Windows UI Library

Windows UI Library
Other namesWinUI, UWP XAML, WinRT XAML
Developer(s)Microsoft
Initial releaseSeptember 2011; 13 years ago (2011-09)
Stable release
1.5.2 / April 12, 2024; 6 months ago (2024-04-12)
Preview release
1.5.0-preview1 / February 14, 2024; 8 months ago (2024-02-14)
Repository
Written inC++, C#
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows[1]
PlatformIntel x86 32-bit, x86-64 and ARM
TypeApplication framework
LicenseMIT License after 2018-12-04;[2] Freeware before
Websitemicrosoft.github.io/microsoft-ui-xaml/ Edit this at Wikidata

Windows UI Library (WinUI codenamed "Jupiter",[3][4] and also known as UWP XAML and WinRT XAML) is a user interface API that is part of the Windows Runtime programming model that forms the backbone of Universal Windows Platform apps (formerly known as Metro-style or Immersive) for the Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows Phone 8.1 operating systems. It enables declaring user interfaces using Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) technology.

WinUI is one of the multiple UI frameworks provided built-in for the Windows Runtime; the others being HTML5 (e.g., via WinJS) and DirectX.

WinUI 2 is an extension library for UWP XAML containing controls and styling that match the Windows 11 design language. It is shipped through NuGet and is distinct from the UWP XAML framework, which provides the actual rendering engine; though, they may be treated as synonyms.

WinUI 3 decouples WinRT XAML from the operating system as a separate package to be updated quickly and make new features work on older versions of Windows.[5] It is part of Windows App SDK (codenamed "Project Reunion"), a Microsoft effort to reconcile the Windows desktop (Win32) and the UWP low IL app model.

  1. ^ "XAML overview". Windows app development. Microsoft Docs. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  2. ^ Gallo, Kevin (December 4, 2018). "Announcing Open Source of WPF, Windows Forms, and WinUI at Microsoft Connect(); 2018". Windows Developer. Windows Blogs. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  3. ^ Nixon, Jerry (June 20, 2012). "Windows 8: 15 More Reasons why I choose XAML over HTML5". Jerry Nixon blog. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  4. ^ Nixon, Jerry; Heuer, Tim (January 24, 2013). "XAML and Windows 8 App Development". DevRadio. Channel 9. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  5. ^ Ramos, Miguel (July 7, 2020). "A deep-dive into WinUI 3 in desktop apps". Windows Developer. Windows Blogs. Retrieved May 28, 2021.