WPF Browser Applications vs WPF Desktop Applications

wpf xaml browser desktop xbap
rochastuff picture rochastuff · Jan 2, 2012 · Viewed 8.4k times · Source

I want to know what are the differences between a WPF Browser Application and WPF Desktop Application. I know that the browser application runs on IE and FF, but about the technology, is the same? I mean, we can do exactly the same by the two ways? (Of course, maybe with different UI)

I have this doubt because I'm looking for a book about WPF Browser Applications, but I only see books about WPF (I don't know if is in general or is only for desktop applications :S)

Answer

Doug Ferguson picture Doug Ferguson · Jan 3, 2012

A WPF Browser Application uses exactly the same framework as a WPF desktop application and could run with the same UI, but with restrictions on trust which means that some APIs are not available. There a number of challenges in developing Browser application. A Browser app must be signed with a certificate. Some of the trust restrictions are not enforced at compile time and are only discovered at run time.

In the time since Browser Applications were first introduced, Microsoft developed Silverlight which uses a similar though not identical XAML technology. Silverlight is easier to deploy than a WPF Browser Application and may be appropriate depending upon your requirements.

Related questions

databind the Source property of the WebBrowser in WPF

Does anyone know how to databind the .Source property of the WebBrowser in WPF ( 3.5SP1 )? I have a listview that I want to have a small WebBrowser on the left, and content on the right, and to databind the source …

Read More
How do I get a TextBox to only accept numeric input in WPF?

I'm looking to accept digits and the decimal point, but no sign. I've looked at samples using the NumericUpDown control for Windows Forms, and this sample of a NumericUpDown custom control from Microsoft. But so far it seems like NumericUpDown (…

Read More
How do I use WPF bindings with RelativeSource?

How do I use RelativeSource with WPF bindings and what are the different use-cases?

Read More