How to Dynamically Update a WinForms DataGridView Bound to a List?

How to Bind a List to a DataGridView in WinForms with Data Updates

Binding a List to a DataGridView is a useful technique for displaying data in a structured tabular form. However, it's essential to ensure that the grid updates automatically when the underlying data changes.

Consider the following scenario:

class Person{
    public string Name {get; set;}
    public string Surname {get; set;}
}

You may have a List to which you add some items:

List<Person> persons = new List<Person>();
persons.Add(new Person(){Name="Joe", Surname="Black"});
persons.Add(new Person(){Name="Misha", Surname="Kozlov"});

Initially, these items will be displayed in the DataGridView. However, if you add new items to the persons list, the DataGridView won't show them.

The Issue

The problem lies in that List doesn't implement IBindingList, which means the DataGridView doesn't receive notifications about changes in the data.

Solution

To resolve this, use a BindingList instead of a List. A BindingList implements IBindingList, providing the necessary event notifications.

var list = new BindingList<Person>(persons);
myGrid.DataSource = list;

Advanced Binding with BindingSource

You can take this further by using a BindingSource, which provides additional functionality like sorting, filtering, and concurrency.

var list = new List<Person>()
{
    new Person { Name = "Joe", },
    new Person { Name = "Misha", },
};
var bindingList = new BindingList<Person>(list);
var source = new BindingSource(bindingList, null);
grid.DataSource = source;

By following these techniques, you can bind a List to a DataGridView in WinForms and ensure that the grid remains up-to-date with changes in the data.

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