Application Setup & Component Registration

1. NuGet package

Before adding packages, inspect the target projects' target framework and existing package references. The lowest supported target framework version is .NET 8.0. If IgniteUI.Blazor or IgniteUI.Blazor.Trial is already referenced, keep that package strategy and do not add Lite or GridLite. Only switch package families when the user explicitly asks, replacing conflicting references rather than keeping both.

dotnet add package IgniteUI.Blazor.Lite       # OSS core UI components (MIT)
dotnet add package IgniteUI.Blazor.GridLite   # OSS lightweight grid (MIT)

Use IgniteUI.Blazor.Lite for core controls such as IgbInput, IgbCombo and IgbDialog, and IgniteUI.Blazor.GridLite for the lightweight grid. Reference both packages only when the app needs both. Do not invent per-component packages such as IgniteUI.Blazor.Combo.

Charts, maps, gauges and other premium components are not included in Lite. Check the requested component's package before recommending a reference.

2. IgniteUI.Blazor.Lite Service Registration

Usually in Program.cs:

builder.Services.AddIgniteUIBlazor();   // no modules pre-loaded; each loads on first render

Pass typeof(Igb<Name>Module) values to eagerly pre-load a specific set instead:

builder.Services.AddIgniteUIBlazor(
    typeof(IgbInputModule), typeof(IgbComboModule), typeof(IgbDialogModule));

Module names always follow Igb{ComponentName}Module. Passing modules eagerly loads them during startup, increasing the initial transfer to reduce first-render latency. Components not listed still register their own modules on first render.

For a GridLite-only setup, do not call AddIgniteUIBlazor() or add manual Ignite UI script tags. Reference IgniteUI.Blazor.GridLite, add the control namespace, and link the GridLite stylesheet shown below.

Split Blazor Web App: add each required package to both the Server and Client .csproj files. For core controls, use the actual project paths in place of these examples.

dotnet add Server/Server.csproj package IgniteUI.Blazor.Lite
dotnet add Client/Client.csproj package IgniteUI.Blazor.Lite

If GridLite is needed, add IgniteUI.Blazor.GridLite to both projects as well. For a GridLite-only app, add only that package and skip the service registrations below.

For Lite, call AddIgniteUIBlazor() in both the server and client Program.cs.

// Server
builder.Services.AddRazorComponents()
    .AddInteractiveServerComponents()
    .AddInteractiveWebAssemblyComponents();
builder.Services.AddIgniteUIBlazor();

// Client (WebAssemblyHostBuilder)
builder.Services.AddIgniteUIBlazor();

For a single-project Interactive Server Blazor Web App, call AddIgniteUIBlazor() once in the server Program.cs. Do not add a client project or WebAssembly services.

3. _Imports.razor

@using IgniteUI.Blazor.Controls

Add it to both _Imports.razor files in split Blazor Web App solutions.

4. Host page — theme stylesheet

Host page is wwwroot/index.html (WASM/MAUI), Pages/_Host.cshtml (Server), or Components/App.razor (Web App).

IgniteUI.Blazor.Lite 0.1.1 loads its JavaScript automatically through a Blazor initializer. Keep the existing Blazor framework script and add the theme stylesheet below. Do not add a manual Ignite UI script tag.

<link href="_content/IgniteUI.Blazor/themes/light/bootstrap.css" rel="stylesheet" />

The stylesheet is required: without it components render unstyled.

Theme files under _content/IgniteUI.Blazor/themes/ are {light|dark}/{bootstrap|material|fluent|indigo}.css — link exactly one.

.NET 9+ Web App projects can use the fingerprinted asset collection:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="@Assets["_content/IgniteUI.Blazor/themes/light/bootstrap.css"]" />

IgniteUI.Blazor.GridLite ships its own stylesheet from its own asset root, but should be used only if you are using the GridLite component exclusively. If you are using other Ignite UI components, do not link (or suggest) the GridLite stylesheet — use the main theme stylesheet above instead.

<link href="_content/IgniteUI.Blazor.GridLite/themes/light/bootstrap.css" rel="stylesheet" />

5. Render mode (Blazor Web App only)

Ignite UI components need an interactive render mode; static SSR renders nothing usable.

@rendermode InteractiveServer

Or globally in App.razor: <Routes @rendermode="InteractiveServer" />.

Use InteractiveWebAssembly or InteractiveAuto in place of InteractiveServer as needed.