---
title: "Getting Started"
description: Learn how to use Windows Forms to create powerful Windows-based applications that display data, handle user input, and help you deploy your applications.
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
f1_keywords: 
  - "Designer_System.Windows.Forms.Design.FormDocumentDesigner"
  - "vb.wfc.formdesigner"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "Windows Forms, getting started"
  - "getting started [Windows Forms], Windows Forms"
ms.assetid: a031aa58-5027-4082-b590-df7c12c77dec
---
# Getting Started with Windows Forms
With Windows Forms, you can create powerful Windows-based applications. The following topics describe in-depth how to harness the power of Windows Forms to display data, handle user input, and deploy your applications easily and with enhanced security.  
  
## In This Section  
 [Windows Forms Overview](windows-forms-overview.md)  
 Contains an overview of Windows Forms and smart client applications.  
  
 [Creating a New Windows Form](creating-a-new-windows-form.md)  
 Contains links to topics that describe basic concepts for creating Windows Forms applications.  
  
 [Creating Event Handlers in Windows Forms](creating-event-handlers-in-windows-forms.md)  
 Contains links to topics that describe how to create Windows Forms event handlers.  
  
 [Adjusting the Size and Scale of Windows Forms](adjusting-the-size-and-scale-of-windows-forms.md)  
 Contains links to topics that show how to adjust the size and scale of Windows Forms.  
  
 [Changing the Appearance of Windows Forms](changing-the-appearance-of-windows-forms.md)  
 Contains links to topics that show how to change the appearance of Windows Forms applications.  
  
 [Windows Forms Controls](./controls/index.md)  
 Contains links to topics that describe and show how to use Windows Forms controls and components.  
  
 [User Input in Windows Forms](user-input-in-windows-forms.md)  
 Contains links to topics that describe and show how to handle input from the user in Windows Forms applications.  
  
 [Dialog Boxes in Windows Forms](dialog-boxes-in-windows-forms.md)  
 Contains links to topics that describe the different dialog boxes for use in Windows Forms.  
  
 [Windows Forms Data Binding](windows-forms-data-binding.md)  
 Contains links to topics that describe the Windows Forms data binding architecture and how to use it in Windows Forms applications.  
  
 [Windows Forms Security](windows-forms-security.md)  
 Contains links to topics that describe how to build Windows Forms applications that have enhanced security.  
  
 [ClickOnce Deployment for Windows Forms](clickonce-deployment-for-windows-forms.md)  
 Contains links to topics that describe how to easily deploy Windows Forms applications.  
  
 [How to: Access Keyed Collections in Windows Forms](how-to-access-keyed-collections-in-windows-forms.md)  
 Demonstrates how to access collections with keys rather than indexes.  
  
## Related Sections  
 [Enhancing Windows Forms Applications](./advanced/index.md)  
 Contains links to topics that describe more advanced concepts for creating Windows Forms applications.