Data Binding Overview
The Telerik UI for ASP.NET MVC TabStrip provides flexible data binding capabilities that allow you to create tabbed interfaces with dynamic content from various data sources. You can choose the appropriate binding method based on your application architecture and data requirements.
Data Binding Approaches
The TabStrip supports the following data binding methods:
Items Binding
Define tab items declaratively within the component configuration when using:
- Declarative tab structure with known items.
- Static tab content that does not require external data sources.
For detailed implementation instructions, refer to the Items Binding documentation.
Model Binding
Bind the TabStrip to a local dataset by passing an arbitrary model directly within the boundaries of the component. This approach is optimal for small to medium-sized datasets that can be loaded in memory.
For detailed implementation instructions, refer to the Model Binding documentation.
Remote Data Binding
Connect the TabStrip to a remote endpoint to load the tab content asynchronously by using AJAX. This enables:
- Dynamic loading of each tab's content.
- Real-time content updates from external sources.
- Improved performance through on-demand data loading.
For more information, refer to the Ajax Binding article.
Sitemap Binding
Bind the TabStrip to an ASP.NET sitemap for automatic tab structure generation:
- Integration with XML sitemap files using
SiteMapManager. - Automatic tab generation from sitemap structure.
- Role-based tab filtering.
For detailed implementation instructions, see Sitemap Binding article.
Key Considerations
When selecting a data binding approach for the TabStrip, evaluate the following factors:
- Performance—Items binding offers fastest initial rendering for static tabs, model binding provides fast rendering for server-side data, while remote binding delivers better performance with large datasets through on-demand content loading.
- Data volume—Items binding works best for small static tab sets, model binding suits small to medium-sized server-side datasets, while large tab collections are better handled with remote binding and lazy loading.
- Content type—Items binding is ideal for known static tab content, model binding works well with server-side collections, while remote binding supports dynamic content loading from any endpoint.
- Security—Model and remote binding provide better control over data access and validation compared to Items binding.
- Real-time requirements—Remote binding is essential for scenarios requiring live data updates and dynamic content refresh.