.NET MAUI

Overview

.NET Multi-platform App UI (MAUI) is Microsoft's framework for building native cross-platform applications for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows from a single codebase. MAUI is the evolution of Xamarin.Forms and uses a single-project architecture with platform-specific code organized in the Platforms folder. It supports XAML and C# markup for UI, the MVVM pattern via data binding, native platform API access through platform-specific code and handlers, and dependency injection via Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.

Application Startup and Service Registration

The MauiProgram.cs file configures the application, registers services, and sets up platform-specific behavior.

csharp

using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
using CommunityToolkit.Maui;

namespace MyMauiApp;

public static class MauiProgram
{
    public static MauiApp CreateMauiApp()
    {
        var builder = MauiApp.CreateBuilder();
        builder
            .UseMauiApp<App>()
            .UseMauiCommunityToolkit()
            .ConfigureFonts(fonts =>
            {
                fonts.AddFont("OpenSans-Regular.ttf", "OpenSansRegular");
                fonts.AddFont("OpenSans-SemiBold.ttf", "OpenSansSemiBold");
                fonts.AddFont("FluentSystemIcons-Regular.ttf", "FluentIcons");
            });

        // Register services
        builder.Services.AddSingleton<IConnectivity>(Connectivity.Current);
        builder.Services.AddSingleton<IGeolocation>(Geolocation.Default);
        builder.Services.AddSingleton<IApiService, ApiService>();

        // Register HttpClient with base address
        builder.Services.AddHttpClient<IApiService, ApiService>(client =>
        {
            client.BaseAddress = new Uri("https://api.example.com/");
        });

        // Register pages and view models
        builder.Services.AddTransient<MainPage>();
        builder.Services.AddTransient<MainViewModel>();
        builder.Services.AddTransient<DetailPage>();
        builder.Services.AddTransient<DetailViewModel>();

#if DEBUG
        builder.Logging.AddDebug();
#endif

        return builder.Build();
    }
}

MVVM with CommunityToolkit.Mvvm

Use the MVVM Community Toolkit for source-generated view models with commands, observable properties, and async operations.

csharp

using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Input;
using System.Collections.ObjectModel;

namespace MyMauiApp.ViewModels;

public partial class ProductListViewModel : ObservableObject
{
    private readonly IProductService _productService;
    private readonly IConnectivity _connectivity;

    public ProductListViewModel(IProductService productService, IConnectivity connectivity)
    {
        _productService = productService;
        _connectivity = connectivity;
    }

    [ObservableProperty]
    private ObservableCollection<Product> _products = new();

    [ObservableProperty]
    private bool _isRefreshing;

    [ObservableProperty]
    [NotifyCanExecuteChangedFor(nameof(LoadProductsCommand))]
    private bool _isBusy;

    [RelayCommand(CanExecute = nameof(IsNotBusy))]
    private async Task LoadProductsAsync()
    {
        if (_connectivity.NetworkAccess != NetworkAccess.Internet)
        {
            await Shell.Current.DisplayAlert("Connection Error",
                "No internet connection available.", "OK");
            return;
        }

        try
        {
            IsBusy = true;
            var items = await _productService.GetProductsAsync();

            Products.Clear();
            foreach (var item in items)
            {
                Products.Add(item);
            }
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            await Shell.Current.DisplayAlert("Error",
                $"Unable to load products: {ex.Message}", "OK");
        }
        finally
        {
            IsBusy = false;
            IsRefreshing = false;
        }
    }

    private bool IsNotBusy => !IsBusy;

    [RelayCommand]
    private async Task GoToDetailAsync(Product product)
    {
        await Shell.Current.GoToAsync(nameof(DetailPage), new Dictionary<string, object>
        {
            { "Product", product }
        });
    }
}

Content Page with Data Binding

Build the UI in XAML with data binding to the view model. Use CollectionView for performant scrollable lists.

xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             xmlns:vm="clr-namespace:MyMauiApp.ViewModels"
             xmlns:model="clr-namespace:MyMauiApp.Models"
             x:Class="MyMauiApp.Views.ProductListPage"
             x:DataType="vm:ProductListViewModel"
             Title="Products">

    <RefreshView IsRefreshing="{Binding IsRefreshing}"
                 Command="{Binding LoadProductsCommand}">
        <CollectionView ItemsSource="{Binding Products}"
                        SelectionMode="None"
                        EmptyView="No products found.">
            <CollectionView.ItemTemplate>
                <DataTemplate x:DataType="model:Product">
                    <SwipeView>
                        <SwipeView.RightItems>
                            <SwipeItems>
                                <SwipeItem Text="Delete"
                                           BackgroundColor="Red"
                                           Command="{Binding Source={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type vm:ProductListViewModel}}, Path=DeleteCommand}"
                                           CommandParameter="{Binding}" />
                            </SwipeItems>
                        </SwipeView.RightItems>
                        <Grid Padding="12" ColumnDefinitions="80,*" RowDefinitions="Auto,Auto"
                              ColumnSpacing="12">
                            <Image Source="{Binding ImageUrl}" Aspect="AspectFill"
                                   HeightRequest="80" WidthRequest="80"
                                   Grid.RowSpan="2" />
                            <Label Text="{Binding Name}" FontSize="16" FontAttributes="Bold"
                                   Grid.Column="1" />
                            <Label Text="{Binding Price, StringFormat='{0:C2}'}"
                                   FontSize="14" TextColor="Gray"
                                   Grid.Column="1" Grid.Row="1" />
                        </Grid>
                        <SwipeView.GestureRecognizers>
                            <TapGestureRecognizer
                                Command="{Binding Source={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type vm:ProductListViewModel}}, Path=GoToDetailCommand}"
                                CommandParameter="{Binding}" />
                        </SwipeView.GestureRecognizers>
                    </SwipeView>
                </DataTemplate>
            </CollectionView.ItemTemplate>
        </CollectionView>
    </RefreshView>
</ContentPage>

