---
title: "ContextMenuStrip Control"
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "context menus"
  - "ContextMenuStrip control [Windows Forms]"
  - "shortcut menus"
ms.assetid: 76e070b2-65d7-457f-8300-d104e4e01e5e
---
# ContextMenuStrip Control
The <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip> control provides a shortcut menu that you associate with a control.  
  
## In This Section  
 [ContextMenuStrip Control Overview](contextmenustrip-control-overview.md)  
 Explains what the control is and its key features and properties.  
  
 [How to: Associate a ContextMenuStrip with a Control](how-to-associate-a-contextmenustrip-with-a-control.md)  
 Describes making a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip> the shortcut menu for a specific control.  
  
 [How to: Add Menu Items to a ContextMenuStrip](how-to-add-menu-items-to-a-contextmenustrip.md)  
 Describes how to add selectable options to a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip>.  
  
 [How to: Configure ContextMenuStrip Check Margins and Image Margins](how-to-configure-contextmenustrip-check-margins-and-image-margins.md)  
 Describes how to customize a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip> by setting check and image margin properties in various ways.  
  
 [How to: Enable Check Margins and Image Margins in ContextMenuStrip Controls](how-to-enable-check-margins-and-image-margins-in-contextmenustrip-controls.md)  
 Describes how to turn <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip> check margins on and off.  
  
 [How to: Handle the ContextMenuStrip Opening Event](how-to-handle-the-contextmenustrip-opening-event.md)  
 Describes how to customize the behavior of a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip> control by handling the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripDropDown.Opening> event.  
  
 Also see [ContextMenuStrip Tasks Dialog Box](https://docs.microsoft.com/previous-versions/visualstudio/visual-studio-2010/ms233646(v=vs.100)) or [ContextMenuStrip Items Collection Editor](https://docs.microsoft.com/previous-versions/visualstudio/visual-studio-2010/ms233641(v=vs.100)).  
  
## Reference  
 <xref:System.Windows.Forms.MenuStrip>  
 Describes the features of the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.MenuStrip> class, which provides a menu system for a form.  
  
 <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip>  
 Describes the features of the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip>, which represents a shortcut menu.  
  
 <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem>  
 Describes the features of the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem> class, which represents a selectable option displayed on a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.MenuStrip> or <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip>.  
  
## Related Sections  
 [Controls to Use on Windows Forms](controls-to-use-on-windows-forms.md)  
 Provides a complete list of Windows Forms controls, with links to information on their use.
