Control.FindControl Method

Definition

Searches the current naming container for the specified server control.

Overloads

FindControl(String)

Searches the current naming container for a server control with the specified id parameter.

FindControl(String, Int32)

Searches the current naming container for a server control with the specified id and an integer, specified in the pathOffset parameter, which aids in the search. You should not override this version of the FindControl method.

FindControl(String)

Searches the current naming container for a server control with the specified id parameter.

C#
public virtual System.Web.UI.Control FindControl(string id);

Parameters

id
String

The identifier for the control to be found.

Returns

The specified control, or null if the specified control does not exist.

Examples

The following example defines a Button1_Click event handler. When invoked, this handler uses the FindControl method to locate a control with an ID property of TextBox2 on the containing page. If the control is found, its parent is determined using the Parent property and the parent control's ID is written to the page. If TextBox2 is not found, "Control Not Found" is written to the page.

Important

This example has a text box that accepts user input, which is a potential security threat. By default, ASP.NET Web pages validate that user input does not include script or HTML elements. For more information, see Script Exploits Overview.

C#
private void Button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs MyEventArgs)
{
      // Find control on page.
      Control myControl1 = FindControl("TextBox2");
      if(myControl1!=null)
      {
         // Get control's parent.
         Control myControl2 = myControl1.Parent;
         Response.Write("Parent of the text box is : " + myControl2.ID);
      }
      else
      {
         Response.Write("Control not found");
      }
}

Remarks

Use FindControl to access a control from a function in a code-behind page, to access a control that is inside another container, or in other circumstances where the target control is not directly accessible to the caller. This method will find a control only if the control is directly contained by the specified container; that is, the method does not search throughout a hierarchy of controls within controls. For information about how to find a control when you do not know its immediate container, see How to: Access Server Controls by ID.

See also

Applies to

.NET Framework 4.8.1 and other versions
Product Versions
.NET Framework 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, 4.8.1

FindControl(String, Int32)

Searches the current naming container for a server control with the specified id and an integer, specified in the pathOffset parameter, which aids in the search. You should not override this version of the FindControl method.

C#
protected virtual System.Web.UI.Control FindControl(string id, int pathOffset);

Parameters

id
String

The identifier for the control to be found.

pathOffset
Int32

The number of controls up the page control hierarchy needed to reach a naming container.

Returns

The specified control, or null if the specified control does not exist.

Applies to

.NET Framework 4.8.1 and other versions
Product Versions
.NET Framework 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, 4.8.1