Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)

Question

Differentiate between XAML and WPS. List and explain their features advantages and disadvantages.

Rijwan Ansari · Answer

In short and simple term XAML is markup language (like HTML) for front-end design for WPF UWP and Xamarin forms. Whereas WPF is a complete framework or technology to build windows applications which uses XAML for forms designing and C# for backend coding. Using XAML in WPF we can do extensive designing with rich capabilities. Regards Rijwan

Pranam Bhat · Answer

1) XAML is the language to build user interfaces for Windows and Mobile applications that use Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) UWP and Xamarin Forms. The purpose of XAML is simple to create user interfaces using a markup language that looks like XML. 2) WPF stands for Windows Presentation Foundation is a development framework and a sub-system of . NET Framework. WPF is used to build Windows client applications that run on Windows operating system. WPF uses XAML as its frontend language and C# as its backend languages. 1) XAML is used extensively in . NET Framework 3.0 & . NET Framework 4.0 technologies particularly Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) Silverlight Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) Windows Runtime XAML Framework and Windows Store apps. 2) Features of WPF are as following: Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) Controls Data Binding Layout 2D and 3D graphics Animation Styles Templates Documents Media Text Typography 1.WPF has the ability to separate UI from logic effectively. 2 WPF has an inbuilt storyboarding feature and animation models. 3 Data binding is very much better than with the WinForms application. 4 WPF allows you to handle large data sets because of it has a built-in 'user interface virtualisation' feature. Advantages and disadvantages : Advantages of XAML: Easy designing of a UI(User Interface). Shorter code then the previous designing techniques. The UIs are easier to transfer and present in other environments. ... Designing a dynamic UI is absolutely easier with XAML. XAML allows creating visible UI elements and separate the UI definition from the programming logic. Disadvantages : XAML cannot contain code. All event handlers must be defined in a code file. XAML cannot contain loops for repetitive processing. (HoweverListView —can generate multiple children based on the objects in its ItemsSource collection.) XAML cannot contain conditional processing (However a data-binding can reference a code-based binding converter that effectively allows some conditional processing.) XAML generally cannot instantiate classes that do not define a parameterless constructor. (However there is sometimes a way around this restriction.) XAML generally cannot call methods. (Again this restriction can sometimes be overcome.) The advantages of WPF include: 1. The ability to make very rich UIs relatively easily. 2. Easier animation and special effects 3. Inherent scalability However there are drawbacks to WPF where WinForms comes out on top: 1. WPF's in-box control suite is far more limited than that of WinForms. 2. There's greater support in the 3rd-party control space for WinForms. (That's changing but for now by advantage of time WinForms has greater support in the community.) 3. Most developers already know WinForms; WPF provides a new learning curve 4.WPF will not run on windows 2000 or lower.