.NET MAUI Visual State Manager and Dynamic Styles Step by step Implementation and Top 10 Questions and Answers
 Last Update: April 01, 2025      17 mins read      Difficulty-Level: beginner

.NET MAUI Visual State Manager and Dynamic Styles

Introduction

In the world of modern cross-platform mobile app development, .NET Multi-platform App UI (MAUI) offers a unified framework for building applications that run on multiple operating systems. To enhance the user experience and provide a responsive design, .NET MAUI includes powerful features like the Visual State Manager (VSM) and dynamic styles. These tools enable developers to manage the appearance of user interface (UI) elements based on their state and application conditions, leading to more interactive and visually appealing applications.

Understanding the Visual State Manager (VSM)

What is the VSM?

The Visual State Manager is a powerful mechanism in .NET MAUI that allows developers to define and manage different visual states for UI elements. Each state can be associated with a set of properties that describe how the UI element should appear under particular conditions. This system is highly flexible and can be used to handle various states like normal, pressed, disabled, etc.

How VSM Works

A visual state is defined using XAML and consists of one or more setters that modify properties of a control. These states are grouped by state groups, allowing controls to have multiple independent state groups. For example, a button can have a CommonStates group for normal, pressed, and disabled states and a FocusStates group for focused and unfocused states.

Example of VSM in Action

<Button Text="Click Me" BackgroundColor="LightGray">
    <VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
        <VisualStateGroup x:Name="CommonStates">
            <VisualState x:Name="Normal">
                <VisualState.Setters>
                    <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="LightGray" />
                </VisualState.Setters>
            </VisualState>
            <VisualState x:Name="Pressed">
                <VisualState.Setters>
                    <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="DarkGray" />
                </VisualState.Setters>
            </VisualState>
        </VisualStateGroup>
    </VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
</Button>

In this example, the button's background color changes from LightGray to DarkGray when it is pressed.

Advantages of Using VSM

  • Enhanced UI Responsiveness: VSM allows developers to create more responsive UI elements by defining how controls should look in different states.
  • Reduced Code Complexity: By using VSM, UI logic can be decoupled from the code-behind, simplifying the application's architecture.
  • Improved Maintainability: Visual states can be easily updated or modified in XAML without affecting other parts of the application.
  • Consistent UI Experience: VSM ensures that the application's appearance remains consistent across different platforms.

Dynamic Styles in .NET MAUI

What are Dynamic Styles?

Dynamic styles in .NET MAUI are styles that can be changed or updated at runtime based on application conditions or user interactions. Unlike static styles, which are defined once and apply globally, dynamic styles provide more flexibility in managing the appearance of UI elements.

How Dynamic Styles Work

Dynamic styles can be created using the DynamicResource markup extension, which allows the application to change the style value at runtime by referencing a dynamic resource key in a resource dictionary. This enables developers to modify styles without modifying the XAML structure directly.

Example of Dynamic Styles

<Application.Resources>
    <ResourceDictionary>
        <Style x:Key="BaseStyle" TargetType="Label">
            <Setter Property="FontSize" Value="16" />
            <Setter Property="FontAttributes" Value="Bold" />
        </Style>
        <DynamicResource x:Key="DynamicFontSize" TargetType="x:Double" Value="16" />
    </ResourceDictionary>
</Application.Resources>
<ContentPage>
    <ContentPage.BindingContext>
        <local:ViewModel />
    </ContentPage.BindingContext>
    <Label Text="Hello, Dynamic Styles!" Style="{DynamicResource BaseStyle}" FontSize="{Binding FontSize}" />
</ContentPage>

In this example, the FontSize property of the label is bound to a FontSize property in the ViewModel. When the FontSize property value changes, the label updates its font size dynamically.

Advantages of Using Dynamic Styles

  • Real-Time Updates: Dynamic styles allow developers to update UI elements in response to user interactions or application events.
  • Enhanced Flexibility: UI styles can be modified without altering the XAML structure, making the code more maintainable.
  • Consistent Appearance: Dynamic styles ensure that changes in style are applied consistently across the application.
  • Improved Performance: Updating a style value dynamically is often more efficient than reconstructing the UI.

