Understanding XAML

In 2006, Microsoft released WPF, which was the first technology to use XAML. It is used even today to create desktop applications.

Note

Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 is a WPF application.

XAML can be used to create:

• UWP apps for Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, Xbox One, and Microsoft HoloLens
• Windows Store apps for Windows 8 and 8.1
• Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications for the Windows desktop, including Windows 7 and later
• Silverlight applications for web browsers, Windows Phone, and desktop

Note

Although Silverlight is still supported by Microsoft, it is not being actively developed, so it should be avoided.

Simplifying code using XAML

XAML simplifies C# code, especially when building a user interface.

Imagine that you need two or more buttons laid out horizontally to create a toolbar. In C#, you would write this code:

    var toolbar = new StackPanel(); 
    toolbar.Orientation = Orientation.Horizontal; 
    var newButton = new Button(); 
    newButton.Content = &quot...