A Complete Guide - .NET MAUI What is .NET MAUI Evolution from Xamarin Forms

Last Updated: 03 Jul, 2025

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.NET MAUI: What is .NET MAUI and Its Evolution from Xamarin.Forms

What is .NET MAUI?

.NET MAUI is a cross-platform framework that allows developers to create native UI applications for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. It uses C# and the .NET runtime to build rich user experiences with modern architecture and a consistent API set across all platforms.

Evolution from Xamarin.Forms

Xamarin.Forms was Microsoft's initial attempt at creating a cross-platform mobile UI framework, allowing developers to write UI code once and deploy it across multiple platforms. However, Xamarin.Forms had several limitations, including a complex architecture that required different code paths for certain functionalities. Moreover, Xamarin.Forms relied on a shared codebase rather than a true single codebase approach, which could lead to performance issues and inconsistent UI experience.

Key Changes and Improvements in .NET MAUI:

Single Project Model:
- .NET MAUI introduces the single-project model, consolidating all platform-specific code into a single project. This simplifies the development process, making it easier to manage and maintain code.
Improved Architecture:
- .NET MAUI offers a more efficient architecture compared to Xamarin.Forms. It leverages a platform-specific rendering approach, resulting in better performance and more consistent native UI experiences.
Enhanced Performance:
- With .NET MAUI, performance has been significantly improved. The framework is designed to minimize the abstraction layers, ensuring that the application runs as efficiently and natively as possible on each platform.
Modern APIs and Bindings:
- .NET MAUI provides modern APIs and bindings for accessing platform capabilities, enabling developers to incorporate advanced features seamlessly.
Visual State Manager:
- The Visual State Manager (VSM) in .NET MAUI has been enhanced and simplified, allowing for more intuitive and powerful state management of UI elements.
XAML Improvements:
- XAML, the markup language used for defining UI, has been refined with improved performance and new features, making it more efficient and easier to work with.
Resource Management:
- .NET MAUI offers enhanced resource management, making it easier to handle images, styles, and other assets across different platforms.
Enhanced Tooling:
- Visual Studio, the integrated development environment (IDE) for .NET, has been significantly enhanced to support .NET MAUI development. New features and improvements in the editor, debugger, and project system provide a more productive development experience.

Key Features of .NET MAUI:

Cross-Platform Support: .NET MAUI supports development for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, allowing developers to create a single codebase for multiple platforms.
Shared Code: A significant portion of the application logic can be shared across platforms, reducing redundancy and improving maintainability.
Consistent UI: .NET MAUI ensures that the application has a consistent and native-like look and feel on each platform.
Integration with .NET Ecosystem: Being part of the .NET ecosystem, .NET MAUI leverages powerful libraries and tools, making it a robust choice for enterprise-level applications.
Community and Support: As part of Microsoft’s ongoing commitment, .NET MAUI is backed by a strong community and continuous improvements.

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Step-by-Step Guide: How to Implement .NET MAUI What is .NET MAUI Evolution from Xamarin Forms

Complete Examples, Step by Step for Beginners: Understanding .NET MAUI and Its Evolution from Xamarin.Forms

Introduction

In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of what .NET MAUI is and how it evolved from Xamarin.Forms through a step-by-step example.

1. Setting Up the Environment

First, you need to install .NET 6 SDK or later. As of now, .NET MAUI requires at least .NET 7 SDK.

Download and Install .NET SDK:
2. Creating a New Project

Let’s go ahead and create a new .NET MAUI project.
1. Open Visual Studio.
2. Select "Create a new project".
3. Look for "Multi-platform App (.NET MAUI)" in the template list and click "Next".
4. Fill in the project details (Project Name, Location, and Solution Name), then click "Next".
5. Configure your project to support the platforms you will target (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android). For now, you can keep all platforms checked.
6. Select an App template; we'll use "Blank" for simplicity.
7. Click "Create".
3. Understanding the Project Structure

Once the project is created, you will see the following directories:
- Platforms/: This folder contains platform-specific build tasks and assets for each target platform.
- Resources/: Contains shared resources like images, fonts, and configuration files.
- obj/: Contains compiled objects, intermediate files, and other build artifacts.
- bin/: Contains the final executable binaries.
- MauiProgram.cs: Entry point for your application.
- App.xaml and App.xaml.cs: Define the global resources and application startup.
- MainPage.xaml and MainPage.xaml.cs: Define the initial user interface.
4. Writing Basic UI Code

Let's write a simple page with a label and a button that increments a counter each time it is clicked.

