#170 – Functionality That The Base Element Classes Provide

The four main base element classes in WPF each provide slightly different functionality, above and beyond DependencyObject, which they all inherit from, directly or indirectly.

• ContentElement adds (to DependencyObject)
  • Input events and commanding
  • Focus
  • Raise and respond to routed events
  • Animation support
• FrameworkContentElement adds (to ContentElement)
  • Additional input elements (e.g. tooltips, context menus)
  • Storyboards
  • Data binding
  • Styles
  • Property value inheritance
• UIElement adds (to DependencyObject)
  • via Visual
    • Hit testing
    • Clipping and coordinate transformations
    • Participation in visual tree via parent/child relationships
  • Layout behavior (measure/arrange)
  • Input events and commanding
  • Focus
  • Raise and respond to routed Events
  • Animation support
• FrameworkElement adds (to UIElement)
  • Additional input elements (e.g. tooltips, context menus)
  • Storyboards
  • Data binding
  • Styles
  • Property value inheritance
  • Support for the logical tree