[c#] What does InitializeComponent() do, and how does it work in WPF?

What does InitializeComponent() do, and how does it work in WPF?

In general first, but I would especially be interested to know the gory details of order of construction, and what happens when there are Attached Properties.

This question is related to c# .net wpf attached-properties

The answer is


The call to InitializeComponent() (which is usually called in the default constructor of at least Window and UserControl) is actually a method call to the partial class of the control (rather than a call up the object hierarchy as I first expected).

This method locates a URI to the XAML for the Window/UserControl that is loading, and passes it to the System.Windows.Application.LoadComponent() static method. LoadComponent() loads the XAML file that is located at the passed in URI, and converts it to an instance of the object that is specified by the root element of the XAML file.

In more detail, LoadComponent creates an instance of the XamlParser, and builds a tree of the XAML. Each node is parsed by the XamlParser.ProcessXamlNode(). This gets passed to the BamlRecordWriter class. Some time after this I get a bit lost in how the BAML is converted to objects, but this may be enough to help you on the path to enlightenment.

Note: Interestingly, the InitializeComponent is a method on the System.Windows.Markup.IComponentConnector interface, of which Window/UserControl implement in the partial generated class.

Hope this helps!


Looking at the code always helps too. That is, you can actually take a look at the generated partial class (that calls LoadComponent) by doing the following:

  1. Go to the Solution Explorer pane in the Visual Studio solution that you are interested in.
  2. There is a button in the tool bar of the Solution Explorer titled 'Show All Files'. Toggle that button.
  3. Now, expand the obj folder and then the Debug or Release folder (or whatever configuration you are building) and you will see a file titled YourClass.g.cs.

The YourClass.g.cs ... is the code for generated partial class. Again, if you open that up you can see the InitializeComponent method and how it calls LoadComponent ... and much more.


Looking at the code always helps too. That is, you can actually take a look at the generated partial class (that calls LoadComponent) by doing the following:

  1. Go to the Solution Explorer pane in the Visual Studio solution that you are interested in.
  2. There is a button in the tool bar of the Solution Explorer titled 'Show All Files'. Toggle that button.
  3. Now, expand the obj folder and then the Debug or Release folder (or whatever configuration you are building) and you will see a file titled YourClass.g.cs.

The YourClass.g.cs ... is the code for generated partial class. Again, if you open that up you can see the InitializeComponent method and how it calls LoadComponent ... and much more.


Examples related to c#

How can I convert this one line of ActionScript to C#? Microsoft Advertising SDK doesn't deliverer ads How to use a global array in C#? How to correctly write async method? C# - insert values from file into two arrays Uploading into folder in FTP? Are these methods thread safe? dotnet ef not found in .NET Core 3 HTTP Error 500.30 - ANCM In-Process Start Failure Best way to "push" into C# array

Examples related to .net

You must add a reference to assembly 'netstandard, Version=2.0.0.0 How to use Bootstrap 4 in ASP.NET Core No authenticationScheme was specified, and there was no DefaultChallengeScheme found with default authentification and custom authorization .net Core 2.0 - Package was restored using .NetFramework 4.6.1 instead of target framework .netCore 2.0. The package may not be fully compatible Update .NET web service to use TLS 1.2 EF Core add-migration Build Failed What is the difference between .NET Core and .NET Standard Class Library project types? Visual Studio 2017 - Could not load file or assembly 'System.Runtime, Version=4.1.0.0' or one of its dependencies Nuget connection attempt failed "Unable to load the service index for source" Token based authentication in Web API without any user interface

Examples related to wpf

Error: the entity type requires a primary key Reportviewer tool missing in visual studio 2017 RC Pass command parameter to method in ViewModel in WPF? Calling async method on button click Setting DataContext in XAML in WPF How to resolve this System.IO.FileNotFoundException System.Windows.Markup.XamlParseException' occurred in PresentationFramework.dll? Binding an Image in WPF MVVM How to bind DataTable to Datagrid Setting cursor at the end of any text of a textbox

Examples related to attached-properties

What does InitializeComponent() do, and how does it work in WPF?