XAML Syntax Terminology

The XAML syntax terminology defined here is also defined or referenced within the XAML language specification. XAML is a language based on XML and follows XML structural rules. Some of the terminology is shared from or is based on the terminology commonly used when describing the XML language or the XML Document Object Model (DOM).

Object Element Syntax

Object element syntax is the XAML markup syntax that instantiates a common language runtime (CLR) class or struct by declaring an XML element. This syntax resembles the element syntax of other markup languages such as HTML. Object element syntax begins with a left angle bracket (<), followed immediately by the type name of the class or struct being instantiated. Zero or more spaces can follow the type name, and zero or more attributes may also be declared on the object element, with one or more spaces separating each attribute name="value" pair. Finally, one of the following must be true:
The element and tag must be closed by a forward slash (/) followed immediately by a right angle bracket (>).

The opening tag must be completed by a right angle bracket (>). Other object elements, property elements, or inner text, can follow the opening tag. Exactly what content may be contained here is typically constrained by the object model of the element; see Content Syntax section in this topic. The equivalent closing tag for the object element must also exist, in proper nesting and balance with other opening and closing tag pairs.

For example, the following example is object element syntax that instantiates a new instance of the button class, and also specifies a Name attribute and a value for that attribute:

<Button Name="CheckoutButton"/>

The following example is object element syntax that also includes Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) content property syntax. The inner text contained within will be used to set the TextBox Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) content property,

<TextBox>This is a Text Box</TextBox>