Step 1: Open MainPage.xaml

Replace the content of MainPage.xaml with the following code:
```
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<ContentPage xmlns=" xmlns:x=" x:Class="MyMauiApp.MainPage" Title="My First MAUI App"> <StackLayout Padding="20" VerticalOptions="Center" HorizontalOptions="Center"> <Label x:Name="CounterLabel" Text="Count" FontSize="20" HorizontalTextAlignment="Center" /> <Button Text="Click Me!" Clicked="Button_Clicked" FontSize="20" HorizontalOptions="Center" Margin="10" /> </StackLayout>
</ContentPage>
```
Step 2: Open MainPage.xaml.cs

Add the following code to handle the button click event:
```
using Microsoft.Maui.Controls; namespace MyMauiApp
{ public partial class MainPage : ContentPage { private int _counter; public MainPage() { InitializeComponent(); } private void Button_Clicked(object sender, EventArgs e) { _counter++; CounterLabel.Text = $"You clicked {_counter} time(s)"; } }
}
```
5. Running Your Application

Before running your application, ensure that your emulator or device is set up correctly.
- For Windows: You can run the application directly from Visual Studio or through the .NET CLI.
- For macOS: You will need to set up a macOS development environment and ensure Xcode is correctly installed.
- For iOS: You will need a Mac with Xcode for building iOS applications.
- For Android: You will need Android Studio and an emulator or a physical device.
To run the application:
1. Set the target platform in Visual Studio.
2. Click the green “Start” button or press F5 to build and run your application.
6. Evolution from Xamarin.Forms to .NET MAUI

.NET MAUI is a successor to Xamarin.Forms and inherits many of its features, while adding several new ones.

Advantages of .NET MAUI:
- Unified Projects: Replaces .NET Standard with .NET 6+, leading to better runtime performance and more features.
- XAML Hot Reload: Real-time updates in the UI without restarting the app.
- Improved Control Customization: Enhanced support for custom renderers and custom controls.
- Performance Enhancements: Optimized handling of graphics and animations.
- Enhanced Built-in Controls: Richer set of built-in controls with more features.
7. Summary

In this example, we learned how to set up a .NET MAUI project, write basic UI code using XAML and C#, and run the application across different platforms. Additionally, we covered the evolution of .NET MAUI from Xamarin.Forms, highlighting key advantages provided by .NET MAUI.

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Top 10 Interview Questions & Answers on .NET MAUI What is .NET MAUI Evolution from Xamarin Forms

A Complete Guide - .NET MAUI What is .NET MAUI Evolution from Xamarin Forms

.NET MAUI: What is .NET MAUI and Its Evolution from Xamarin.Forms

What is .NET MAUI?

Evolution from Xamarin.Forms

Key Features of .NET MAUI:

Online Code run

Complete Examples, Step by Step for Beginners: Understanding .NET MAUI and Its Evolution from Xamarin.Forms

Introduction

1. Setting Up the Environment

2. Creating a New Project

3. Understanding the Project Structure

4. Writing Basic UI Code

5. Running Your Application

6. Evolution from Xamarin.Forms to .NET MAUI

7. Summary

Top 10 Questions and Answers on .NET MAUI: Evolution from Xamarin.Forms

1. What is .NET MAUI?

2. How does .NET MAUI differ from Xamarin.Forms?

3. Is .NET MAUI backward compatible with Xamarin.Forms?

4. What are the main advantages of using .NET MAUI over Xamarin.Forms?

5. What platforms does .NET MAUI support?

6. Can .NET MAUI be used for both mobile and desktop applications?

7. How will the evolution from Xamarin.Forms impact existing projects?

8. Does .NET MAUI support XAML?

9. What new features does .NET MAUI include compared to Xamarin.Forms?

10. Are there any specific resources or documentation available for learning and migrating to .NET MAUI?

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