Combining VSM with Dynamic Styles

Combining the Visual State Manager with dynamic styles can provide even greater flexibility in managing UI elements. Developers can define visual states and associate them with dynamic resources, allowing the UI to respond dynamically to various conditions.

Example of Combined VSM and Dynamic Styles

<Button Text="Click Me" BackgroundColor="{DynamicResource NormalBackgroundColor}">
    <VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
        <VisualStateGroup x:Name="CommonStates">
            <VisualState x:Name="Normal">
                <VisualState.Setters>
                    <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="{DynamicResource NormalBackgroundColor}" />
                </VisualState.Setters>
            </VisualState>
            <VisualState x:Name="Pressed">
                <VisualState.Setters>
                    <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="{DynamicResource PressedBackgroundColor}" />
                </VisualState.Setters>
            </VisualState>
        </VisualStateGroup>
    </VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
</Button>

In this example, the button's background color is dynamically bound to NormalBackgroundColor and PressedBackgroundColor keys, allowing the application to change these values at runtime.

Conclusion

The Visual State Manager and dynamic styles are essential tools in .NET MAUI for creating responsive and visually appealing applications. By using the VSM, developers can define multiple visual states for UI elements and ensure that they respond appropriately to different conditions. Dynamic styles, on the other hand, provide the flexibility to update UI appearances dynamically based on application events or user interactions. Together, these features enable developers to build rich and interactive applications that offer a superior user experience across multiple platforms.

.NET MAUI Visual State Manager and Dynamic Styles: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Introduction

.NET Multi-platform App UI (MAUI) allows developers to build native applications for multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS, using C# and XAML. Two powerful features within .NET MAUI are the Visual State Manager (VSM) and Dynamic Styles, which allow for a more flexible and dynamic UI experience. In this tutorial, we will walk through setting up a route and running the application, and then explore how data flows through the application using these features.

Setting Up Your Project

  1. Install .NET MAUI:

    • Make sure you have the latest version of Visual Studio installed.
    • Install the .NET Multi-platform App UI workload from the Visual Studio Installer.

  2. Create a New .NET MAUI Project:

    • Open Visual Studio and select "Create a new project."
    • Choose the ".NET MAUI App" template and click "Next."
    • Name your project (e.g., MauiDemo) and choose a location to save it. Click "Create."
    • In the Configure Your New Project window, you can configure the platforms you want to target (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS). Click "Create."

  3. Set Up the Project Structure:

    • Your project will automatically include the necessary folders and files. Ensure that you understand the project structure, particularly App.xaml and MainPage.xaml.

Implementing the Visual State Manager (VSM)

The Visual State Manager allows you to define the visual representation of controls under different conditions, such as pressed, disabled, or focused states.

  1. Create Visual States in XAML:

    • Open MainPage.xaml and add a Button control.

    • Define a VisualStateManager within the Button to change its appearance when pressed or disabled.

      <ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             x:Class="MauiDemo.MainPage">
    <ContentPage.Content>
        <StackLayout Padding="20">
            <Button Text="Press Me">
                <VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
                    <VisualStateGroup Name="CommonStates">
                        <VisualState Name="Normal">
                            <VisualState.Setters>
                                <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="LightGray"/>
                            </VisualState.Setters>
                        </VisualState>
                        <VisualState Name="Pressed">
                            <VisualState.Setters>
                                <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="DarkGray"/>
                            </VisualState.Setters>
                        </VisualState>
                        <VisualState Name="Disabled">
                            <VisualState.Setters>
                                <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="Gray"/>
                            </VisualState.Setters>
                        </VisualState>
                    </VisualStateGroup>
                </VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
            </Button>
        </StackLayout>
    </ContentPage.Content>
</ContentPage>

Implementing Dynamic Styles

Dynamic Styles allow you to change the styles of controls at runtime, providing a flexible way to update the appearance based on data changes or user interactions.

  1. Define Dynamic Styles in XAML:

    • Open App.xaml and define a DynamicResource for a style.

