DOT NET PROGRAMMING

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UNIT - 5
overview of the login controls- Using the login Name Control – Using the Change Password Control
– Using the Password Recovery Control - Maintaining application state : using browser cookies –
using session state - Building custom controls : overview of custom control building : Building
Fully Rendered Controls , Building Composite Controls, Building Hybrid Controls.

Login controls:

Login controls in .NET programming provide a structured way to handle user authentication and
authorization. They simplify the process of creating login forms, managing user credentials, and
implementing security features. Here's a breakdown of key aspects, focusing on ASP.NET (which
has historically been the primary area for these controls):

Key Concepts and Controls (ASP.NET):

• Login Control:
o This control provides a ready-made login form with fields for username, password,
and optional "remember me" functionality.
o It handles basic validation and authentication against a data source (e.g., database).
o It simplifies the UI creation for login pages.
• CreateUserWizard Control:
o Facilitates user registration, allowing users to create new accounts.
o It often works in conjunction with the Login control.
o It can handle tasks like password complexity requirements and email verification.
• PasswordRecovery Control:
o Enables users to recover forgotten passwords through email or security questions.
• LoginStatus Control:
o Displays the current login status (logged in or logged out) and provides links for
logging in or out.
• LoginView Control:
o Allows you to display different content based on the user's authentication status
(logged in or logged out). This is useful for customizing the user experience.
• Roles and Membership:
o .NET provides built-in membership and role management features.
o Membership manages user accounts and credentials.
o Roles manage user permissions and access levels.
o These features work seamlessly with login controls.
• Authentication Modes:
o ASP.NET supports various authentication modes, including Forms Authentication
(cookie-based), Windows Authentication, and Passport Authentication. Forms authentication is
the most commonly used for web applications.
• Authorization:
o After authentication, authorization determines what resources a user is allowed
access.
o This can be implemented using roles, URL authorization rules, or custom logic.

How it Works (Forms Authentication):

1. User Enters Credentials: The user enters their username and password in the Login
control.
2. Authentication: The application verifies the credentials against the data source (e.g., a
SQL Server database).
3. Forms Authentication Ticket: If the credentials are valid, the application creates a Forms
Authentication ticket, which is encrypted and stored in a cookie.
4. Cookie Sent to Browser: The cookie is sent to the user's browser.
5. Subsequent Requests: On subsequent requests, the browser sends the cookie back to the
server.
6. Ticket Validation: The server decrypts and validates the ticket.
7. User Identity: If the ticket is valid, the server establishes the user's identity.
8. Authorization: The application checks the user's roles and permissions to determine
access rights.

Modern .NET (ASP.NET Core):

In ASP.NET Core, the older Web Forms controls are replaced with a more flexible and modular
approach using ASP.NET Core Identity.
• ASP.NET Core Identity:
o A robust membership system for managing users, passwords, roles, and claims.
o It's highly customizable and extensible.
o It's designed to work with various data stores.
o It is the modern way to handle login controls and user management.
• Razor Pages/MVC:
o Login functionality is built using Razor Pages or MVC controllers and views.
o Identity provides the underlying logic, and developers create the UI.
• Authentication Middleware:
o ASP.NET Core uses authentication middleware to handle authentication requests.
o This allows for flexible configuration and integration with various authentication
providers (e.g., cookies, JWT, external providers).

Key Considerations:

• Security:
o Use strong passwords and enforce password complexity rules.
o Protect against common attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
o Use HTTPS to encrypt communication.
o Store passwords using strong hashing algorithms.
• User Experience:
o Provide clear error messages and helpful instructions.
o Implement password recovery and account recovery features.
o Consider accessibility guidelines.
• Data Storage:
o Choose a secure and reliable data storage mechanism.
o Protect sensitive data with encryption.

Using the login Name Control

The LoginName control in ASP.NET Web Forms is a straightforward tool designed to display the
username of the currently logged-in user. Here's a breakdown of its purpose and usage:

Purpose:

• The primary function of the LoginName control is to dynamically display the username of
an authenticated user on a web page.
• This provides a simple way to personalize the user experience, indicating who is currently
logged in.

