COM Interop, short for Component Object Model Interoperability, is a technology that enables communication and interaction between components written in different programming languages, specifically targeting the integration of COM components with .NET applications. It allows developers to leverage existing COM components, which are often written in languages like C++ or Visual Basic 6, within modern .NET environments. COM Interop provides a bridge between these two worlds, enabling seamless interoperability by automatically generating runtime callable wrappers (RCWs) or primary interop assemblies (PIAs). This technology simplifies the process of integrating legacy components into new applications, allowing developers to leverage the functionality of COM components while taking advantage of the features provided by the .NET framework. COM Interop plays a crucial role in maintaining and extending the lifespan of existing software assets in a modern development ecosystem.