      <Application xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             x:Class="MauiDemo.App">
    <Application.Resources>
        <Style x:Key="DynamicLabelStyle" TargetType="Label" DynamicResource="{Key=DefaultLabelStyle}"/>
        <Style x:Key="DefaultLabelStyle" TargetType="Label">
            <Setter Property="FontAttributes" Value="Bold"/>
            <Setter Property="TextColor" Value="Black"/>
        </Style>
    </Application.Resources>
</Application>

  2. Apply Dynamic Styles in Code-Behind:

    • Open MainPage.xaml.cs and create a method to update the style dynamically.

      using Microsoft.Maui.Controls;
using System.Windows.Input;

namespace MauiDemo
{
    public partial class MainPage : ContentPage
    {
        public ICommand ChangeStyleCommand { get; }

        public MainPage()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            ChangeStyleCommand = new Command(ChangeStyle);
            BindingContext = this;
        }

        private void ChangeStyle()
        {
            var darkLabelStyle = new Style(typeof(Label))
            {
                Setters =
                {
                    new Setter { Property = Label.FontAttributesProperty, Value = FontAttributes.Bold },
                    new Setter { Property = Label.TextColorProperty, Value = Color.White }
                }
            };

            Application.Current.Resources["DefaultLabelStyle"] = darkLabelStyle;
        }
    }
}

  3. Use Binding in XAML:

    • Bind the command to a button and use the dynamic style in a label.

      <ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             x:Class="MauiDemo.MainPage">
    <ContentPage.Content>
        <StackLayout Padding="20">
            <Button Text="Press Me" Command="{Binding ChangeStyleCommand}" Margin="0,0,0,20"/>
            <Label Text="Dynamic Style Label" Style="{DynamicResource DynamicLabelStyle}" HorizontalTextAlignment="Center"/>
            <Button Text="Press Me">
                <VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
                    <VisualStateGroup Name="CommonStates">
                        <VisualState Name="Normal">
                            <VisualState.Setters>
                                <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="LightGray"/>
                            </VisualState.Setters>
                        </VisualState>
                        <VisualState Name="Pressed">
                            <VisualState.Setters>
                                <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="DarkGray"/>
                            </VisualState.Setters>
                        </VisualState>
                        <VisualState Name="Disabled">
                            <VisualState.Setters>
                                <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="Gray"/>
                            </VisualState.Setters>
                        </VisualState>
                    </VisualStateGroup>
                </VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
            </Button>
        </StackLayout>
    </ContentPage.Content>
</ContentPage>

Running the Application

  1. Build and Run the Application:
    • Select an appropriate platform emulator or device from the toolbar in Visual Studio.
    • Press F5 or click the Start button to build and deploy the application.
    • You should observe the button state changes and the dynamic style update when the button is pressed.

Data Flow in .NET MAUI

  • Event Handling:

    • When the "Press Me" button is pressed, the ChangeStyleCommand associated with the button is executed.

  • Binding:

    • The ChangeStyleCommand is a command bound to the button via XAML data binding.
    • When the command is executed, it updates the DefaultLabelStyle resource in the Application.Current.Resources dictionary.

  • Dynamic Resource Update:

    • The DynamicLabelStyle applied to the label references the DefaultLabelStyle resource dynamically.
    • When the DefaultLabelStyle resource is updated, the label automatically applies the new style.

  • Visual State Manager:

    • Visual states are defined in XAML and automatically applied based on the control state (normal, pressed, disabled, etc.).
    • No additional code is needed for state transitions; the VSM handles this based on the defined VisualStates.

Conclusion

This tutorial provided a step-by-step guide on setting up a .NET MAUI project, adding route navigation, running the application, and implementing the Visual State Manager and Dynamic Styles. These features enable developers to create rich, dynamic, and responsive user interfaces across multiple platforms. Experiment with different states and styles to further enhance your .NET MAUI applications. Happy coding!

Top 10 Questions and Answers on .NET MAUI Visual State Manager and Dynamic Styles

1. What is the Visual State Manager (VSM) in .NET MAUI, and why is it important?

Answer: The Visual State Manager (VSM) in .NET MAUI is a powerful tool that allows developers to define multiple states for a UI element and easily switch between these states based on certain conditions. This feature is crucial for creating highly responsive and adaptive user interfaces, as it enables a UI element to visually represent different logical states (like normal, hover, pressed, disabled, etc.) without writing any code-behind logic. The VSM separates the visual design from the application logic, promoting better maintainability and reusability.

