A Component does not draw itself on the form and can be placed below the form area. A control draws itself on the form and can be placed inside the form area. Also, all controls are components, but not all components are controls.
In the context of .NET development, the difference between a component and a control can be explained as follows:
- Component:
- A component is a reusable, self-contained unit of software that encapsulates certain functionality or behavior.
- Components are typically designed to be used across different parts of an application or even across multiple applications.
- They can be thought of as building blocks that contribute to the overall functionality of an application.
- Components can encompass a wide range of functionalities, such as data access, user interface elements, business logic, etc.
- Examples of components in .NET include class libraries, DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries), user controls, custom classes, etc.
- Components can be instantiated and used programmatically within an application.
- Control:
- A control is a specific type of component that is primarily associated with user interface elements.
- Controls are visual elements that users interact with to provide input or view output in an application’s user interface.
- Controls encapsulate both the behavior and appearance of user interface elements, such as buttons, textboxes, checkboxes, etc.
- In .NET, controls are often represented as classes derived from the Control class or its subclasses, such as Button, TextBox, Label, etc.
- Controls can be placed on forms or other container controls, and their properties and events can be manipulated programmatically to achieve desired behavior.
In summary, while both components and controls are reusable software units, components can encompass a broader range of functionalities beyond user interface elements, whereas controls specifically refer to the visual elements used in user interfaces.