.NET MAUI Views Button, Editor Step by step Implementation and Top 10 Questions and Answers
 Last Update: April 01, 2025      15 mins read      Difficulty-Level: beginner

.NET MAUI Views: Button and Editor

.NET Multi-platform App UI (MAUI) is a powerful framework for building modern applications across multiple platforms—Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS—using C# and XAML. Within .NET MAUI, Views are fundamental components that allow developers to create the user interface of their applications. Two of the most commonly used Views are the Button and Editor. This article will explain these views in detail, highlighting their attributes, events, and usage scenarios.

Button

The Button view is used to create interactive controls that users can press to initiate an action, such as submitting a form or navigating to another page. Below, we will delve into its properties, events, and how to use it in .NET MAUI.

Properties

  1. Text: This property sets the text that is displayed on the button.

    <Button Text="Click Me!" />

  2. Command: Allows the developer to bind a command to the button instead of directly handling the button click event.

    <Button Command="{Binding SubmitCommand}" Text="Submit" />

  3. FontAttributes: This property modifies the font style. It can be set to None, Bold, Italic, or Bold, Italic.

    <Button Text="Bold Button" FontAttributes="Bold" />

  4. BackgroundColor: Specifies the background color of the button. Accepts a Color value.

    <Button Text="Red Button" BackgroundColor="Red" />

  5. TextColor: Sets the color of the button's text. Accepts a Color value.

    <Button Text="White Text" TextColor="White" />

  6. IsEnabled: A boolean property indicating whether the button is enabled. A disabled button does not react to user interactions.

    <Button Text="Disabled Button" IsEnabled="False" />

  7. ImageSource: Allows you to display an image on the button.

    <Button ImageSource="logo.png" />
Events

  1. Clicked: This event fires whenever the button is pressed by the user.

    <Button Text="Click Me!" Clicked="OnButtonClick" />

    private void OnButtonClick(object sender, EventArgs e) 
{
    // Button was clicked
}

  2. Pressed: This event is triggered when the button pressure is detected.

    button.Pressed += (s, e) => 
{
    // Button is pressed
};

  3. Released: This event is triggered when the button pressure is released.

    button.Released += (s, e) => 
{
    // Button is released
};
Usage Scenario

Buttons are typically used for actions such as:

  • Navigating to different pages within the app.
  • Submitting forms.
  • Triggering calculations or operations.
  • Displaying dialogs or alerts.

Editor

The Editor view is a multi-line text input control that allows users to input and edit large amounts of text. This view is ideal for scenarios where you need to capture long-form data, such as feedback, comments, or text-based messages.

Properties

  1. Text: Sets the current text content of the editor.

    <Editor Text="Enter your feedback here..." />

  2. Placeholder: Sets a placeholder text that appears when the editor is empty and disappears when the user starts typing.

    <Editor Placeholder="Enter your feedback here..." />

  3. IsEnabled: Specifies whether the editor is enabled for user interaction.

    <Editor IsEnabled="False" Text="This editor is disabled." />

  4. FontAttributes: Similar to the Button view, this property modifies the font style.

    <Editor Text="Italic Text" FontAttributes="Italic" />

  5. FontFamily: Sets the font family of the text.

    <Editor FontFamily="CustomFont" Text="Custom Font Text" />

  6. FontSize: Sets the font size of the text.

    <Editor FontSize="Large" Text="Large Font Text" />

  7. TextColor: Sets the color of the text.

    <Editor TextColor="Green" Text="Green Text" />

  8. BackgroundColor: Sets the background color of the editor.

    <Editor BackgroundColor="LightGray" Text="Light Gray Background" />
Events

  1. TextChanged: This event fires whenever the text in the editor changes.

    <Editor Text="Type something..." TextChanged="OnEditorTextChanged" />

    private void OnEditorTextChanged(object sender, TextChangedEventArgs e)
{
    string oldText = e.OldTextValue;
    string newText = e.NewTextValue;
    // Handle text change
}

  2. Focused: This event occurs when the editor gains focus.

    editor.Focused += (s, e) => 
{
    // Editor is focused
};

  3. Unfocused: This event occurs when the editor loses focus.

    editor.Unfocused += (s, e) => 
{
    // Editor is unfocused
};
Usage Scenario

Editors are commonly used for:

  • Capturing user feedback or comments.
  • Writing messages or emails.
  • Creating notes or documents.
  • Inputting large blocks of text into forms.

In .NET MAUI, the Button and Editor views provide essential functionalities for creating interactive and data-input rich user interfaces. By leveraging their properties and events, developers can build applications that are both visually appealing and functional across different platforms.

Certainly! Here is a step-by-step guide for beginners on how to work with .NET MAUI Views, specifically focusing on Button and Editor, including setting up the route, running the application, and understanding the data flow.