How it Works:

• The LoginName control leverages the authentication information provided by ASP.NET's

membership and forms authentication systems (or Windows authentication).
• It retrieves the username from the User.Identity.Name property of the current Page object.
• If a user is authenticated, the control displays the retrieved username. If no user is
authenticated, the control may display nothing.

Key Points:

• ASP.NET Web Forms:

o It's important to note that the LoginName control is primarily associated with
ASP.NET Web Forms.
o In modern ASP.NET Core development, ASP.NET Core Identity provides a more
flexible and robust approach to user management.
• Forms Authentication:
o Typically, the LoginName control is used in conjunction with forms authentication,
where user credentials are validated against a data source (e.g., a database).
• Windows Authentication:
o It can also display the user's Windows account name when using Windows
authentication.
• Simple Display:
o The control's functionality is limited to displaying the username. For more complex
user information or customization, you would typically use other controls or code.

Basic Usage Example (ASP.NET Web Forms):

HTML
<asp:LoginView ID="LoginView1" runat="server">
<LoggedInTemplate>
Welcome, <asp:LoginName ID="LoginName1" runat="server" />!
<asp:LoginStatus ID="LoginStatus1" runat="server" LogoutText="Logout" />
</LoggedInTemplate>
<AnonymousTemplate>
 Please <a href="Login.aspx">login</a>.
</AnonymousTemplate>
</asp:LoginView>

Explanation:

• The LoginView control is used to display different content based on the user's
authentication status.
• Within the LoggedInTemplate, the LoginName control displays the username.
• the LoginStatus control will display a logout button.
• The Anonymous template displays a login link.

Important Considerations:

• Security:
o Ensure that your authentication system is properly configured and secured.
o Protect against common vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and cross-site
scripting (XSS).
• Modern .NET:
o For new .NET projects, especially web applications, consider using ASP.NET Core
and ASP.NET Core Identity for user management.

Using the Change Password Control

When dealing with password changes in .NET applications, it's crucial to prioritize security and
user experience. Here's a breakdown of how the "Change Password" functionality is handled, with
a focus on both older ASP.NET Web Forms and modern ASP.NET Core.

To use the "ChangePassword" control in ASP.NET, simply add the control to your web page
within the design view, which allows users to change their password by providing their current
password, a new password, and a confirmation of the new password; this control leverages the
underlying Membership framework to handle password updates securely.

The ChangePassword control can be configured to use email services to send the new password to
the user. To send email messages to users from any of ASP.NET Web server controls, you must
configure an email server in the Web. config file for your application

<asp:ChangePassword ID="ChangePasswordControl" runat="server"

 CurrentPasswordLabelText="Current Password:"

NewPasswordLabelText="New Password:"

ConfirmNewPasswordLabelText="Confirm New Password:">

</asp:ChangePassword>

ASP.NET Web Forms:

• ChangePassword Control:
o This control provides a pre-built interface for users to change their passwords.
o It handles tasks such as:
▪ Prompting for the current password.
▪ Requiring the new password to be entered twice for confirmation.
▪ Interacting with the ASP.NET membership provider to update the password.
o Key considerations:
▪ Configuration of the membership provider in web.config is essential.
▪ Customization of the control's appearance can be achieved through styling and templates.
▪ Security best practices are still needed, such as strong password policies.

ASP.NET Core:

• ASP.NET Core Identity:

o In ASP.NET Core, ASP.NET Core Identity is the recommended system for user
management, including password changes.
o It offers greater flexibility and control compared to the older Web Forms approach.
o Key aspects:
▪ UserManager: The UserManager class is central to password management.
It provides methods for:
▪ Verifying current passwords.
▪ Changing passwords.
▪ Generating password reset tokens.
▪ Views/Razor Pages: Developers create the UI for password changes using Razor Pages or
MVC views.
▪ Security: ASP.NET Core Identity emphasizes security best practices, such as password
hashing and protection against common vulnerabilities.

