---
title: "ContextMenuStrip Control Overview"
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
f1_keywords: 
  - "ContextMenuStrip"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "context menus [Windows Forms], ContextMenuStrip control [Windows Forms]"
  - "shortcut menus [Windows Forms], ContextMenuStrip control [Windows Forms]"
  - "ContextMenuStrip control [Windows Forms], about ContextMenuStrip control"
ms.assetid: 9787cdb3-88f1-4198-972f-eefd9524ce39
---
# ContextMenuStrip Control Overview
> [!NOTE]
> The <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip> control replaces and adds functionality to the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenu> control; however, the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenu> control is retained for backward compatibility and future use if you choose.  
  
 Shortcut menus, also called context menus, appear at the mouse position when the user clicks the right mouse button. Shortcut *menus* provide options for the client area or the control at the mouse pointer location.  
  
 The <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip> control is designed to work seamlessly with the new <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip> and related controls, but you can associate a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip> with other controls just as easily.  
  
 The following table shows the important <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip> companion classes.  
  
|Class|Description|  
|-----------|-----------------|  
|<xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem>|Represents a selectable option displayed on a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.MenuStrip> or <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip>.|  
|<xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripDropDown>|Represents a control that enables the user to select a single item from a list that is displayed when the user clicks a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripDropDownButton> or a higher-level menu item.|  
|<xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripDropDownItem>|Provides basic functionality for controls derived from <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem> that display drop-down items when clicked.|  
  
## See also

- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip>
- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.MenuStrip>
- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip>
- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem>
- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripDropDown>
