.NET Windows® Forms Custom Controls

Composite Controls

The discussion of custom controls to this point has assumed a single control or single component. As with most development projects, the end result is a composition of smaller components that in turn create the final product. The same case holds for custom control development. Rather than create a single monolithic control, custom controls are often created by using one or more smaller controls.

Simple controls, such as a command button, require only a single control to provide the necessary functionality. A combo box is a composite control that uses smaller controls to implement the larger control. This design pattern is known as Composition. Composition is a useful design pattern you should explore when creating any custom ...