Windows Forms Controls in the .NET Framework by Function

The following table shows the Windows Forms controls listed according to general function.

Function

Control

Description

Text edit

TextBox

Allows editable, multiline input from the user.

 

ToolStripTextBox

Allows editable, multiline input from the user.

 

RichTextBox

Allows users to enter, display, and manipulate text with formatting.

Text display (read-only)

Label

Displays text that cannot be edited by the user.

 

ToolStripLabel

Displays text that cannot be edited by the user.

 

LinkLabel

Allows you to add Web-style links to Windows Forms applications.

 

StatusBar

Displays status information related to the control that has focus.

 

ToolStripStatusLabel

Displays status information related to the control that has focus.

Selection from a list

CheckedListBox

Displays a list of items with a check box next to each item.

 

ComboBox

Displays data in a drop-down combo box.

 

ToolStripComboBox

Displays data in a drop-down combo box.

 

DomainUpDown

Displays text strings that a user can browse through and select from.

 

ListBox

Displays a list of text and graphical items (icons).

 

ListView

Displays a list of items with icons, in the manner of Windows Explorer.

 

NumericUpDown

Displays numerals that a user can browse through and select from.

 

TreeView

Displays a hierarchy of nodes that can be expanded or collapsed.

Graphics display

PictureBox

Displays graphics in bitmap, GIF, JPEG, metafile, or icon format.

Graphics storage

ImageList

Displays images on other controls.

Value setting

CheckBox

Indicates whether a condition is on or off.

 

CheckedListBox

Displays a list of items with a check box next to each item.

 

RadioButton

Presents a set of two or more mutually exclusive options to the user.

 

TrackBar

Allows navigation through a large amount of information or visually adjusting a numeric setting.

Date setting

DateTimePicker

Allows the user to select a single item from a list of dates or times.

 

MonthCalendar

Presents an intuitive graphical interface for users to view and set date information.

Dialog boxes

ColorDialog

Allows the user to select a color from a palette in a pre-configured dialog box and to add custom colors to that palette.

 

FolderBrowserDialog

Displays an interface with which users can browse and select a directory or create a new one.

 

FontDialog

Exposes the fonts that are currently installed on the system.

 

OpenFileDialog

Allows users to open files via a pre-configured dialog box.

 

PageSetupDialog

Sets page details for printing via a pre-configured dialog box.

 

PrintDialog

Selects a printer, chooses the pages to print, and determines other print-related settings.

 

PrintDocument

Sets the properties that describe what to print, and prints the document in Windows-based applications.

 

PrintPreviewControl

Allows you to create your own PrintPreview component or dialog box instead of using the pre-configured version.

 

PrintPreviewDialog

Displays a document as it will appear when it is printed.

 

SaveFileDialog

Selects files to save and where to save them.

Menu controls

MainMenu

Displays a menu at run time.

 

MenuStrip

Displays a menu at run time.

 

ContextMenu

Provides users with an easily accessible menu of frequently used commands that are associated with the selected object.

 

ContextMenuStrip

Provides users with an easily accessible menu of frequently used commands that are associated with the selected object.

Commands

Button

Presents a standard button that the user can click to perform actions.

 

LinkLabel

Allows you to add Web-style links to Windows Forms applications.

 

NotifyIcon

Displays icons for processes that run in the background and would not otherwise have user interfaces.

 

ToolBar

Displays menus and bitmapped buttons that activate commands.

 

ToolStrip

Lets you create custom toolbars and menus in your Windows Forms applications.

Grouping other controls

Panel

Provides an identifiable grouping for other controls, and allows for scrolling.

 

GroupBox

Provides an identifiable grouping for other controls.

 

TabControl

Displays multiple tabs that can contain pictures or other controls.

Data

DataGrid

Displays tabular data from a dataset and allows for updates to the data source.

 

DataGridView

Provides a user interface to ADO.NET datasets, displaying tabular data and allowing for updates to the data source.

Navigation

HScrollBar

Provides navigation through a list of items or a large amount of information by scrolling horizontally within an application or control.

 

VScrollBar

Provides navigation through a list of items or a large amount of information by scrolling vertically within an application or control.

User information

ErrorProvider

Displays error information to the user in a non-intrusive way.

 

HelpProvider

Associates an HTML Help file with a Windows-based application.

Web

WebBrowser

Hosts Web pages and provides Internet Web browsing capabilities to your application.

Multitasking

BackgroundWorker

Allows you to run time-consuming operations in the background, on a thread different from your application's main UI thread.

User interface aids

ProgressBar

Graphically indicates the progress of an action towards completion.

 

ToolStripProgressBar

Graphically indicates the progress of an action towards completion.

 

SplitContainer

Allows the user to resize a docked control.

 

Timer

Raises an event at regular intervals.

 

ToolTip

Displays text when the user points at other controls.

See Also

Other Resources

Controls to Use on Windows Forms

Developing Custom Windows Forms Controls with the .NET Framework