Attributes (C++/CX)

An attribute is a special kind of ref class that can be prepended in square brackets to Windows Runtime types and methods to specify certain behaviors in metadata creation. Several predefined attributes—for example, Windows::Foundation::Metadata::WebHostHidden—are commonly used in C++/CX code. This example shows how the attribute is applied to a class:

[Windows::Foundation::Metadata::WebHostHidden]
public ref class MyClass : Windows::UI::Xaml::DependencyObject {};

Custom attributes

You can also define custom attributes. Custom attributes must conform to these Windows Runtime rules:

• Custom attributes can contain only public fields.

• Custom attribute fields can be initialized when the attribute is applied to a class.

• A field may be one of these types:

  • int32 (int)

  • uint32 (unsigned int)

  • bool

  • Platform::String^

  • Windows::Foundation::HResult

  • Platform::Type^

  • public enum class (includes user-defined enums)

The next example shows how to define a custom attribute and then initialize it when you use it.

[Windows::Foundation::Metadata::WebHostHiddenAttribute]
public ref class MyCustomAttribute sealed : Platform::Metadata::Attribute {
public:
    int Num;
    Platform::String^ Msg;
};

[MyCustomAttribute(Num=5, Msg="Hello")]
public ref class Class1 sealed
{
public:
    Class1();
};

See also

Type System (C++/CX)
C++/CX Language Reference
Namespaces Reference