Using the Password Recovery Control

When implementing password recovery in .NET applications, it's essential to balance user
convenience with robust security measures. Here's a breakdown of how the "Password Recovery"
functionality is handled, with distinctions between older ASP.NET Web Forms and modern
ASP.NET Core

To use password recovery controls in ASP.NET, you can leverage the built-in
"PasswordRecovery" control which allows users to reset their forgotten passwords by either
sending them their existing password or generating a new one, depending on your membership
provider configuration; simply add this control to a web page accessible to anonymous users and
customize its behavior through properties and events as needed.

ASP.NET Web Forms:

• PasswordRecovery Control:
o This control provides a pre-built interface for users to recover their passwords.
o It typically involves:
▪ Prompting the user for their username or email address.
▪ Optionally, asking security questions.
▪ Sending a password reset email to the user.
o Key considerations:
▪ Configuration of the membership provider in web.config is crucial.
▪ Proper SMTP server configuration is required for sending emails.
▪ Security best practices, such as preventing email spoofing, are essential.

ASP.NET Core:

• ASP.NET Core Identity:

o ASP.NET Core Identity is the recommended system for user management in
modern .NET applications.
o It offers a flexible and secure way to implement password recovery.
o Key aspects:
▪ UserManager: The UserManager class handles password recovery logic.
▪ Password Reset Tokens: ASP.NET Core Identity generates unique, time-limited tokens for
password resets.
▪ Email Integration: Developers implement email sending functionality using libraries like
SmtpClient or third-party email services.
▪ Razor Pages/MVC: The UI for password recovery is built using Razor Pages or MVC views.
▪ Steps involved:
▪ The user requests a password reset.
▪ The application generates a password reset token.
▪ The application sends an email to the user with a link containing the token.
▪ The user clicks the link and is directed to a password reset page.
▪ The application validates the token and allows the user to set a new password.

Maintaining application state

Maintaining application state in .NET is crucial for creating interactive and user-friendly
applications. The methods used to manage state vary depending on the type of .NET application
(web, desktop, etc.). Here's a breakdown of common state management techniques:

Web Applications (ASP.NET/ASP.NET Core):

• Client-Side State Management:

o Cookies:
▪ Small text files stored on the user's browser.
▪ Useful for storing user preferences, session IDs, and other small pieces of data.
▪ Limitations: Size restrictions, security concerns.
o Local Storage/Session Storage (HTML5):
▪ Provides larger storage capacity than cookies.
▪ Local storage persists data across browser sessions, while session storage data is cleared
when the browser tab is closed.
▪ Client side, so security is a factor.
o Query Strings:
▪ Data appended to the URL.
▪ Useful for passing small amounts of data between pages.
▪ Limitations: Visible in the URL, size restrictions.
o Hidden Fields:
▪ HTML input elements that are not displayed on the page.
▪ Can store data that needs to be passed between server requests.
▪ Security concerns, as users can manipulate them.
• Server-Side State Management:
o Session State:
▪ Stores data specific to a user's session.
▪ Useful for maintaining user-specific information across multiple requests.
▪ Stored on the server, offering better security.
▪ Can impact server performance if overused.
o Application State:
▪ Stores data that is shared by all users of the application.
▪ Useful for storing application-wide settings and data.
▪ Stored on the server.
▪ Concurrency issues can arise, so locking mechanisms should be used..
o Databases:
▪ Persistent storage for application data.
▪ Suitable for storing large amounts of data and ensuring data integrity.
▪ Used for user profiles, product catalogs, and other application data.
• ASP.NET Core Specifics:
o ASP.NET Core emphasizes a more modular and flexible approach to state
management.
o Distributed caching options (e.g., Redis, SQL Server) are commonly used for
improved scalability.
o Dependency injection is used to manage stateful services.

Desktop Applications (.NET Framework/.NET):

• Application Settings:
o Stores application-specific settings in configuration files.
o Useful for storing user preferences and application configuration.
• User Settings:
o Stores user-specific settings in configuration files.
o Allows users to customize application behavior.
• File Storage:
o Stores data in files on the local file system.
o Suitable for storing large amounts of data or complex data structures.
• Databases (Local/Remote):
o Stores data in a database, such as SQLite, SQL Server, or other database systems.
o Provides persistent storage and data integrity.
• In-Memory Variables:
o For data that only needs to persist while the application is running, in memory
variables are used.

using browser cookies

Cookies are a fundamental part of web development, allowing websites to store small pieces of
information on a user's browser. In .NET, particularly within ASP.NET and ASP.NET Core, there
are well-defined ways to work with them.

