---
title: Controls Used to List Options
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "Windows Forms controls, listing options"
  - "option lists in Windows Forms"
ms.assetid: 5bc064c7-bc1f-4b62-8f4b-252f864b118e
---
# Windows Forms Controls Used to List Options
You can add a variety of controls to a Windows Form if you want to provide users with a list of options to choose from. Depending on how much you want to restrict your users' input, you can add a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ListBox> control, a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox> control, or a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.CheckedListBox> control. Use the following links to determine which control best suits your needs.  
  
## In This Section  
 [When to Use a Windows Forms ComboBox Instead of a ListBox](when-to-use-a-windows-forms-combobox-instead-of-a-listbox.md)  
 Recommends an appropriate list-based control depending on the needs and restrictions of your Windows Form.  
  
 [How to: Access Specific Items in a Windows Forms ComboBox, ListBox, or CheckedListBox Control](access-specific-items-in-a-wf-combobox-listbox-or-checkedlistbox.md)  
 Gives instructions for programmatically determining which item in a list appears in a given position.  
  
 [How to: Add and Remove Items from a Windows Forms ComboBox, ListBox, or CheckedListBox Control](add-and-remove-items-from-a-wf-combobox.md)  
 Gives instructions for adding or removing items from a control's list of items.  
  
 [How to: Create a Lookup Table for a Windows Forms ComboBox, ListBox, or CheckedListBox Control](create-a-lookup-table-for-a-wf-combobox-listbox.md)  
 Gives directions for displaying and storing form data in useful formats.  
  
 [How to: Bind a Windows Forms ComboBox or ListBox Control to Data](how-to-bind-a-windows-forms-combobox-or-listbox-control-to-data.md)  
 Gives directions for binding a list-based control to a data source.  
  
 [How to: Sort the Contents of a Windows Forms ComboBox, ListBox, or CheckedListBox Control](sort-the-contents-of-a-wf-combobox-listbox-or-checkedlistbox-control.md)  
 Explains how to sort list data at its data source.  
  
## Reference  
 <xref:System.Windows.Forms.CheckedListBox>  
 Describes this class and has links to all its members.  
  
 <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox>  
 Describes this class and has links to all its members.  
  
 <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ListBox>  
 Describes this class and has links to all its members.  
  
## Related Sections  
 [CheckedListBox Control Overview](checkedlistbox-control-overview-windows-forms.md)  
 Explains what this control is and its key features and properties.  
  
 [ComboBox Control Overview](combobox-control-overview-windows-forms.md)  
 Explains what this control is and its key features and properties.  
  
 [ListBox Control Overview](listbox-control-overview-windows-forms.md)  
 Explains what this control is and its key features and properties.  
  
 [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.
