# Element Hierarchy

**RadGridView** uses the [Telerik Presentation Framework](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/telerik-presentation-framework/overview/overview) which enables rich experiences like advanced styling and animations. Just like WPF it uses elements ordered in a visual tree called element hierarchy. This article describes the element hierarchy used in **RadGridView**:

> caption Figure 1: The RadGridView element hierarchy.

![WinForms RadGridView The RadGridView element hierarchy](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/71302fe2d6d7bfadfb9c39febc4539ca/gridview-fundamentals-element-hierarchy001.png)

* **GridVisualElement** is the base element which is inherited by all visual elements in **RadGridView**. It derives from the **LightVisualElement** and provides functionality to display fill, border, text and image.

* **RadGridViewElement** is the root element in grid hierarchy. Its dock layout allows for presenting different views of the same data simultaneously. All views in this panel should implement the **IGridView** interface. This enables presenting detail views and split view. This element is accessible using the **GridViewElement** property.

* **GridTableElement** is an implementation of the **IGridView** interface. It relates with a single **GridViewInfo** and represents a child view when used in hierarchy. In a flat grid there is only one table element that contains all rows and cells that are currently visible. The table element which presents data for the first level in hierarchy or a flat grid is accessible through the **TableElement** property. The **GetRowView** method returns the table element related with the specified **GridViewInfo**.

* **GridRowElement** is the base visual element for presenting rows. It contains three different layouts enabling presenting frozen columns. It references a **GridViewRowInfo** object in its **RowInfo** property.

> note Please note that all cell and row elements are virtualized. Visual elements are created only for rows and cells that are currently visible. [Read More](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/gridview/fundamentals/ui-virtualization)

* **GridCellElement:** The base visual element for presenting cells. It references **GridViewColumn** and **GridRowElement** objects to represent cell text using its **Value** property.

* **Scrollbar elements:**  Instead of using the build-in WinForms mechanism for scrolling, **RadGridView** uses elements and implements custom logic. Scrollbar elements are accessible using the **HScrollBar** and RadGridView supports two different scrolling modes – normal and deferred, which is controlled using the **EnableFastScrolling** property. When using hierarchy, you can choose between a single scrollbar and dedicated scrollbar elements in every child view. To do this, set the **UseScrollingInHierarchy** property to *true*.

* **GroupPanelElement:** This panel is placed by default on top of **RadGridView** and uses to indicate whether grouping applies. Its visibility is controlled by using the **ShowGroupPanel** and **EnableGrouping** properties.

* **GroupFieldElement:** Represents a single group descriptor in **GroupPanelElement**.

## See Also

* [UI Virtualization](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/gridview/fundamentals/ui-virtualization)