To use browser cookies in ASP.NET, you access the Response.Cookies collection to set cookies
on the user's browser, and use the Request.Cookies collection to retrieve previously set cookies
from the user's browser during subsequent requests; essentially, you can store small pieces of data
on the client-side that the server can later access to personalize the user experience.

What are Cookies?

• Essentially, cookies are small text files that websites send to a user's browser.
• The browser then stores these files, and when the user revisits the same website, the
browser sends the cookies back to the server.
• This allows websites to "remember" user preferences, session information, or other
relevant data.
• A cookie is often used to identify a user. A cookie is a small file that the server embeds on
the user's computer. Each time the same computer requests a page with a browser, it will send the
cookie too. With ASP, you can both create and retrieve cookie values.

Key Uses:

• Session Management: Maintaining user login sessions.

• Personalization: Storing user preferences (e.g., language, theme).
• Tracking: Monitoring user behavior on a website.
• E-commerce: Storing items in a shopping cart.

2. ASP.NET Framework:

• In ASP.NET Framework, you work with the HttpCookie class.

• Setting Cookies:
o You create an HttpCookie object, set its properties, and add it to the
Response.Cookies collection.
• Reading Cookies:
o You retrieve cookies from the Request.Cookies collection.

• How to Create a Cookie?

• The "Response.Cookies" command is used to create cookies.
• Note: The Response.Cookies command must appear BEFORE the <html> tag.
• In the example below, we will create a cookie named "firstname" and assign the value
"Alex" to it:
• <%
Response.Cookies("firstname")="Alex"
%>
• It is also possible to assign properties to a cookie, like setting a date when the cookie
should expire:
• <%
Response.Cookies("firstname")="Alex"
Response.Cookies("firstname").Expires=#May 10,2012#
%>
•
• How to Retrieve a Cookie Value?
• The "Request.Cookies" command is used to retrieve a cookie value.
• In the example below, we retrieve the value of the cookie named "firstname" and display it
on a page:
• <%
fname=Request.Cookies("firstname")
 response.write("Firstname=" & fname)
%>
• Output: Firstname=Alex

• Example:

C#
// Setting a cookie
HttpCookie myCookie = new HttpCookie("MyCookie");
myCookie["Name"] = "John Doe";
myCookie.Expires = DateTime.Now.AddDays(1);
Response.Cookies.Add(myCookie);

// Reading a cookie
HttpCookie retrievedCookie = Request.Cookies["MyCookie"];
if (retrievedCookie != null)
{
string name = retrievedCookie["Name"];
}
Key points about using cookies in ASP.NET:

• Setting a cookie:

• Access the Response.Cookies collection.

• Create a new cookie object using the desired name and value.

• Optionally set the expiration date using the Expires property to make the cookie persistent across
browser sessions.
• Retrieving a cookie:
• Access the Request.Cookies collection.

• Use the cookie name to retrieve its value.

using session state

 Session state in .NET web applications provides a way to store user-specific data during a user's
browsing session. Because HTTP is a stateless protocol, session state is essential for maintaining
information across multiple requests from the same user. Here's a breakdown of how it works,
with a focus on both ASP.NET Framework and ASP.NET Core:

To use session state in ASP.NET, you can access the Session object within your code to store and
retrieve data specific to a user's current session, allowing you to persist information across
multiple page requests within the same user session on a website.

Key points about using session state:

• Accessing Session:

To access the session object in your ASP.NET page, use the Session property: Session["key"] =
"value";.

• Storing data:

To store data in the session, assign a value to a key within the Session object.

• Retrieving data:
To retrieve data from the session, access the key using the same syntax: string storedValue =
Session["key"].ToString();

example

Session["UserName"] = "John Doe";

string userName = Session["UserName"].ToString();

ASP.NET Framework:

• How it works:
o ASP.NET Framework provides a Session object to store and retrieve session data.
o By default, session data is stored in the web server's memory (in-process).
o It also supports out-of-process session state storage using state server or SQL Server, which
is important for Web farms.
• Usage:
o You can store and retrieve session data using the Session object as a key-value collection.

