deployment.