Platform-Specific Code with Partial Classes

Access platform-specific APIs using partial classes and conditional compilation.

csharp

// Services/IDeviceOrientationService.cs
namespace MyMauiApp.Services;

public interface IDeviceOrientationService
{
    DeviceOrientation GetOrientation();
}

// Platforms/Android/Services/DeviceOrientationService.cs
using Android.Content;
using Android.Views;
using Android.Runtime;

namespace MyMauiApp.Services;

public partial class DeviceOrientationService : IDeviceOrientationService
{
    public DeviceOrientation GetOrientation()
    {
        var windowManager = Android.App.Application.Context
            .GetSystemService(Context.WindowService)?
            .JavaCast<IWindowManager>();

        var rotation = windowManager?.DefaultDisplay?.Rotation;

        return rotation switch
        {
            SurfaceOrientation.Rotation0 or SurfaceOrientation.Rotation180
                => DeviceOrientation.Portrait,
            _ => DeviceOrientation.Landscape
        };
    }
}

// Platforms/iOS/Services/DeviceOrientationService.cs
using UIKit;

namespace MyMauiApp.Services;

public partial class DeviceOrientationService : IDeviceOrientationService
{
    public DeviceOrientation GetOrientation()
    {
        var orientation = UIDevice.CurrentDevice.Orientation;

        return orientation switch
        {
            UIDeviceOrientation.Portrait or UIDeviceOrientation.PortraitUpsideDown
                => DeviceOrientation.Portrait,
            _ => DeviceOrientation.Landscape
        };
    }
}

MAUI vs Other Cross-Platform Frameworks

Feature	.NET MAUI	Avalonia	Flutter	React Native
Language	C# / XAML	C# / AXAML	Dart	JavaScript/TypeScript
iOS	Native controls	Skia-rendered	Skia-rendered	Native controls
Android	Native controls	Skia-rendered	Skia-rendered	Native controls
Windows	WinUI 3	Win32/Skia	Win32	Windows (community)
macOS	Mac Catalyst	Native/Skia	Desktop (beta)	macOS (community)
Linux	No	Yes	Yes	No
Hot Reload	XAML + C#	XAML	Full	Full
App size	~15MB	~10MB	~5MB	~8MB

Best Practices

•
Register pages and view models as Transient in MauiProgram.cs and use constructor injection rather than BindingContext = new ViewModel() in code-behind, because transient registration ensures each page navigation creates a fresh view model with properly initialized dependencies.
•
Set x:DataType on every ContentPage and DataTemplate to enable compiled bindings, which provide compile-time type checking and avoid the BindingBase.EnableCollectionSynchronization warnings that appear when bindings fall back to reflection.
•
Use CollectionView instead of ListView for all scrollable list UIs because CollectionView supports virtualization by default, handles empty states via EmptyView, and does not require ViewCell wrappers that add layout overhead on iOS.
•
Check IConnectivity.NetworkAccess before every HTTP call in view model commands and display a user-facing alert on failure rather than catching HttpRequestException generically, because mobile networks transition between states frequently and users expect clear feedback.
•
Implement Shell navigation with QueryProperty or IQueryAttributable for page parameters instead of passing data through constructors or static properties; Shell.GoToAsync with a dictionary parameter bag supports deep linking, back-stack management, and URI-based routing.
•
Place platform-specific service implementations in Platforms/{OS}/ folders using partial classes registered with #if ANDROID / #if IOS guards in MauiProgram.cs, rather than scattering Device.RuntimePlatform checks throughout view models.
•
Use SecureStorage for tokens and credentials instead of Preferences, because Preferences stores values in plaintext SharedPreferences (Android) or UserDefaults (iOS); SecureStorage uses Android Keystore and iOS Keychain, which are encrypted at the OS level.
•
Set explicit HeightRequest and WidthRequest on Image controls inside CollectionView item templates and use Aspect="AspectFill" to prevent layout thrashing; images without explicit dimensions cause the layout engine to recalculate on every frame as the image loads asynchronously.
•
Handle the App.OnResume() and App.OnSleep() lifecycle events to pause background work (timers, location tracking, Bluetooth scanning) and persist unsaved state, because iOS will terminate suspended apps that consume CPU in the background without user consent.
•
Configure Android <uses-permission> entries in Platforms/Android/AndroidManifest.xml for every platform API used (camera, location, contacts) and request runtime permissions via Permissions.RequestAsync<T>() before accessing the API; missing runtime permission requests cause silent failures on Android 13+.