What is the difference between x:Reference and ElementName?

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Basically like you said those two do almost the same. However there are small differences under the hood.

{x:Reference ...} -> returns just a reference of an object it doesn’t create that “bridge” between two properties like binding would do. Behind all that a service is being used that searches for the given name in a specific scope which is usually the window itself.

{Binding ElementName="..." } -> first of all it creates that binding object then it searches for the object name but not by using the same technique under the hood as x:Reference. The search algorithm moves up and/or down in VisualTree to find the desired element. Therefore a functional VisualTree is always needed. As example when used inside a Non-UiElement, it won’t work. In the end the Binding stays and does its daily bread.

This won’t work:

<StackPanel>
 <Button x:name="bttn1" Visibility="Hidden">Click me</Button>
 <DataGrid>
  <DataGrid.Columns>
    <DataGridTextColumn Visibility="{Binding ElementName=bttn1, Path=DataContext.Visibility}"/>
 ....

This works:

<StackPanel>
 <Button x:name="bttn1" Visibility="Hidden">Click me</Button>
 <DataGrid>
  <DataGrid.Columns>
    <DataGridTextColumn Visibility="{Binding Source={x:Reference bttn1}, Path=DataContext.Visibility}"/>
 ....

Sort of like that 🙂

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