Example:
 Session["UserName"] = "JohnDoe";

string userName = (string)Session["UserName"];

Building custom controls

Custom controls are deployed as individual assemblies. They are compiled into a Dynamic Link
Library (DLL) and used as any other ASP.NET server control. They could be created in either of
the following way:

• By deriving a custom control from an existing control

• By composing a new custom control combing two or more existing controls.
• By deriving from the base control class.

To understand the concept, let us create a custom control, which will simply render a text message
on the browser.

1. Windows Forms (.NET Framework/.NET Windows Forms):

• User Controls:
o These are composite controls, meaning they combine existing Windows Forms controls into a
single, reusable unit.
o You create a User Control by adding a new "User Control" item to your project.
o You can then drag and drop standard controls onto the User Control's design surface, set their
properties, and write code to handle their events.
o User Controls are excellent for encapsulating complex UI logic.
• Custom Controls:
o These are controls that are derived from existing Windows Forms control classes (e.g.,
Control, Button, TextBox) or created from scratch.
o You create a Custom Control by adding a new "Custom Control" item to your project.
o You have more control over the control's appearance and behavior, including custom
painting and event handling.
o Custom controls are suitable for creating unique UI elements.
• Steps:
o Create a new User Control or Custom Control project item.
o Design the control's UI (drag and drop controls or override the OnPaint method).
o Add properties, methods, and events to the control.
o Write code to handle events and implement custom logic.
o Build the control and add it to the Toolbox.

2. WPF (.NET Framework/.NET WPF):

• User Controls:
o Similar to Windows Forms, User Controls in WPF are composite controls.
o You create a User Control by adding a new "User Control (WPF)" item to your project.
o You design the control's UI using XAML.
o WPF User Controls are highly flexible due to WPF's data binding and styling capabilities.
• Custom Controls:
o WPF Custom Controls are created by deriving from the Control class or a derived class.
o You create a Custom Control by adding a new "Custom Control (WPF)" item to your
project.
o You define the control's appearance and behavior using XAML and code-behind.
o Control Templates:
▪ WPF Custom Controls often use Control Templates to define their visual
structure. This allows for extensive customization.
o Dependency Properties:
▪ WPF uses dependency properties to enable data binding, styling, and
animation.
• Steps:
o Create a new User Control or Custom Control project item.
o Design the control's UI using XAML.
o Define dependency properties.
o Write code-behind to handle events and implement custom logic.
o Define a Control Template for custom appearance.
o Build the control and add it to the Toolbox or use it within XAML.

3. ASP.NET Core (Razor Components/Blazor):

• Razor Components:
o In Blazor, you build reusable UI components using Razor syntax.
o You create a Razor Component by adding a new ".razor" file to your project.
o Razor Components can contain HTML, C# code, and other Razor Components.
o They support data binding, event handling, and component composition.
• Steps:
o Create a new ".razor" file.
o Design the component's UI using HTML and Razor syntax.
o Add C# code to handle events and implement custom logic.
o Define parameters for component customization.
o Use the component in other Razor Components or pages.

General Best Practices:

• Encapsulation:
o Encapsulate UI logic and data within the control.
• Reusability:
o Design controls to be reusable across multiple projects.
• Customization:
o Provide properties and events to allow users to customize the control's behavior and
appearance.
• Accessibility:
o Ensure that controls are accessible to users with disabilities.
• Testing:
o Write unit tests to verify the control's functionality.
• Documentation:
o Document the control's properties, methods, and events.

overview of custom control building

Key Concepts Across .NET Platforms:

• Composition vs. Inheritance:

o Composition (User Controls): Combine existing controls into a new control.
o Inheritance (Custom Controls): Derive from existing control classes to create
new controls.
• Properties, Methods, and Events:
o Define the control's interface for interaction.
• Drawing/Rendering:
o Control how the control is displayed on the screen.
• Event Handling:
o Implement custom responses to user interactions.

Understanding Rendering:

• Rendering in web development refers to the process of converting server-side code (like
ASP.NET server controls) into client-side code (primarily HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) that a
web browser can understand and display.
• Essentially, the server takes your .NET controls, processes them, and outputs the HTML
that the browser will then display to the user.

