Repeater Web Server Control

Creates a data-bound list control that allows custom layout by repeating a specified template for each item displayed in the list.

Remarks

Use the Repeater control to create a basic templated data-bound list. The Repeater control has no built-in layout or styles; you must explicitly declare all HTML layout, formatting, and style tags within the control's templates.

The Repeater control is different from other data list controls in that it allows you to place HTML fragments in its templates. This allows you to create a complex HTML structure, such as a table. For example, to create a list within an HTML table, start the table by placing the <table> tag in the HeaderTemplate. Next, create the rows and columns of the table by placing <tr> tags, <td> tags, and data-bound items in the ItemTemplate. If you want a different appearance for alternating items in the table, create an AlternatingItemTemplate with the same contents as the ItemTemplate, except with a different style specified. Finally, complete the table by placing the </table> tag in the FooterTemplate.

The following table lists the different templates of the Repeater control.

TemplateDescription AlternatingItemTemplateLike the ItemTemplate element, but rendered for every other row (alternating items) in the Repeater control. You can specify a different appearance for the AlternatingItemTemplate element by setting its style properties. FooterTemplateElements to render once, after all data-bound rows have been rendered. A typical use is to close an element opened in the HeaderTemplate item (with a tag such as </table>). Note: The FooterTemplate cannot be data bound. HeaderTemplateElements to render once, before any data-bound rows have been rendered. A typical use is to begin a container element, such as a table. Note: The HeaderTemplate item cannot be data bound. ItemTemplate Elements that are rendered once for each row in the data source. To display data in the ItemTemplate, declare one or more Web server controls and set their data-binding expressions to evaluate to a field in the Repeater control's (that is, the container control's) DataSource. The following example shows a sample declaration that displays the field containing the first name in a Label control. First Name: <asp:Label runat="server" Text="<%# Container.DataItem.FirstName %>" /> SeparatorTemplateElements to render between each row, typically line breaks (<br> tags), horizontal lines (<hr> tags), and so on. Note The SeparatorTemplate item cannot be data bound.

The Repeater control has no built-in selection or editing support. You can create a handler for the control's ItemCommand event to process control events that are sent from the templates to the control.

The control binds its Item and AlternatingItem templates to a data structure referenced in the control's DataSource property. (The Header, Footer, and Separator templates cannot be bound to data.) If the Repeater control's DataSource property is set but no data is returned, the control renders the Header and Footer templates, but no items. If the DataSource property is not set, the Repeater control is not rendered.

CAUTION Text is not HTML encoded before it is displayed in the Repeater control. This makes it possible to embed script within HTML tags in the text. If the values for the control come from user input, be sure to validate the values to help prevent security vulnerabilities.

Simple Repeater Web Server Control Examples

Examples of Visual C# ASP.NET Repeater Web Server Control

ASP.NET Code Input:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
<html>
    <head>
       <title>Sample Page</title>
       <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8">
       <%@ Page Language="C#"%>
       <script runat="server" >
           public void Page_Load()
           {
               String[] myStringArray = new String[] {"one","two","three"};
               rptr.DataSource = myStringArray;
               rptr.DataBind();
           }
       </script>
    </head>
    <body>
       <%Response.Write("<p>Results on "+ Request.ServerVariables["SERVER_SOFTWARE"] + " .net: " + System.Environment.Version + "</p>");%>
       <asp:repeater id=rptr runat="server">
           <itemtemplate><%# Container.DataItem %><br></itemtemplate>
       </asp:repeater>
    </body>
</html>

HTTP Response Output:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
<html>
    <head>
       <title>Sample Page</title>
       <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8">
    </head>
    <body>
       <p>Results on Microsoft-IIS/8.5 .net: 4.0.30319.42000</p>one<br>two<br>three<br>
    </body>
</html>

HTML Web Page Embedded Output:

Examples of Visual Basic ASP.NET Repeater Web Server Control

ASP.NET Code Input:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
<html>
    <head>
       <title>Sample Page</title>
       <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8">
       <%@ Page Language="vb"%>
       <script runat="server" >
           public sub Page_Load()
               Dim myStringArray as String()
               myStringArray = new String() {"one","two","three"}
               rptr.DataSource = myStringArray
               rptr.DataBind()
           end sub
       </script>
    </head>
    <body>
       <%Response.Write("<p>Results on "& Request.ServerVariables("SERVER_SOFTWARE") & " .net: " & System.Environment.Version.ToString & " " & ScriptEngine & " Version " & ScriptEngineMajorVersion & "." & ScriptEngineMinorVersion & "</p>")%>
       <asp:repeater id=rptr runat="server">
           <itemtemplate><%# Container.DataItem %><br></itemtemplate>
       </asp:repeater>
    </body>
</html>

HTTP Response Output:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
<html>
    <head>
       <title>Sample Page</title>
       <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8">
    </head>
    <body>
       <p>Results on Microsoft-IIS/8.5 .net: 4.0.30319.42000 VB Version 14.0</p>one<br>two<br>three<br>
    </body>
</html>

HTML Web Page Embedded Output: