XAML-specific Elements and Attributes

Strictly speaking, XML-based grammars do not support true keywords. However, XML parsers can be
programmed to look for special tokens that will be treated in a special, customized manner. The same is true
for XAML as it defines a number of tokens that can be regarded as ‘keywords’ in a general sense. Many of
these are used to control how the XAML markup is processed at compile time via msbuild.exe.

Because these XAML-specific tokens are part of the XAML namespace, many of them must take an x:
prefix (x:Name, x:Code, x:Class, and so forth). As you will see, as a convenience, some tokens such as Name
do not require an x: prefix.




















































As you have seen earlier in this chapter, the x:Class and x:Code tokens are XAML tokens. A Window or
Application can specify an x:Class attribute in its opening definition and is used to define the name of the
class type in the code files. The <x:Code> XAML element can be used to embed code within a XAML file.
Here is a <Window> element that defines the x:Class attribute:


<!-- The x:Class attribute will be used by msbuild.exe to
    Define a C# or VB class type to represent the
    code of this XAML. -->
<Window x:Class = "MyWPFApp.MainWindow"
   xmlns = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
   xmlns:x = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
</Window>
XAML-specific Elements and Attributes
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XAML Keyword

Meaning in Life

Array
Used to represent a .NET array type in XAML.


ClassModifier
Allows you to define the visibility of the class   
type (internal or public) denoted by the Class
keyword.

DynamicResource
Allows you to make reference to a WPF resource
that should be monitored for changes.


 FieldModifier
Allows you to define the visibility of a type
member (internal, public, private, protected) for
any named sub-element of the root (e.g., a
<Button> within a <Window> element).

Key
Allows you to establish a key value for a XAML
item that will be placed into a resource dictionary.

Name
This allows you to specify the generated C# name
of a given XAML element.

Null
Represents a null reference.

Static
Allows you to make reference to a static member
of a type.

StaticResource
Allows you to make reference to a WPF resource
that should not be monitored for changes.


Type
This is the XAML equivalent of the C# typeof
operator / VB GetType operator. It will yield a
System.Type based on the supplied name.
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