2. How do you define a Visual State in .NET MAUI?

Answer: Defining a Visual State in .NET MAUI is done by using the VisualStateManager class. Inside the VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups, you can define VisualStateGroup elements, which contain VisualState elements defining specific states. Within a VisualState, you define Setter elements that specify the changes to properties (like background color, font size, etc.) when the element is in that state.

Example:

<Label Text="Click Me!" BackgroundColor="White">
    <VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
        <VisualStateGroup Name="CommonStates">
            <VisualState Name="Normal" />
            <VisualState Name="Pressed">
                <VisualState.Setters>
                    <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="LightGray" />
                </VisualState.Setters>
            </VisualState>
        </VisualStateGroup>
    </VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
</Label>

3. Can you provide an example of how to use triggers to change Visual States in .NET MAUI?

Answer: Yes, triggers can be used to change Visual States based on runtime conditions. For example, you can use a DataTrigger to transition between states when certain data conditions are met.

Example:

<Label Text="Click Me!" BackgroundColor="White">
    <VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
        <VisualStateGroup Name="CommonStates">
            <VisualState Name="Normal" />
            <VisualState Name="DataState">
                <VisualState.Setters>
                    <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="LightBlue" />
                </VisualState.Setters>
            </VisualState>
        </VisualStateGroup>
    </VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
    <Label.Triggers>
        <DataTrigger TargetType="Label"
                     Binding="{Binding IsSpecialState}"
                     Value="True">
            <Setter Property="VisualStateManager.VisualStateName"
                    Value="DataState" />
        </DataTrigger>
    </Label.Triggers>
</Label>

4. What are Dynamic Styles in .NET MAUI, and how do they differ from static styles?

Answer: Dynamic Styles in .NET MAUI allow styles to be applied or changed based on conditions at runtime, unlike static styles, which are applied once and cannot be changed dynamically. Dynamic styles are defined using the DynamicResource markup extension instead of StaticResource.

Example:

<Application.Resources>
    <ResourceDictionary>
        <Style x:Key="DynamicTextStyle" TargetType="Label">
            <Setter Property="TextColor" Value="Black" />
        </Style>
    </ResourceDictionary>
</Application.Resources>

<Label Text="Dynamic Text" Style="{DynamicResource DynamicTextStyle}" />

You can change the style at runtime:

Application.Current.Resources["DynamicTextStyle"] = new Style(typeof(Label))
{
    Setters = {
        new Setter { Property = Label.TextColorProperty, Value = Color.Red }
    }
};

5. How can you apply Dynamic Styles conditionally based on device settings in .NET MAUI?

Answer: Dynamic styles can be conditionally applied using triggers or by directly checking device properties in code-behind and setting styles dynamically.

Example using triggers:

<Label Text="Responsive Text">
    <Label.Triggers>
        <DataTrigger TargetType="Label"
                     Binding="{Binding Source={x:Static Device.RuntimePlatform}, Converter={StaticResource PlatformToStyleConverter}}"
                     Value="Android">
            <Setter Property="Style" Value="{DynamicResource AndroidTextStyle}" />
        </DataTrigger>
        <DataTrigger TargetType="Label"
                     Binding="{Binding Source={x:Static Device.RuntimePlatform}, Converter={StaticResource PlatformToStyleConverter}}"
                     Value="iOS">
            <Setter Property="Style" Value="{DynamicResource iOSTextStyle}" />
        </DataTrigger>
    </Label.Triggers>
</Label>

Example using code-behind:

if (Device.RuntimePlatform == Device.Android)
{
    myLabel.Style = (Style)Application.Current.Resources["AndroidTextStyle"];
}
else if (Device.RuntimePlatform == Device.iOS)
{
    myLabel.Style = (Style)Application.Current.Resources["iOSTextStyle"];
}

6. Can you explain the difference between StaticResource and DynamicResource in .NET MAUI?

Answer: In .NET MAUI, StaticResource is used to retrieve a resource from the resource dictionary once at compile-time, and the same instance is used throughout the application lifecycle. This is suitable for resources that do not change. On the other hand, DynamicResource is used for resources that can be updated at runtime—meaning the resource key is looked up in the resource dictionary every time the resource is accessed, allowing for changes in the resource to be automatically reflected in the UI.

