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8 changes: 8 additions & 0 deletions .openpublishing.redirection.json
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{
"source_path": "dotnet-desktop-guide/framework/wpf/properties/xaml-loading-and-dependency-properties.md",
"redirect_url": "/dotnet/desktop/wpf/advanced/xaml-loading-and-dependency-properties?view=netframeworkdesktop-4.8"
},
{
"source_path": "dotnet-desktop-guide/net/wpf/advanced/how-to-add-an-event-handler-using-code.md",
"redirect_url": "/dotnet/desktop/wpf/events/how-to-add-an-event-handler-using-code?view=netdesktop-6.0"
},
{
"source_path": "dotnet-desktop-guide/framework/wpf/events/how-to-add-an-event-handler-using-code.md",
"redirect_url": "/dotnet/desktop/wpf/advanced/how-to-add-an-event-handler-using-code?view=netframeworkdesktop-4.8"
}
]
}
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---
title: "How to add an event handler using code"
description: Learn how to add an event handler in code-behind for an element in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).
ms.date: "02/01/2021"
dev_langs:
- "csharp"
- "vb"
helpviewer_keywords:
- "event handlers [WPF], adding"
- "XAML [WPF], adding event handlers"
---
<!-- The acrolinx score was 99 on 02/01/2021-->

# How to add an event handler using code (WPF .NET)

You can assign an event handler to an element in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) using markup or code-behind. Although it's customary to assign an event handler in Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML), sometimes you might have to assign an event handler in code-behind. For instance, use code when:

- You assign an event handler to an element after the markup page that contains the element loads.
- You add an element and assign its event handler after the markup page that will contain the element loads.
- You define the element tree for your application entirely in code.

[!INCLUDE [desktop guide under construction](../../includes/desktop-guide-preview-note.md)]

## Syntax for event handler assignment

C# supports event handler assignment using:

- The `+=` operator, which is also used in the common language runtime (CLR) event handling model.
- The <xref:System.Windows.UIElement.AddHandler%2A?displayProperty=nameWithType> method.

VB supports event handler assignment using:

- The [AddHandler](/dotnet/visual-basic/language-reference/statements/addhandler-statement) statement with the [AddressOf](/dotnet/visual-basic/language-reference/operators/addressof-operator) operator, which is also used in the CLR event handling model.
- The [Handles](/dotnet/visual-basic/language-reference/statements/handles-clause) keyword in the event handler definition. For more information, see [Visual Basic and WPF event handling](/dotnet/desktop/wpf/advanced/visual-basic-and-wpf-event-handling?view=netframeworkdesktop-4.8&preserve-view=true).
- The <xref:System.Windows.UIElement.AddHandler%2A?displayProperty=nameWithType> method, together with the `AddressOf` operator to reference the event handler.

## Example

The following example uses XAML to define a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Button> named `ButtonCreatedByXaml` and to assign the `ButtonCreatedByXaml_Click` method as its <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Primitives.ButtonBase.Click> event handler. `Click` is a built-in routed event for buttons that derive from <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Primitives.ButtonBase>.

:::code language="xaml" source="./snippets/how-to-add-an-event-handler-using-code/csharp/MainWindow.xaml" id="ButtonCreatedByXaml":::

The example uses code-behind to implement the `ButtonCreatedByXaml_Click` and `ButtonCreatedByCode_Click` handlers, and to assign the `ButtonCreatedByCode_Click` handler to the `ButtonCreatedByCode` and `StackPanel1` elements. Event handler methods can only be implemented in code-behind.

:::code language="csharp" source="./snippets/how-to-add-an-event-handler-using-code/csharp/MainWindow.xaml.cs" id="ButtonEventHandlers":::
:::code language="vb" source="./snippets/how-to-add-an-event-handler-using-code/vb/MainWindow.xaml.vb" id="ButtonEventHandlers":::

When `ButtonCreatedByXaml` is clicked and its event handler runs, `ButtonCreatedByXaml_Click` programmatically:

1. Adds a new button named `ButtonCreatedByCode` to the already constructed XAML element tree.
1. Specifies properties for the new button, such as the name, content, and background color.
1. Assigns the `ButtonCreatedByCode_Click` event handler to `ButtonCreatedByCode`.
1. Assigns the same `ButtonCreatedByCode_Click` event handler to `StackPanel1`.

When `ButtonCreatedByCode` is clicked:

1. The <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Primitives.ButtonBase.Click> routed event is raised on `ButtonCreatedByCode`.
1. The `ButtonCreatedByCode_Click` event handler assigned to `ButtonCreatedByCode` is triggered.
1. The `Click` routed event traverses up the element tree to `StackPanel1`.
1. The `ButtonCreatedByCode_Click` event handler assigned to `StackPanel1` is triggered.
1. The `Click` routed event continues up the element tree potentially triggering other `Click` event handlers assigned to other traversed elements.