ASP.NET and Rendering:

• ASP.NET Server Controls:

o These controls (e.g., <asp:TextBox>, <asp:Button>) are processed on the server.
o During the rendering phase, ASP.NET generates the corresponding HTML markup
that represents these controls.
o This is why when you view the source code of a web page, you'll see HTML, even
though you might have used ASP.NET server controls in your code.
• Rendering Process:
o The ASP.NET page lifecycle includes a rendering stage where controls are
rendered.
o The Render() method (or RenderControl()) is involved in this process.
o The output of the rendering process is sent to the client's browser.

Key Points:

• HTML Output:
o Ultimately, the browser receives HTML. Therefore, all server-side controls must be
rendered into HTML.
• Server-Side Processing:
o ASP.NET's strength lies in its ability to handle server-side processing, and the
rendering process is a core part of that.
• Client-Side Interaction:
o While ASP.NET handles server-side rendering, client-side JavaScript can then be
used to add interactivity to the rendered HTML.

Modern .NET:

• ASP.NET Core:
o ASP.NET Core continues the concept of rendering, but with a more streamlined
and flexible architecture.
o Razor Pages and MVC views are rendered into HTML.
o Blazor also renders output that is displayed in the browser, though depending on
the blazor hosting model, the way that rendering is accomplished changes.
• Client side rendering:
o Modern web development also relies heavily on client side rendering, where
javascript frameworks manipulate the DOM directly in the users browser.

In essence, "fully rendered controls" emphasizes the transformation of server-side .NET controls
into client-side HTML, which is essential for web browsers to display web pages.

building fully rendering controls

Building fully rendered controls in .NET involves creating UI components that generate complete,
usable output, typically HTML for web applications or visual elements for desktop applications.
Here's a deeper dive into the process, focusing on both web (ASP.NET) and desktop (Windows
Forms/WPF) contexts:

Web Applications (ASP.NET/ASP.NET Core):

• ASP.NET Web Forms:

o Custom Server Controls:
▪ You derive from System.Web.UI.Control or
System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebControl.
▪ Override the Render() or RenderContents() methods to generate HTML
output.
▪ Use HtmlTextWriter to write HTML to the output stream.
▪ You can add properties to the control that affect the rendered output.
o User Controls:
▪ These are composite controls built from existing server controls.
▪ They're rendered by combining the rendering of their child controls.
▪ Provide a visual design surface in Visual Studio.
• ASP.NET Core (Razor Components/MVC/Razor Pages):
o Razor Components (Blazor):
▪ Use Razor syntax (HTML and C#) to define the component's UI.
▪ Blazor handles the rendering of the component to the browser's DOM.
▪ You focus on building the component's logic and structure, not on manually
generating HTML.
o MVC/Razor Pages:
▪ Views and Razor Pages are rendered into HTML.
▪ You use Razor syntax to embed C# code within HTML.
▪ The rendering engine handles the conversion to HTML.
▪ Tag helpers allow for custom html generation server side.
o Key Differences from Web Forms:
▪ ASP.NET Core emphasizes a more component-based approach.
▪ Razor syntax simplifies UI development.
▪ Dependency injection and middleware provide greater flexibility.

Key Considerations for Fully Rendered Controls:

• Performance:
o Optimize rendering logic to minimize performance impact.
o Avoid unnecessary redraws.
• Accessibility:
o Ensure controls are accessible to users with disabilities.
o Provide keyboard navigation and screen reader support.
• Customization:
o Provide properties and events to allow users to customize the control's behavior and
appearance.
• Data Binding:
o Use data binding to dynamically update the control's appearance and data.
• Testing:
o Thoroughly test controls to ensure they render correctly and behave as expected.
Building Composite Controls.

What are Composite Controls?

• Composite controls are essentially collections of other controls that are grouped together to
form a single, logical unit.
• Instead of creating a completely new control from scratch, you leverage existing controls
and combine them to create a more complex UI element.