Example:

<Application.Resources>
    <Color x:Key="StaticColor">Blue</Color>
    <Color x:Key="DynamicColor">Red</Color>
</Application.Resources>

<Label Text="Static Text" TextColor="{StaticResource StaticColor}" />
<Label Text="Dynamic Text" TextColor="{DynamicResource DynamicColor}" />

You can update DynamicColor at runtime:

Application.Current.Resources["DynamicColor"] = Color.Green;

7. How do you apply multiple styles to a single control in .NET MAUI?

Answer: In .NET MAUI, multiple styles can be applied to a single control by using Style inheritance combined with explicit Style setting. You can define a base style and then create more specific styles that inherit from it.

Example:

<Application.Resources>
    <Style x:Key="BaseStyle" TargetType="Button">
        <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="Gray" />
        <Setter Property="TextColor" Value="White" />
    </Style>
    <Style x:Key="LargeButtonStyle" TargetType="Button" BasedOn="{StaticResource BaseStyle}">
        <Setter Property="HeightRequest" Value="60" />
        <Setter Property="WidthRequest" Value="120" />
    </Style>
</Application.Resources>

<Button Text="Large Button" Style="{DynamicResource LargeButtonStyle}" />

8. What is the recommended way to manage styles across different platforms using .NET MAUI?

Answer: Managing styles across different platforms in .NET MAUI can be streamlined using platform-specific styles. Define shared styles in the shared resource dictionary and platform-specific styles in platform-filtered resource dictionaries. You can use OnPlatform markup extension to set property values based on the platform.

Example:

<Application.Resources>
    <ResourceDictionary>
        <Style x:Key="ButtonStyle" TargetType="Button">
            <Setter Property="BackgroundColor" Value="{OnPlatform iOS=LightGray, Android=DarkGray, WinUI=Silver}" />
            <Setter Property="TextColor" Value="White" />
        </Style>
    </ResourceDictionary>
</Application.Resources>

<Button Text="Styled Button" Style="{DynamicResource ButtonStyle}" />

9. How can I create a reusable component with dynamic styles in .NET MAUI?

Answer: Creating reusable components with dynamic styles involves defining styles in resource dictionaries and applying them to the component’s UI elements. Use RelativeSource bindings to make styles more flexible within components.

Example:

<!-- Reusable Component: ColoredLabel.xaml -->
<ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             x:Class="MyApp.ColoredLabel">
    <ContentPage.Resources>
        <ResourceDictionary>
            <Style x:Key="LabelStyle" TargetType="Label">
                <Setter Property="TextColor" Value="{Binding Path=TextColor, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType=ColoredLabel}}" />
            </Style>
        </ResourceDictionary>
    </ContentPage.Resources>
    <Label Text="Colored Label" Style="{StaticResource LabelStyle}" />
</ContentPage>

<!-- Usage in MainPage.xaml -->
<local:ColoredLabel TextColor="Green" />

10. What are some best practices for using Visual State Manager and Dynamic Styles in .NET MAUI applications?

Answer: Best practices for using Visual State Manager and Dynamic Styles in .NET MAUI include:

  • Separation of Concerns: Keep visual states and dynamic styles in resource dictionaries to separate design from logic.
  • Reusability: Define common styles in shared resource dictionaries and reuse them across different views/components.
  • Performance: Use static styles when possible since they are more efficient than dynamic styles.
  • Maintainability: Name styles and state groups descriptively to make maintenance easier.
  • Testing: Test styles and states across different devices and screen sizes to ensure consistency and adaptability.
  • Documentation: Document the styles and states used in your application to aid future development and maintenance.

By adhering to these best practices, developers can create visually appealing, adaptive, and maintainable .NET MAUI applications.