The `ButtonCreatedByCode_Click` event handler obtains the following information about the event that triggered it:

- The [sender](xref:System.Windows.RoutedEventHandler) object, which is the element that the event handler is assigned to. The `sender` will be `ButtonCreatedByCode` the first time the handler runs, and `StackPanel1` the second time.
- The <xref:System.Windows.RoutedEventArgs.Source?displayProperty=nameWithType> object, which is the element that originally raised the event. In this example, the `Source` is always `ButtonCreatedByCode`.

> [!NOTE]
> A key difference between a routed event and a CLR event is that a routed event traverses the element tree, whereas a CLR event occurs only on the `sender`. As a result, a routed event `sender` can be any traversed element in the element tree.

For more information on how to create and handle routed events, see [How to create a custom routed event](/dotnet/desktop/wpf/advanced/how-to-create-a-custom-routed-event?view=netframeworkdesktop-4.8&preserve-view=true) and [Handle a routed event](/dotnet/desktop/wpf/advanced/how-to-handle-a-routed-event?view=netframeworkdesktop-4.8&preserve-view=true).

## See also

- [Routed events overview](/dotnet/desktop/wpf/advanced/routed-events-overview?view=netframeworkdesktop-4.8&preserve-view=true)
- [XAML in WPF](/dotnet/desktop/wpf/advanced/xaml-in-wpf?view=netframeworkdesktop-4.8&preserve-view=true)
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using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Data;
using System.Linq;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows;

namespace CodeSampleCsharp
{
/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for App.xaml
/// </summary>
public partial class App : Application
{
}
}
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using System.Windows;

[assembly: ThemeInfo(
ResourceDictionaryLocation.None, //where theme specific resource dictionaries are located
//(used if a resource is not found in the page,
// or application resource dictionaries)
ResourceDictionaryLocation.SourceAssembly //where the generic resource dictionary is located
//(used if a resource is not found in the page,
// app, or any theme specific resource dictionaries)
)]
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<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">

<PropertyGroup>
<OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
<TargetFramework>net6.0-windows</TargetFramework>
<UseWPF>true</UseWPF>
<NeutralLanguage>en-us</NeutralLanguage>
</PropertyGroup>

<ItemGroup>
<Compile Update="Properties\Resources.Designer.cs">
<DesignTime>True</DesignTime>
<AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
<DependentUpon>Resources.resx</DependentUpon>
</Compile>
</ItemGroup>

<ItemGroup>
<EmbeddedResource Update="Properties\Resources.resx">
<Generator>ResXFileCodeGenerator</Generator>
<LastGenOutput>Resources.Designer.cs</LastGenOutput>
</EmbeddedResource>
</ItemGroup>

</Project>
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<Window x:Class="CodeSampleCsharp.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
Title="How to add an event handler using code" Height="100" Width="300">

<!--<ButtonCreatedByXaml>-->
<StackPanel Name="StackPanel1">
<Button
Name="ButtonCreatedByXaml"
Click="ButtonCreatedByXaml_Click"
Content="Create a new button with an event handler"
Background="LightGray">
</Button>
</StackPanel>
<!--</ButtonCreatedByXaml>-->
</Window>
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using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Controls.Primitives;
using System.Windows.Media;

namespace CodeSampleCsharp
{
/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml.
/// </summary>
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
}

//<ButtonEventHandlers>
// The click event handler for the existing button 'ButtonCreatedByXaml'.
private void ButtonCreatedByXaml_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
// Create a new button.
Button ButtonCreatedByCode = new();

// Specify button properties.
ButtonCreatedByCode.Name = "ButtonCreatedByCode";
ButtonCreatedByCode.Content = "New button and event handler created in code";
ButtonCreatedByCode.Background = Brushes.Yellow;

// Add the new button to the StackPanel.
StackPanel1.Children.Add(ButtonCreatedByCode);

// Assign an event handler to the new button using the '+=' operator.
ButtonCreatedByCode.Click += new RoutedEventHandler(ButtonCreatedByCode_Click);

// Assign an event handler to the new button using the AddHandler method.
// AddHandler(ButtonBase.ClickEvent, new RoutedEventHandler(ButtonCreatedByCode_Click);

// Assign an event handler to the StackPanel using the AddHandler method.
StackPanel1.AddHandler(ButtonBase.ClickEvent, new RoutedEventHandler(ButtonCreatedByCode_Click));
}

// The Click event handler for the new button 'ButtonCreatedByCode'.
private void ButtonCreatedByCode_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
string sourceName = ((FrameworkElement)e.Source).Name;
string senderName = ((FrameworkElement)sender).Name;

Debug.WriteLine($"Routed event handler attached to {senderName}, " +
$"triggered by the Click routed event raised by {sourceName}.");
}
//</ButtonEventHandlers>

// Debug output when ButtonCreatedByCode is clicked:
// Routed event handler attached to ButtonCreatedByCode, triggered by the Click routed event raised by ButtonCreatedByCode.
// Routed event handler attached to StackPanel1, triggered by the Click routed event raised by ButtonCreatedByCode.
}
}

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