Using StaticResources in WPF

Resources provide a simple way to reuse commonly defined objects and values. If we are defining the resource then we can use that resource a number of times. (Just like applying themes and css to web pages). 

 

Resources are two types:
 

      1. Static Resource

      2. Dynamic Resource.

 

StaticResource: StaticResources are resolved at compile time. Use StaticResources when it's clear that you don't need your resource re-evaluated when fetching it static resources perform better than dynamic resources.

 

DynamicResource: DynamicResources are resolved at runtime. Use DynamicResources when the value of the resource could change during the lifetime of the Application.

 

I will show you an example of a Static Resource.

 

In my WPF application page I have one textbox and two ellipses. In Window.Resources I defined the SolidColorBrush and the Style properties.

 

<Window.Resources>

<SolidColorBrush x:Key="brush" Color="Green"></SolidColorBrush>

<SolidColorBrush x:Key="forbuttoncolor" Color="CadetBlue"></SolidColorBrush>

<Style TargetType="Border" x:Key="background">

<Setter Property="Background" Value="Orange"></Setter>

</Style>

<Style TargetType="TextBox" x:Key="TitleText">

<Setter Property="Background" Value="White"/>

<Setter Property="DockPanel.Dock" Value="Top"/>

<Setter Property="FontSize" Value="14"/>

<Setter Property="Foreground" Value="#4E87D4"/>

<Setter Property="FontFamily" Value="Tahoma"/>

<Setter Property="Margin" Value="50,50,50,0"/>

<Setter Property="Width" Value="300"></Setter>

</Style>

</Window.Resources>

 

In above code you can observe x: Key attribute. x: Key uniquely identifies elements that are created and referenced in a XAML-defined dictionary.

 

Here I'm using above resources. Have a look at below code.  

Syntax is :{ StaticResource x:keyName}

 

<Grid>

<StackPanel>

<Border Style="{StaticResource background}">

<DockPanel Height="300" Width="500">

<TextBox Style="{StaticResource TitleText}" Height="28" Width="150"> </TextBox>

<Ellipse DockPanel.Dock="Left" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="73" Fill="{StaticResource brush}" Width="169"></Ellipse>

<Ellipse DockPanel.Dock="Right" HorizontalAlignment="Right" Width="149" Height="73" Fill="{StaticResource forbuttoncolor}"></Ellipse>

</DockPanel>

</Border>

</StackPanel>      

</Grid>

 

Result window looks like this.

 

 

In my very next article, I will explain you about Dynamic Resource.
 

Hope you like this article, let me know if you have any queries.