Understanding SharePoint Fluent UI Controls: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Fluent UI is a design system developed by Microsoft that provides a unified and consistent design language across various Microsoft products, including SharePoint. The Fluent UI controls offer developers and designers the ability to create responsive, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces that align with Microsoft’s design principles. SharePoint, being a central collaboration and document management platform, integrates Fluent UI controls to enhance user experience and streamline custom development for web parts, extensions, and applications.

In this article, we will explore SharePoint Fluent UI controls, their significance, and how they can be utilized to create modern and efficient user interfaces in SharePoint applications.

What Are Fluent UI Controls?

Fluent UI controls are a set of reusable components that follow the Fluent Design System, ensuring consistent UX across all Microsoft 365 products. These components include buttons, menus, dialogs, and more, all of which are styled and designed to meet accessibility and performance standards.

For SharePoint developers, Fluent UI controls are essential because they offer:

• Consistency: Ensuring that custom solutions match the overall Microsoft 365 look and feel.
• Responsiveness: Designed to work across various screen sizes and devices.
• Accessibility: Adhering to web accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1).
• Customization: Offering flexibility for developers to modify and extend the controls for specific needs.

Key Fluent UI Controls for SharePoint

Here are some of the most commonly used Fluent UI controls in SharePoint development:

1. TextField

The TextField control is a simple input component for entering text. It supports various features like placeholder text, validation, and multiline options, making it ideal for forms in SharePoint web parts.

<TextField label="Enter your name" required={true} onChange={handleChange} />

2. Dropdown

The Dropdown control offers a stylish and functional way to display a list of selectable options. It is widely used in forms and filters across SharePoint apps.

<Dropdown
    label="Select an option"
    options={[
      { key: 'A', text: 'Option A' },
      { key: 'B', text: 'Option B' },
      { key: 'C', text: 'Option C' },
    ]}
/>

3. Button

The Button control is a core component of Fluent UI, allowing developers to create actions such as submitting forms, opening dialogs, or navigating between views.

<PrimaryButton text="Submit" onClick={handleSubmit} />

4. Toggle

The Toggle control is used to represent a binary state (on/off). This can be useful in SharePoint settings or forms where users need to activate or deactivate features.

<Toggle label="Enable Notifications" onText="On" offText="Off" />

5. Dialog

The Dialog control is used to present modal dialogs for confirming actions or displaying additional information without navigating away from the page. It’s an essential part of enhancing user interaction in SharePoint solutions.

<Dialog
    hidden={false}
    onDismiss={closeDialog}
    dialogContentProps={{
      title: 'Important Information',
      subText: 'Are you sure you want to proceed?',
    }}
>
  <DialogFooter>
    <PrimaryButton onClick={confirmAction} text="Yes" />
    <DefaultButton onClick={closeDialog} text="No" />
  </DialogFooter>
</Dialog>

6. PeoplePicker

The PeoplePicker control is specifically designed for selecting SharePoint users and groups, a common requirement in SharePoint workflows or forms.

<PeoplePicker
    context={this.props.context}
    titleText="Select users"
    personSelectionLimit={3}
    onChange={handlePeoplePickerChange}
/>

Why Use Fluent UI in SharePoint?

Fluent UI controls provide several benefits in SharePoint development:

1. Native Integration with SharePoint Framework (SPFx)

Fluent UI controls are natively supported by the SharePoint Framework (SPFx). This means that when developing web parts or extensions using SPFx, you can easily integrate Fluent UI components without needing additional libraries or dependencies.

2. Cross-Platform Consistency

Fluent UI ensures that your SharePoint applications maintain a consistent look and feel across different platforms like SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams, and even standalone web applications.

3. Accessibility and Responsiveness

Microsoft places a strong emphasis on accessibility, and Fluent UI controls are built to meet the highest accessibility standards. This makes your SharePoint applications more inclusive. Additionally, these controls are responsive by default, meaning they work well on mobile and desktop devices alike.

4. Customizability

Although Fluent UI provides default styles, developers can easily override these to match custom branding or specific design requirements. This makes Fluent UI both powerful and flexible, allowing you to tailor components to your SharePoint environment.

5. Rich Community Support

Fluent UI is widely adopted across the Microsoft ecosystem, and there is a vibrant community around it. You can find extensive documentation, forums, and GitHub repositories to help troubleshoot issues or find creative solutions for your projects.

Best Practices for Using Fluent UI Controls in SharePoint

• Keep Accessibility in Mind: Always ensure that controls like buttons, dropdowns, and dialogs are accessible for users with disabilities. Leverage the built-in ARIA attributes in Fluent UI controls.
• Performance Optimization: Fluent UI controls are lightweight, but for larger SharePoint solutions, be mindful of loading performance. Use lazy loading or conditional rendering for controls to avoid performance bottlenecks.
• Responsive Design: Ensure your Fluent UI controls are tested across different devices. Use responsive controls and layout components like Stack to manage layouts efficiently.
• Custom Styling: Although Fluent UI comes with out-of-the-box styling, use custom themes to align with your organization’s branding. Fluent UI’s ThemeProvider can be leveraged to apply custom colors, fonts, and more.

Resources to Learn More About Fluent UI and SharePoint

• Fluent UI Documentation
• SharePoint Framework (SPFx) Development
• Building SharePoint Web Parts with Fluent UI
• GitHub: Fluent UI React
• Fluent UI Themes and Customization

Conclusion

Fluent UI controls provide a powerful, consistent, and accessible way to create SharePoint solutions. Whether you’re building custom web parts, extensions, or applications, using Fluent UI ensures your interfaces align with modern design standards while delivering great user experiences. Embracing these controls in SharePoint development can greatly simplify the process, allowing you to focus on functionality while maintaining an elegant and professional look.