Data binding in WinForms

Data binding in WinForms is an effective technology that facilitates the automated synchronisation of data between user interface controls and data sources, such as databases, collections, or custom objects. It minimises the quantity of overlapping code required for data presentation and updates.

 

• Simple Data Binding: 
  • Binds a single property of a control to a single data element (e.g., a TextBox.Text property to a specific column in a DataTable or a property of an object).
  • Often used for displaying individual values.
  • Example: textBox1.DataBindings.Add("Text", myObject, "PropertyName");
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• Complex Data Binding:
  • Binds a control that can display multiple data elements or lists of data (e.g., DataGridView, ListBox, ComboBox) to a collection or a table.
  • Example: dataGridView1.DataSource = myListOfObjects;
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Two Way Data Binding

For twoway binding, where modifications in the user interface reflect in the data source and vice versa, your data source objects must implement INotifyPropertyChanged to inform controls of property alterations, and if it is a collection, IBindingList or INotifyCollectionChanged for changes in the collection. 

List<T> does not implement these features; hence, BindingSource offers some of this functionality for it. A BindingList<T> is frequently favoured for collections in WinForms due to its direct implementation of IBindingList.

Define the data modal

 

Create a WinForms Form and Set Up Data Binding