---
title: "ContextMenu Overview"
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
dev_langs: 
  - "csharp"
  - "vb"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "controls [WPF], ContextMenu"
  - "ContextMenu controls [WPF], about ContextMenu controls"
ms.assetid: 16909c42-799a-4561-91e0-7d69dcfeea91
---
# ContextMenu Overview
The <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu> class represents the element that exposes functionality by using a context-specific <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Menu>. Typically, a user exposes the <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu> in the [!INCLUDE[TLA#tla_ui](../../../includes/tlasharptla-ui-md.md)] by right-clicking the mouse button. This topic introduces the <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu> element and provides examples of how to use it in [!INCLUDE[TLA#tla_xaml](../../../includes/tlasharptla-xaml-md.md)] and code.  

<a name="contextmenu_control"></a>
## ContextMenu Control  
 A <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu> is attached to a specific control. The <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu> element enables you to present users with a list of items that specify commands or options that are associated with a particular control, for example, a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Button>. Users right-click the control to make the menu appear. Typically, clicking a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.MenuItem> opens a submenu or causes an application to carry out a command.  
  
<a name="creating_contextmenus"></a>
## Creating ContextMenus  
 The following examples show how to create a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu> with submenus. The <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu> controls are attached to button controls.  
  
 [!code-xaml[ContextMenu#1](~/samples/snippets/csharp/VS_Snippets_Wpf/ContextMenu/CSharp/Pane1.xaml#1)]  
  
 [!code-csharp[ContextMenu#2](~/samples/snippets/csharp/VS_Snippets_Wpf/ContextMenu/CSharp/Pane1.xaml.cs#2)]
 [!code-vb[ContextMenu#2](~/samples/snippets/visualbasic/VS_Snippets_Wpf/ContextMenu/VisualBasic/Pane1.xaml.vb#2)]  
  
<a name="applying_styles_to_contextmenu"></a>
## Applying Styles to a ContextMenu  
 By using a control <xref:System.Windows.Style>, you can dramatically change the appearance and behavior of a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu> without writing a custom control. In addition to setting visual properties, you can also apply styles to parts of a control. For example, you can change the behavior of parts of the control by using properties, or you can add parts to, or change the layout of, a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu>. The following examples show several ways to add styles to <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu> controls.  
  
 The first example defines a style called `SimpleSysResources`, which shows how to use the current system settings in your style. The example assigns <xref:System.Windows.SystemColors.MenuHighlightBrushKey%2A> as the <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Control.Background%2A> color and <xref:System.Windows.SystemColors.MenuTextBrushKey%2A> as the <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Control.Foreground%2A> color of the <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu>.  
  
```xaml  
<Style x:Key="SimpleSysResources" TargetType="{x:Type MenuItem}">  
  <Setter Property = "Background" Value=
    "{DynamicResource {x:Static SystemColors.MenuHighlightBrushKey}}"/>  
  <Setter Property = "Foreground" Value=
    "{DynamicResource {x:Static SystemColors.MenuTextBrushKey}}"/>  
</Style>  
```  
  
 The following example uses the <xref:System.Windows.Trigger> element to change the appearance of a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Menu> in response to events that are raised on the <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu>. When a user moves the mouse over the menu, the appearance of the <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu> items changes.  
  
```xaml  
<Style x:Key="Triggers" TargetType="{x:Type MenuItem}">  
  <Style.Triggers>  
    <Trigger Property="MenuItem.IsMouseOver" Value="true">  
      <Setter Property = "FontSize" Value="16"/>  
      <Setter Property = "FontStyle" Value="Italic"/>  
      <Setter Property = "Foreground" Value="Red"/>  
    </Trigger>  
  </Style.Triggers>  
</Style>  
```  
  
## See also

- <xref:System.Windows.Controls.ContextMenu>
- <xref:System.Windows.Style>
- <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Menu>
- <xref:System.Windows.Controls.MenuItem>
- [ContextMenu](contextmenu.md)
- [ContextMenu Styles and Templates](contextmenu-styles-and-templates.md)
- [WPF Controls Gallery Sample](https://github.com/Microsoft/WPF-Samples/tree/master/Getting%20Started/ControlsAndLayout)