Getting Started with .NET MAUI Views: Button and Editor

Step 1: Setting Up Your .NET MAUI Project

  1. Install .NET 6 SDK: Ensure you have the .NET 6 SDK installed. You can download it from the official .NET website.

  2. Create a .NET MAUI App:

    • Open your preferred IDE (Visual Studio or Visual Studio for Mac).
    • Go to File > New > Project.
    • Select "MAUI App" and click Next.
    • Provide a project name and location, then click Create.

Step 2: Understanding .NET MAUI Views: Button and Editor

  • Button: Represents a control that can be clicked by a user. It can trigger events such as Clicked.
  • Editor: A control for entering or displaying multiple lines of text.

Step 3: Designing the UI with XAML

Open MainPage.xaml (or any Page) and add the Button and Editor controls.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             x:Class="MauiApp.MainPage"
             Title="Button and Editor Example">

    <StackLayout Padding="20">
        <Editor x:Name="myEditor"
                Placeholder="Enter your text here"
                HeightRequest="150"
                Margin="0,10,0,10" />

        <Button x:Name="myButton"
                Text="Submit Text"
                Clicked="OnButtonClicked" />
    </StackLayout>
</ContentPage>

Step 4: Adding Code-Behind Logic

Open MainPage.xaml.cs and define the event handler for the Button.Clicked event.

using Microsoft.Maui.Controls;

namespace MauiApp
{
    public partial class MainPage : ContentPage
    {
        public MainPage()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        void OnButtonClicked(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            // Access the text from the Editor
            string enteredText = myEditor.Text;
            
            // Display the text in a message box
            DisplayAlert("Submitted Text", enteredText, "OK");
        }
    }
}

Step 5: Setting Up Navigation (Optional)

If you want to navigate to another page upon clicking the button, you can set up navigation.

  1. Create a New Page:

    • Right-click on your project in Solution Explorer.
    • Select Add > New Item.
    • Choose ContentPage and name it SecondPage.xaml.

  2. Modify MainPage.xaml.cs to Navigate:

using Microsoft.Maui.Controls;

namespace MauiApp
{
    public partial class MainPage : ContentPage
    {
        public MainPage()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        async void OnButtonClicked(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            string enteredText = myEditor.Text;
            await Navigation.PushAsync(new SecondPage(enteredText));
        }
    }
}
  1. Modify SecondPage.xaml to Display Text:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             x:Class="MauiApp.SecondPage"
             Title="Second Page">

    <StackLayout Padding="20">
        <Label x:Name="displayText"
               Text="Welcome to the Second Page!"
               FontSize="Large"
               HorizontalTextAlignment="Center" />
    </StackLayout>
</ContentPage>
  1. Modify SecondPage.xaml.cs to Receive Text:
using Microsoft.Maui.Controls;

namespace MauiApp
{
    public partial class SecondPage : ContentPage
    {
        public SecondPage(string text)
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            displayText.Text = $"You entered: {text}";
        }
    }
}

Step 6: Running Your Application

  1. Select Platform: In Visual Studio, select your desired platform (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS).
  2. Build and Run: Press F5 or the Start button to build and run your application.
  3. Test the Application:
    • Enter text in the Editor.
    • Click the Button.
    • Verify the behavior (either a message box appears or navigation occurs).

Understanding Data Flow

  • Entry Point: The application starts in App.xaml.cs, which sets the MainPage as the first page.
  • User Interaction: When the user enters text in the Editor and clicks the Button, the OnButtonClicked event handler is triggered.
  • Data Handling: The entered text is retrieved from myEditor.Text and can be used in the event handler.
  • Navigation: If navigation is set up, the text is passed to the SecondPage constructor, and the new page is displayed.

By following these steps, you should have a good understanding of how to use the Button and Editor views in .NET MAUI, handle user interaction, and manage data flow between pages.

Top 10 Questions and Answers about .NET MAUI Views: Button and Editor

1. What is .NET MAUI?

Answer: .NET Multi-platform App UI (MAUI) is a tool from Microsoft that allows developers to create applications for multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, using a single codebase. It is built on the .NET framework and is designed to simplify the process of developing cross-platform applications with modern UI components.

2. What is a Button in .NET MAUI?

Answer: A Button in .NET MAUI is a visual control that users can click or tap to trigger an action. It is typically used to initiate processes or commands. You can customize a button's appearance and behavior by setting properties like Text, FontSize, BackgroundColor, and TextColor.

<Button Text="Click Me" 
        Clicked="OnButtonClicked" 
        BackgroundColor="#007BFF"
        TextColor="White" 
        FontSize="Large"/>

3. How do you handle a button click event in .NET MAUI?

Answer: Handling a button click event in .NET MAUI is straightforward. You can use the Clicked event of the Button control. You can define an event handler in C# to perform the desired action when the button is clicked.

