Microsoft .NET MAUI Platform APIs

Accessing Platform-Specific Functionality

.NET MAUI provides a unified API for common cross-platform features. However, sometimes you need to interact with native platform APIs directly to leverage unique device capabilities or implement platform-specific behaviors. The Microsoft.Maui.Platform namespace and related patterns help you achieve this safely and efficiently.

`IMauiContext`

Provides access to the current MAUI context, including the native platform context and services.


                            namespace Microsoft.Maui.Platform

                            interface IMauiContext

`IPlatformViewDispatcher`

A dispatcher that allows invoking code on the main UI thread of the native platform.


                            namespace Microsoft.Maui.Platform

                            interface IPlatformViewDispatcher

`GetNativeElement()`

Extension method to retrieve the native UI element from a MAUI element.


                            static class ViewExtensions

                            public static object GetNativeElement(this IView view)

`MapPlatformBehaviors()`

Helper methods for mapping platform-specific behaviors to MAUI elements.


                            static class PlatformBehaviorHelper

                            public static void MapPlatformBehaviors(IView mauiView, object nativeView)

Platform-Specific Implementations

Under the hood, .NET MAUI maps its abstract controls to native platform controls. You can access these native controls for fine-grained control.

iOS Specifics

Accessing UIKit elements and controllers.


                            using UIKit;

                            var nativeButton = myMauiButton.GetNativeElement() as UIButton;

                            nativeButton.SetTitleColor(UIColor.Red, UIControlState.Normal);

Android Specifics

Accessing Android.Views and Activities.


                            using Android.Views;

                            var nativeLayout = myMauiLayout.GetNativeElement() as ViewGroup;

                            nativeLayout.SetGravity(GravityFlags.CenterHorizontal);

Windows Specifics

Accessing Microsoft.UI.Xaml elements.


                            using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls;

                            var nativeTextBox = myMauiEntry.GetNativeElement() as TextBox;

                            nativeTextBox.BorderBrush = new Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Media.SolidColorBrush(Colors.Blue);

macOS Specifics

Accessing AppKit elements.


                            using AppKit;

                            var nativeTextField = myMauiEditor.GetNativeElement() as NSTextField;

                            nativeTextField.TextColor = NSColor.SystemPurple;

Supported Platforms

📱

iOS

Leverage the latest iOS features and APIs.

🤖

Android

Seamless integration with the Android ecosystem.

🪟

Windows

Rich desktop experiences on Windows.

🍎

macOS

Native macOS applications with modern UI.

📺

Tizen

Develop for Samsung's Tizen platform.

⌚

watchOS

Build apps for Apple Watch.