UWP Best Practices

Getting Started

Developing Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications allows you to create experiences that run across Windows 10/11 devices—PC, tablet, phone, Xbox, HoloLens, and IoT. Follow these best‑practice guidelines to ensure your app is performant, accessible, and provides a consistent look and feel.

Core Principles

• Responsive Design: Use adaptive layouts, RelativePanel, and VisualStateManager to handle different screen sizes and orientations.
• Performance First: Load data lazily, use Composition APIs for animations, and avoid blocking the UI thread.
• Accessibility: Provide proper AutomationProperties, high‑contrast support, and keyboard navigation.
• Security & Privacy: Follow the principle of least privilege, validate all input, and use the Windows Security API for authentication.
• Store Compliance: Meet the Microsoft Store policies, include a Package.appxmanifest with correct capabilities.

Responsive UI Example

<Page
    x:Class="MyApp.MainPage"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">

    <Grid>
        <VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
            <VisualStateGroup>
                <VisualState x:Name="Narrow">
                    <VisualState.StateTriggers>
                        <AdaptiveTrigger MinWindowWidth="0"/>
                    </VisualState.StateTriggers>
                    <VisualState.Setters>
                        <Setter Target="ContentColumn.Width" Value="*" />
                        <Setter Target="SidebarColumn.Width" Value="0" />
                    </VisualState.Setters>
                </VisualState>
                <VisualState x:Name="Wide">
                    <VisualState.StateTriggers>
                        <AdaptiveTrigger MinWindowWidth="720"/>
                    </VisualState.StateTriggers>
                    <VisualState.Setters>
                        <Setter Target="ContentColumn.Width" Value="3*" />
                        <Setter Target="SidebarColumn.Width" Value="*" />
                    </VisualState.Setters>
                </VisualState>
            </VisualStateGroup>
        </VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>

        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
            <ColumnDefinition x:Name="SidebarColumn" Width="*" />
            <ColumnDefinition x:Name="ContentColumn" Width="3*" />
        </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>

        <StackPanel Grid.Column="0" Background="#FF0078D7">
            <TextBlock Text="Menu" Margin="12" FontSize="24" Foreground="White"/>
            <Button Content="Home" Margin="12"/>
            <Button Content="Settings" Margin="12"/>
        </StackPanel>

        <ScrollViewer Grid.Column="1">
            <TextBlock Text="Main Content goes here…" Margin="12"/>
        </ScrollViewer>
    </Grid>
</Page>

Performance Tips

Implement the following strategies to keep your app snappy:

1. Use await Task.Run(...) for CPU‑intensive work.
2. Leverage CacheSize on ObservableCollection for virtualized lists.
3. Prefer XAML Composition animations over Storyboards.
4. Profile with the Windows Performance Recorder (WPR) and Visual Studio diagnostics.

Accessibility Checklist

Make sure to verify these items before publishing:

• All interactive elements have AutomationProperties.Name.
• Proper TabIndex order and keyboard shortcuts.
• Scalable UI that respects the system text size.
• High‑contrast colors using ThemeResources.