WPF Navigation: Windows, Pages, or UserControls—Which Should I Use?

WPF Navigation: Window, Page or UserControl? Which one to choose?

When developing desktop applications in WPF, it is important to have a clear understanding of the different options for navigation, especially windows, pages, and user controls.

Window (Windows)

A window is an independent application window that represents a new session or context. They need to create a new window object and display it. Although multiple windows can be used, it is generally recommended to limit their use.

Pages

Pages are used within a single window, mainly in web-based systems or navigation applications. They are not suitable for complex desktop applications.

UserControls

User controls are reusable custom controls that extend the functionality of existing controls. They are often used to create custom UI elements or organize large amounts of XAML code, such as in the MVVM pattern.

Usage Example

• Create new window:

    var NewWindow = new MyWindow();
    NewWindow.Show();

• Create dynamic content areas using user controls:

    <Window>
        <DockPanel>
            <ContentControl x:Name="ContentArea"/>
        </DockPanel>
    </Window>

• MVVM Navigation:

    ContentArea.Content = new MyUserControl();

• MVVM example using data templates:

    <Window.Resources>
        <DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type local:HomeViewModel}">
            <HomeView/>
        </DataTemplate>
        <DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type local:ProductsViewModel}">
            <ProductsView/>
        </DataTemplate>
    </Window.Resources>

Tips

• For dynamic content areas, consider using a navigation framework like ContentControl or MVVM Light Toolkit.
• User controls provide flexibility and modularity in building UI components.
• Window should be reserved for separate context or other tasks.
• Using multiple windows should be avoided as it leads to complex application management.

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