DataTemplate Class (System.Windows)

.NET Framework Class Library

DataTemplate Class

Updated: July 2008

Describes the visual structure of a data object.

Namespace: System.Windows
Assembly: PresentationFramework (in PresentationFramework.dll)
XMLNS for XAML: http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation, http://schemas.microsoft.com/netfx/2007/xaml/presentation

Syntax

Visual Basic (Declaration)

Public Class DataTemplate _
    Inherits FrameworkTemplate

Visual Basic (Usage)

Dim instance As DataTemplate

public class DataTemplate : FrameworkTemplate

Visual C++

public ref class DataTemplate : public FrameworkTemplate

JScript

public class DataTemplate extends FrameworkTemplate

XAML Object Element Usage

<DataTemplate>
  VisualTree
</DataTemplate>

Remarks

You use a DataTemplate to specify the visualization of your data objects. DataTemplate objects are particularly useful when you are binding an ItemsControl such as a ListBox to an entire collection. Without specific instructions, a ListBox displays the string representation of the objects in a collection. In that case, you can use a DataTemplate to define the appearance of your data objects. The content of your DataTemplate becomes the visual structure of your data objects.

For an in-depth discussion, see Data Templating Overview.

Examples

The following example shows how to create a DataTemplate inline. The DataTemplate specifies that each data item appears as three TextBlock elements within a StackPanel. In this example, the data object is a class called Task. Note that each TextBlock element in this template is bound to a property of the Task class.

XAML

<ListBox Width="400" Margin="10"
         ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource myTodoList}}">
   <ListBox.ItemTemplate>
     <DataTemplate>
       <StackPanel>
         <TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=TaskName}" />
         <TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=Description}"/>
         <TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=Priority}"/>
       </StackPanel>
     </DataTemplate>
   </ListBox.ItemTemplate>
 </ListBox>

It is more common to define a DataTemplate in the resources section so it can be a reusable object, as in the following example:

XAML

<Window.Resources>


...


<DataTemplate x:Key="myTaskTemplate">
  <StackPanel>
    <TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=TaskName}" />
    <TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=Description}"/>
    <TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=Priority}"/>
  </StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>


...


</Window.Resources>

Now you can use myTaskTemplate as a resource, as in the following example:

XAML

<ListBox Width="400" Margin="10"
         ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource myTodoList}}"
         ItemTemplate="{StaticResource myTaskTemplate}"/>

For the complete sample, see Introduction to Data Templating Sample.

Inheritance Hierarchy

System..::.Object
  System.Windows.Threading..::.DispatcherObject
    System.Windows..::.FrameworkTemplate
      System.Windows..::.DataTemplate
        System.Windows..::.HierarchicalDataTemplate

Thread Safety

Any public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.

Platforms

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

Version Information