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In data binding, the binding source object refers to the object you obtain your data from. This topic describes the different ways of specifying the binding source.

Example

If you are binding several properties to a common source, you want to use the DataContext property, which provides a convenient way to establish a scope within which all data-bound properties inherit a common source.

In the following example, the data context is established on the root element of the application. This allows all child elements to inherit that data context. Data for the binding comes from a custom data class, NetIncome , referenced directly through a mapping and given the resource key of incomeDataSource .

xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" x:Class="SDKSample.DirectionalBinding" xmlns:c="clr-namespace:SDKSample" Name="Page1" <Grid.Resources> <c:NetIncome x:Key="incomeDataSource"/> <Style TargetType="{x:Type TextBlock}"> <Setter Property="Padding" Value="8"/> </Style> <Style TargetType="{x:Type TextBox}"> <Setter Property="Margin" Value="0,6,0,0"/> </Style> </Grid.Resources> <Grid.DataContext> <Binding Source="{StaticResource incomeDataSource}"/> </Grid.DataContext>

</Grid>
The following example shows the definition of the NetIncome class.
public class NetIncome : INotifyPropertyChanged
    private int totalIncome = 5000;
    private int rent = 2000;
    private int food = 0;
    private int misc = 0;
    private int savings = 0;
    public NetIncome()
        savings = totalIncome - (rent+food+misc);
    public int TotalIncome
            return totalIncome;
            if( TotalIncome != value)
                totalIncome = value;
                OnPropertyChanged("TotalIncome");
    public int Rent
            return rent;
            if( Rent != value)
                rent = value;
                OnPropertyChanged("Rent");
                UpdateSavings();
    public int Food
            return food;
            if( Food != value)
                food = value;
                OnPropertyChanged("Food");
                UpdateSavings();
    public int Misc
            return misc;
            if( Misc != value)
                misc = value;
                OnPropertyChanged("Misc");
                UpdateSavings();
    public int Savings
            return savings;
            if( Savings != value)
                savings = value;
                OnPropertyChanged("Savings");
                UpdateSavings();
    private void UpdateSavings()
        Savings = TotalIncome - (Rent+Misc+Food);
        if(Savings < 0)
        else if(Savings >= 0)
    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
    private void OnPropertyChanged(String info)
        PropertyChangedEventHandler handler = PropertyChanged;
        if (handler !=null)
            handler(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(info));
Public Class NetIncome
    Implements INotifyPropertyChanged
    ' Events
    Public Event PropertyChanged As PropertyChangedEventHandler Implements INotifyPropertyChanged.PropertyChanged
    ' Methods
    Public Sub New()
        Me._totalIncome = 5000
        Me._rent = 2000
        Me._food = 0
        Me._misc = 0
        Me._savings = 0
        Me._savings = (Me.TotalIncome - ((Me.Rent + Me.Food) + Me.Misc))
    End Sub
    Private Sub OnPropertyChanged(ByVal info As String)
        RaiseEvent PropertyChanged(Me, New PropertyChangedEventArgs(info))
    End Sub
    Private Sub UpdateSavings()
        Me.Savings = (Me.TotalIncome - ((Me.Rent + Me.Misc) + Me.Food))
        If ((Me.Savings >= 0) AndAlso (Me.Savings >= 0)) Then
        End If
    End Sub
    ' Properties
    Public Property Food As Integer
            Return Me._food
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            If (Me.Food <> value) Then
                Me._food = value
                Me.OnPropertyChanged("Food")
                Me.UpdateSavings()
            End If
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Property Misc As Integer
            Return Me._misc
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            If (Me.Misc <> value) Then
                Me._misc = value
                Me.OnPropertyChanged("Misc")
                Me.UpdateSavings()
            End If
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Property Rent As Integer
            Return Me._rent
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            If (Me.Rent <> value) Then
                Me._rent = value
                Me.OnPropertyChanged("Rent")
                Me.UpdateSavings()
            End If
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Property Savings As Integer
            Return Me._savings
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            If (Me.Savings <> value) Then
                Me._savings = value
                Me.OnPropertyChanged("Savings")
                Me.UpdateSavings()
            End If
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Property TotalIncome As Integer
            Return Me._totalIncome
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            If (Me.TotalIncome <> value) Then
                Me._totalIncome = value
                Me.OnPropertyChanged("TotalIncome")
            End If
        End Set
    End Property
    ' Fields
    Private _food As Integer
    Private _misc As Integer
    Private _rent As Integer
    Private _savings As Integer
    Private _totalIncome As Integer
End Class
The above example instantiates the object in markup and uses it as a resource. If you want to bind to an object that has already been instantiated in code, you need to set the DataContext property programmatically. For an example, see Make Data Available for Binding in XAML.
Alternatively, if you want to specify the source on your individual bindings explicitly, you have the following options. These take precedence over the inherited data context.
Property
Description
Source
You use this property to set the source to an instance of an object. If you do not need the functionality of establishing a scope in which several properties inherit the same data context, you can use the Source property instead of the DataContext property. For more information, see Source.
RelativeSource
This is useful when you want to specify the source relative to where your binding target is. Some common scenarios where you may use this property is when you want to bind one property of your element to another property of the same element or if you are defining a binding in a style or a template. For more information, see RelativeSource.
ElementName
You specify a string that represents the element you want to bind to. This is useful when you want to bind to the property of another element on your application. For example, if you want to use a Slider to control the height of another control in your application, or if you want to bind the Content of your control to the SelectedValue property of your ListBox control. For more information, see ElementName.
See also
FrameworkElement.DataContext
FrameworkContentElement.DataContext
Property Value Inheritance
Data Binding Overview
Binding Declarations Overview
How-to Topics
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