MAUI - Advanced Dynamic Custom Controls

Introduction

Building advanced dynamic custom controls in .NET MAUI allows developers to create highly interactive, data-driven, and responsive UI components that seamlessly integrate with MVVM patterns while maintaining performance and flexibility. Unlike static controls, dynamic controls adapt at runtime based on user input, data bindings, and state changes—making them ideal for complex scenarios like dashboards, data visualizations, and interactive forms.

Why Use Advanced Dynamic Custom Controls?

Data-Driven UI – Dynamically render content based on BindableProperty values, collections, or business logic.
MVVM-Friendly – Fully support data binding, commands, and observable patterns for clean separation of concerns.
Runtime Adaptability – Modify structure, styling, and behavior in response to user actions or state changes.
High Performance – Optimize rendering with virtualization, lazy loading, and efficient binding strategies.
Reusable & Extensible – Package complex logic into a single control that can be customized via properties, styles, and templates.

Key Features of Dynamic Custom Controls

✅ Bindable Properties – Expose configurable properties that support BindingMode.TwoWay updates.
✅ Dynamic Content Generation – Build UI elements on-the-fly (e.g., templated lists, conditional layouts).
✅ Command & Event Handling – Support user interactions with ICommand and custom events.
✅ State Management – Handle visual states (VisualStateManager) for animations and transitions.
✅ Platform-Specific Optimizations – Use Custom Handlers or Renderers when needed for fine-tuned behavior.

Common Use Cases

Data-Bound Composite Controls (e.g., dynamic forms, filterable lists)
Interactive Visualizations (e.g., charts, graphs, or drag-and-drop elements)
Conditional UI (e.g., a collapsible panel, wizard stepper, or multi-state button)
Custom Collection Views (e.g., a virtualized grid with dynamic item templates)

Example: Dynamic Control Types

A Data-Bound Auto-Complete Search Bar (updates suggestions in real-time)
A Dynamic Form Generator (renders fields based on a JSON schema)
A Live Chart Control (updates visuals on data changes)

Designing TemplatedCardView UI

How to use it on a page

Conclusion

Advanced dynamic custom controls represent the pinnacle of flexibility and power in .NET MAUI development. By leveraging bindable properties, dynamic UI generation, and MVVM-compatible architectures, you can create sophisticated components that respond to real-time data, user interactions, and application state—all while maintaining clean, maintainable code.

Key Takeaways

✔ Dynamic controls thrive on data binding, enabling seamless integration with business logic and real-time updates.
✔ Performance optimization (e.g., virtualization, efficient bindings) is crucial for smooth user experiences.
✔ Custom events and commands make controls reusable across different MVVM contexts.
✔ Platform-specific enhancements (via handlers or renderers) can further refine behavior when needed.

When to Use Dynamic Controls?

Data-heavy applications (dashboards, real-time feeds)
Interactive UIs (drag-and-drop, multi-step workflows)
Customizable components (themable widgets, user-configured layouts)