Key Benefits:

• Reusability:
o Composite controls can be used multiple times within an application or across
different projects.
• Encapsulation:
o They encapsulate UI logic and design, making it easier to manage and update.
• Simplified Development:
o By combining existing controls, you can reduce the amount of code you need to
write.
• Improved Maintainability:
o Changes to the composite control can be made in one place, reducing the risk of
errors.

Implementation Across .NET Platforms:

• Windows Forms:
o User Controls:
▪ In Windows Forms, the primary way to create composite controls is through
User Controls.
▪ You can visually design User Controls by dragging and dropping existing
controls onto the design surface.
▪ This allows you to create complex layouts and define the behavior of the
composite control.
o Key aspects:
▪ Visual Studio provides excellent design-time support for User Controls.
▪ You can add properties, methods, and events to User Controls to customize
their behavior.
▪

• ASP.NET (Web Forms):

o Composite web controls are created by inheriting from the CompositeControl
Class.
o The CreateChildControls method is overridden to add the child controls to the
composite control.
o This allows for programmatic creation of the control's layout.
• ASP.NET Core (Razor Components/Blazor):
o Razor components are inherently composite.
o You can easily combine multiple Razor components to create complex UI
elements.
o This component-based approach promotes reusability and modularity.

General Practices:

• Design for Reusability:

o Think about how the composite control will be used in different contexts.
• Provide Clear Interfaces:
o Define properties, methods, and events that allow users to interact with the control.
• Handle Events Properly:
o Ensure that events from child controls are handled correctly.
• Test Thoroughly:
o Test the composite control to ensure that it behaves as expected.

BUILDING HYBRID CONTROLS

To build "hybrid controls" in ASP.NET, which essentially means combining server-side rendering
with client-side interactivity, the most common approach today is to leverage Blazor Hybrid
within an ASP.NET Core application, allowing you to embed Blazor components (client-side web
assembly) directly into your existing web pages, enabling a seamless mix of server-rendered
content and dynamic, interactive elements managed by JavaScript on the client side.

1. Web and Desktop Integration:

• WebBrowser Control (Windows Forms/WPF):

o This control allows you to embed a web browser within your desktop application.
o You can display HTML content, interact with web pages, and even run JavaScript
code.
o This is useful for creating applications that display web-based information or
integrate with web services.

Example uses:

▪ Displaying online documentation.

▪ Creating custom web browsers.
▪ Integrating with web-based mapping services.

1. Blazor Hybrid (.NET MAUI):

o Blazor Hybrid allows you to run Blazor components within native desktop and
mobile applications.
o This allows you to reuse existing Blazor web UI components in your native
applications.
o .NET MAUI provides the native host, and Blazor renders the web UI within it.
o This approach offers a great way to leverage web development skills for native
application development.

2. Native and Managed Code Integration:

• Interop (P/Invoke):
o Platform Invoke (P/Invoke) allows you to call native functions from managed code.
o This is useful for accessing operating system APIs or using native libraries.
o You define the native function signatures in your managed code and then call them.
o This is how you can access windows API's, or other native DLL's from your .NET
code.
• COM Interop:
o Component Object Model (COM) interop allows you to use COM components in
your .NET applications.
o This is useful for integrating with legacy COM components or using applications
that expose COM interfaces.

3. Combining Different UI Frameworks:

• ElementHost (WPF in Windows Forms):

o This control allows you to embed WPF elements within Windows Forms
applications.
o This is useful for gradually migrating Windows Forms applications to WPF or for
using specific WPF controls in a Windows Forms application.
• WindowsFormsHost (Windows Forms in WPF):
o The WindowsFormsHost control does the opposite of the ElementHost, and allows
for embedding Windows Forms controls inside of a WPF application.

Key Considerations:

• Performance:
o Hybrid controls can introduce performance overhead due to the communication
between different technologies.
o Optimize your code to minimize this overhead.
• Security:
o When integrating with native code or web content, be aware of security risks.
o Validate user input and take precautions to prevent vulnerabilities.
• Complexity:
o Building hybrid controls can be complex, especially when dealing with interop or
multiple UI frameworks.
o Carefully plan your architecture and test thoroughly.
• Maintainability:
o Hybrid applications can be harder to maintain, so keep your code well organized
and documented