MSDN Documentation

Data Binding in Windows Forms (VB.NET)

Data binding connects UI elements to data sources such as objects, collections, or databases, simplifying the synchronization between the interface and the underlying data.

Key Concepts

• BindingSource – Mediates between controls and data.
• DataMember – Specifies which list or property to bind to.
• DataSource – The actual data object or collection.
• Formatting & Parsing – Convert values between UI and data source.

Simple Binding Example

Public Class Form1
    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Dim customers = GetCustomers()
        TextBoxName.DataBindings.Add("Text", customers, "Name")
        TextBoxCity.DataBindings.Add("Text", customers, "City")
    End Sub

    Private Function GetCustomers() As BindingList(Of Customer)
        Return New BindingList(Of Customer) From {
            New Customer With {.Name="Alice", .City="Seattle"},
            New Customer With {.Name="Bob", .City="Portland"}
        }
    End Function
End Class

Public Class Customer
    Public Property Name As String
    Public Property City As String
End Class

Binding a DataGridView

Private Sub LoadGrid()
    Dim ds As New DataSet()
    Using conn As New SqlConnection("Data Source=.;Initial Catalog=Northwind;Integrated Security=True")
        Dim da As New SqlDataAdapter("SELECT * FROM Products", conn)
        da.Fill(ds, "Products")
    End Using

    Dim bs As New BindingSource()
    bs.DataSource = ds.Tables("Products")
    DataGridView1.DataSource = bs
End Sub

Advanced: Formatting Example

Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    Dim list As New BindingList(Of Order) From {
        New Order With {.OrderId=1001, .Total=1234.5D},
        New Order With {.OrderId=1002, .Total=987.65D}
    }

    BindingSource1.DataSource = list
    DataGridView1.DataSource = BindingSource1

    Dim totalCol = DataGridView1.Columns("Total")
    AddHandler totalCol.DefaultCellStyle.Format, Sub(s,ea)
        ea.Value = String.Format("{0:C}", ea.Value)
    End Sub
End Sub

Public Class Order
    Public Property OrderId As Integer
    Public Property Total As Decimal
End Class

Reference Table