| title | description | ms.date | helpviewer_keywords | ms.assetid | ||||||||
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ComboBox vs. ListBox |
Learn about using Windows Forms ComboBox and Windows Forms ListBox, and learn to how tell when one or the other is more appropriate for a task. |
03/30/2017 |
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7bcaea58-1cfa-46db-9baf-b75a69d8f9ec |
The xref:System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox and the xref:System.Windows.Forms.ListBox controls have similar behaviors, and in some cases may be interchangeable. There are times, however, when one or the other is more appropriate to a task.
Generally, a combo box is appropriate when there is a list of suggested choices, and a list box is appropriate when you want to limit input to what is on the list. A combo box contains a text box field, so choices not on the list can be typed in. The exception is when the xref:System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox.DropDownStyle%2A property is set to xref:System.Windows.Forms.ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList. In that case, the control will select an item if you type its first letter.
In addition, combo boxes save space on a form. Because the full list is not displayed until the user clicks the down arrow, a combo box can easily fit in a small space where a list box would not fit. An exception is when the xref:System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox.DropDownStyle%2A property is set to xref:System.Windows.Forms.ComboBoxStyle.Simple: the full list is displayed, and the combo box takes up more room than a list box would.
- xref:System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox
- xref:System.Windows.Forms.ListBox
- How to: Add and Remove Items from a Windows Forms ComboBox, ListBox, or CheckedListBox Control
- How to: Sort the Contents of a Windows Forms ComboBox, ListBox, or CheckedListBox Control
- Windows Forms Controls Used to List Options