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What is a component? PowerApps components are reusable building blocks or controls that you can create and incorporate into your PowerApps applications. What is the benefit of using components?
Reusability - Components allow you to create custom functionality or UI elements that can be reused across different applications. This helps in maintaining consistency and saves development time.
Modularity - By breaking down complex functionalities into smaller, manageable components, you can create more modular and maintainable applications. Changes made to a component propagate to all instances where it is used.
Collaboration - PowerApps components can be shared with other users or developers in your organization, fostering collaboration and enabling them to leverage the pre-built components in their own applications.
Customisability - PowerApps components can be customized and configured with properties, events, and methods to suit different application requirements. This allows you to create components that are adaptable and versatile.
Overall, PowerApps components empower citizen developers to create scalable, reusable, and customized functionality within their PowerApps applications. By leveraging these components, you can accelerate development, promote collaboration, and build robust applications with minimal coding effort.
Create once, use multiple times in all of your apps.
How / where do I build a component?
So, there's 2 places to build Power Apps components.
Directly in your canvas app
Component Library (Recommended)
It is a dedicated space within the PowerApps environment that allows you to create, store, and share components across multiple applications.
The component library serves as a catalog of pre-built components that encapsulate specific functionality, user interface elements, or logic. These components can be created by citizen developers or professional developers within your organization.
Why in a component Library?
For the same reasons above but with the added benefits of;
Centralised Management - With components residing in a central component library, managing and maintaining them becomes a breeze. Any updates or improvements made to a component are automatically reflected in all the apps that utilize it. This centralized approach simplifies the management process and reduces the risk of inconsistencies or errors caused by manual updates.
Consistency and Branding - Building components in a library allows for consistent branding and user experience across multiple apps. Components can be designed to align with an organization's branding guidelines, ensuring a cohesive look and feel throughout the applications. This enhances the overall user experience and strengthens brand recognition.
Security and Governance - Component libraries provide control over access and permissions, ensuring better security and governance. Administrators can define who can create, modify, and use components, safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining application integrity. This is particularly vital in enterprise settings where data protection and compliance are paramount.
Performance Optimisation - Components built within a library undergo a separate compilation and optimization process, leading to improved app performance. This compilation results in optimized code, reducing app load times and providing users with a seamless and responsive experience.
Mastering the Custom Property's is key to creating Components.
Custom properties in PowerApps components are user-defined attributes that can be added to a component. These properties enable you to create configurable and reusable components that adapt to different app requirements. By defining custom properties, you can provide flexibility and customisation options to app creators who utilize your components.
Custom properties allow you to tailor your components to meet specific needs within different apps. For example, imagine you've built a data input component. By adding custom properties like "Field Label," "Required," or "Data Type," you enable app creators to configure these properties according to their specific data entry scenarios. This flexibility ensures that your components seamlessly integrate into a variety of applications.
With that said let's create a header bar with an icon and search functionality.
How to build a header bar.
In make.powerapps.com navigate to Apps > Component Library > New Component Library.
Name your Component Library, choose something that is memorable or if you intend on sharing across your organisation, I recommend using Global in the name. Click Create
You should now be at this screen.
Follow along
Summery
PowerApps component libraries are a game-changer for citizen developers and app creators. By building and utilising components in a centralised library, organisations can unlock efficiency, consistency, and collaboration in their PowerApps development journey. Reusability, version control, centralised management, and enhanced user experience are just a few of the benefits that come with adopting component libraries. Embrace the power of component libraries, and watch your PowerApps development process soar to new heights.
I hope you enjoyed this blog on components, please go have a play and try it for yourself, and don't forget to post a comment with what you made or even better still post about it on our Facebook group Here is a download of the component I created. To use just import into any app or component library.
Also here is a link to some components from Microsoft on Github
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