Thousands of controls and short keys are used in user interfaces. User control and custom control are two different processes used to control separate things on the system. Both of them have a different sets of levels and layers to cross.
User Controls vs Custom Controls
The main difference between user control and custom control is their coupling. The user controls are tightly coupled to write the code, whereas the custom controls are loosely coupled to write the code. The user control describes the user interface as a normal XAML, whereas the custom control describes the user interface as a resource dictionary.
User control is also a custom control but it’s placed inside the XAML page behind the code. So we call it a static layout. We can directly access the UI element from the code behind and do whatever operation we need to do. We can’t create theme support for the user controls but we can create style by invoking child class from the custom controls. Because user control has the collection of controls for the created theme of the UI.
A custom control is a loosely coupled control defined in a class, which derives from Control. Like buttons and redirect pages in the UI of the application. The UI is always defined inside the resource file. Where we used to create themes for the project controls. And reuse it for various projects by inheriting the existing code. You can derive various controls depending on the requirement.
Comparison Table Between User Controls and Custom Controls
| Parameters of comparison | User Controls | Custom Controls |
| Coupling | User controls are tightly coupled | Custom controls are loosely coupled |
| Layout | The user control has a static layout | Custom control has a dynamic layout |
| User Interface knowledge | It does not need in-depth knowledge | In need in-depth knowledge |
| Flexible | User control is less flexible | Custom control is more flexible |
| User interface | User Interface is fixed | The user interface may change |
What is User Controls?
This UI is created with XAML can’t be changed. It can’t have different looks in a different project. Compared to a custom control, user control will not have flexibility over the code. Mostly we use users to control when we have fixed content or buttons in the User interface So that there will not be any changes in the further project. The user controls are tightly coupled in the system and have a static fixed layout. User control may not force you to get in-depth knowledge of controls.
User controls are different from custom controls and work on only a single application. You need to face maintenance problems if multiple devices are connected to the user controls. User controls contain static data, you can fix things easily with the static data and it does not need any new design to write. User controls are best suited for a fixed layout. Compared to the customs controls, user controls will maintain good ethics for complex controls and do not need complex duties.
User controls are nothing but controls to maintain the web pages of the ASP.NET. It is a registered web page. Users need to install additional user controls to share their applications or use multiple applications. You can easily make up the user controls, but it is complex to use and maintain. Comparatively user control has high maintenance and complex things.
What is Custom Controls?
Custom Controls are compiled into a DLL assembly and can be reused. We get all control over the code, which enhances the flexibility to extend the behavior of the code. They are majorly used in a single application, where there will be no change on both UI and the controls can be used again and again. When we have to change different looks for different projects we can define it in a custom control.
To build Windows applications and ASP.NET the custom controls are used as a concept. The custom client control work behind them as simple programming techniques. It is a generic term. It also included the user controls. It provides basic applications to build things, Which makes the custom control more flexible than user controls. System.Web. UI.WebControl can be the frame class of the ASP.NET to provide all the types of control class by custom controls.
Depending on the need of the system the custom controls can be customized. Custom control does not have an additional toolbox and works as a single control in the entire system. Custom controls need in-depth knowledge of the User Interface. The knowledge will help to work effectively with the custom controls.
Main Differences Between User Controls and Custom Controls
- A user control can not be added to the toolbox, whereas custom control can be added to the toolbox.
- The user control is nothing but a set of controls, whereas a custom control is a single control.
- User control does not need in-depth knowledge of the user interface, whereas custom control needs in-depth knowledge of UI.
- When compared to a custom control, user control is not more flexible.
- The layout used in user control is static, whereas the layout used in custom control is dynamic.
Conclusion
Both the user control and custom control are two different control for writing code to the user interfaces. They have different properties on systems. They have different layouts. User control uses static layouts, whereas custom control uses dynamic layouts. The user control is derived from user controls, whereas custom controls derive from controls. The user interface techniques can not be changed in user controls, whereas they can be changed in custom controls. The controls are described on a distinct set of rules. User control may not add a toolbox, while custom control accepts the toolbox. Both the controls are essential to write code to the user interface.
References
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00913367.2002.10673674
- https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/nwteintp11§ion=20