<Button Text="Click Me" Clicked="OnButtonClicked"/>

private void OnButtonClicked(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // Code to execute when the button is clicked
    DisplayAlert("Clicked", "You clicked the button!", "OK");
}

4. What is an Editor in .NET MAUI?

Answer: An Editor in .NET MAUI is a control that allows users to input and edit multiple lines of text. It is useful for scenarios where you need to capture free-form text input from users. The control supports properties like Text, Placeholder, FontSize, and TextColor.

<Editor Text="Type here..."
        Placeholder="Enter your text"
        FontSize="Large"
        TextColor="Black"/>

5. How do you bind the Text property of an Editor to a ViewModel in .NET MAUI?

Answer: Data binding in .NET MAUI allows you to bind properties of UI elements, such as the Text property of an Editor, to properties in a ViewModel. This is achieved using data binding expressions and the MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel) pattern.

<ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             xmlns:local="clr-namespace:YourNamespace"
             x:Class="YourNamespace.YourPage"
             BindingContext="{Binding Source={local:YourViewModel}}">

    <Editor Text="{Binding UserText}" 
            Placeholder="Enter your text"
            FontSize="Large"
            TextColor="Black"/>
</ContentPage>

public class YourViewModel : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    private string userText;
    public string UserText
    {
        get => userText;
        set
        {
            if (userText != value)
            {
                userText = value;
                OnPropertyChanged(nameof(UserText));
            }
        }
    }

    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
    protected virtual void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
    {
        PropertyChanged?.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
    }
}

6. Can you style a Button or Editor using CSS in .NET MAUI?

Answer: .NET MAUI does not natively support CSS for styling controls like Button and Editor. Instead, you can use the Style property and define styles using C# or XAML. However, you can also use resource dictionaries to organize styles centrally and apply them to multiple controls.

<ContentPage.Resources>
    <Style TargetType="Button">
        <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="#007BFF"/>
        <Setter Property="TextColor" Value="White"/>
        <Setter Property="FontSize" Value="Large"/>
    </Style>
    <Style TargetType="Editor">
        <Setter Property="FontSize" Value="Large"/>
        <Setter Property="TextColor" Value="Black"/>
        <Setter Property="PlaceholderColor" Value="Gray"/>
    </Style>
</ContentPage.Resources>

7. How do you control the layout of a Button and Editor in .NET MAUI using FlexLayout?

Answer: FlexLayout in .NET MAUI provides a flexible way to arrange child elements in a single row or column, and also supports wrapping. It is useful for creating responsive layouts that adapt to different screen sizes.

<FlexLayout Direction="Column" AlignItems="Center" JustifyContent="Center" Padding="10">
    <Button Text="Click Me" Clicked="OnButtonClicked"/>
    <Editor Text="Type here..."
            Placeholder="Enter your text"
            FontSize="Large"
            TextColor="Black"
            Margin="10"/>
</FlexLayout>

8. How can you make a Button or Editor disabled in .NET MAUI?

Answer: You can disable a Button or Editor by setting the IsEnabled property to false. When a control is disabled, users cannot interact with it, and it will typically appear dimmed or grayed out.

<Button Text="Click Me" Clicked="OnButtonClicked" IsEnabled="False"/>
<Editor Text="Type here..." IsEnabled="False"/>

9. What are the accessibility considerations for Button and Editor in .NET MAUI?

Answer: Accessibility is important to ensure that applications are usable by people with a wide range of disabilities. For Button and Editor controls in .NET MAUI:

  • Use meaningful Text and Placeholder properties.
  • Ensure sufficient color contrast for text and background.
  • Set AutomationId properties to help assistive technologies identify controls.
  • Implement event handlers to provide feedback when controls are interacted with.
<Button Text="Click Me" Clicked="OnButtonClicked" AutomationId="button_submit"/>
<Editor Text="Type here..." Placeholder="Enter your text" AutomationId="editor_input"/>

10. How do you validate input in an Editor in .NET MAUI?

Answer: Input validation in .NET MAUI can be implemented using bindings, behaviors, or validation logic in the ViewModel. Behaviors can be particularly useful for encapsulating validation logic and attaching it to controls.

public class RequiredStringValidationBehavior : Behavior<Editor>
{
    protected override void OnAttachedTo(Editor editor)
    {
        editor.TextChanged += OnEditorTextChanged;
        base.OnAttachedTo(editor);
    }

    protected override void OnDetachingFrom(Editor editor)
    {
        editor.TextChanged -= OnEditorTextChanged;
        base.OnDetachingFrom(editor);
    }

    private void OnEditorTextChanged(object sender, TextChangedEventArgs e)
    {
        bool isValid = !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(e.NewTextValue);
        ((Editor)sender).BackgroundColor = isValid ? Color.Default : Color.Red;
    }
}

<Editor>
    <Editor.Behaviors>
        <local:RequiredStringValidationBehavior/>
    </Editor.Behaviors>
</Editor>

By using these techniques, you can effectively create and manage Button and Editor controls in a .NET MAUI application, providing a robust and user-friendly interface.