Programming with Components
The designer architecture in Visual Studio lets you assemble non-visual component classes as easily as you assemble Visual Basic forms. The following sections explain how to create your own components, and how to assemble them from the sophisticated components in the .NET Framework classes.
This section defines what a component is and provides an overview of .NET Framework programming concepts that are especially relevant to component programming. While the term component has many meanings, in the .NET Framework a component is a class that implements the System.ComponentModel.IComponent interface or one that derives directly or indirectly from a class that implements this interface. The default base class implementation of the IComponent interface is System.ComponentModel.Component.
If you want your components and controls to be usable from other programming languages, you must author them in a Common Language Specification (CLS)-compliant language and ensure that all public and protected members are CLS-compliant. The .NET Framework SDK provides compilers for four CLS-compliant languages: Visual Basic, C#, C++, and J#. For more information about the CLS, see Common Language Specification.
In This Section
- Programming with Components How-to and Walkthrough Topics
Lists links to how-to and walkthrough topics contained in this section
- Class vs. Component vs. Control
Provides definitions for the terms component and control.
- Component Authoring
Describes component architecture, terminology, design, and implementation.
Related Sections
- Extending Design-Time Support
Provides links to topics about integrating components and controls into the design environment.
- Overview of the .NET Framework
Provides links to introductory topics about the common language runtime, managed code, and other essential concepts.
- Developing Custom Windows Forms Controls with the .NET Framework
Provides links to topics about authoring custom Windows Forms controls.
- Developing Custom ASP.NET Server Controls
Provides links to topics about authoring custom ASP.NET controls.
| Topic | Location |
|---|---|
| Developing Windows Forms Controls at Design Time | Windows Forms Controls |
| Framework Services Namespaces in Visual Studio | Programming in Visual Studio with the .NET Framework |
| Framework Services Namespaces in Visual Studio | Programming in Visual Studio with the .NET Framework |
| Developing Windows Forms Controls at Design Time | Windows Forms Controls |
| Developing Windows Forms Controls at Design Time | Windows Forms Controls |
| Developing Windows Forms Controls at Design Time | Windows Forms Controls |