---
title: NavigationItemBuilder
summary: API reference for NavigationItemBuilder.
status: draft
owner: SAIF Documentation
last_reviewed: 2026-09-17
library: SAIF.Framework.Web.Mvc
reference_type: package
---

# NavigationItemBuilder

Fluent builder base for configuring a `NavigationItem<T>`-derived item; each setter clears and repopulates its target dictionary or field before returning `this` (or `TBuilder`) so calls can be chained.

## Purpose
- Fluent builder base for configuring a `NavigationItem<T>`-derived item; each setter clears and repopulates its target dictionary or field before returning `this` (or `TBuilder`) so calls can be chained.

## Context
- Namespace: `SAIF.Web.Mvc.UI`
- Assembly/package: `SAIF.Framework.Web.Mvc (source-shipping NuGet package)`
- Kind: abstract class (generic, TItem, TBuilder)

## Public members
| Member | Signature | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ViewContext | `public ViewContext ViewContext { get; set; }` | Auto-property holding the MVC view context; not populated by the constructor (the constructor's `viewContext` parameter is unused), so it is `null` unless a caller sets it explicitly.* |
| Action(RouteValueDictionary) | `public TBuilder Action(RouteValueDictionary routeValues)` | Accepts route values for action-based navigation but returns `this` without storing them — a no-op overload. |
| Action(string, string) | `public TBuilder Action(string actionName, string controllerName)` | Forwards to `Action(actionName, controllerName, (object)null)`; the underlying three-argument overload is also a no-op. |
| Action(string, string, object) | `public TBuilder Action(string actionName, string controllerName, object routeValues)` | Accepts an action/controller/route-values combination but returns `this` without storing them — a no-op overload. |
| Action(string, string, RouteValueDictionary) | `public TBuilder Action(string actionName, string controllerName, RouteValueDictionary routeValues)` | Accepts an action/controller/route-values combination but returns `this` without storing them — a no-op overload. |
| Enabled(bool) | `public TBuilder Enabled(bool value)` | Sets the wrapped item's `Enabled` flag, then returns the typed builder to continue the fluent chain. |
| HtmlAttributes(object) | `public TBuilder HtmlAttributes(object attributes)` | Converts the anonymous object to a dictionary and delegates to the `IDictionary<string, object>` overload. |
| HtmlAttributes(IDictionary&lt;string, object&gt;) | `public TBuilder HtmlAttributes(IDictionary<string, object> attributes)` | Clears the item's `HtmlAttributes` and merges in the supplied dictionary, then returns the typed builder. |
| Id(string) | `public TBuilder Id(string value)` | Sets the item's `Id`, then returns the typed builder to continue the fluent chain. |
| ImageHtmlAttributes(object) | `public TBuilder ImageHtmlAttributes(object attributes)` | Converts the anonymous object to a dictionary and delegates to the `IDictionary<string, object>` overload. |
| ImageHtmlAttributes(IDictionary&lt;string, object&gt;) | `public TBuilder ImageHtmlAttributes(IDictionary<string, object> attributes)` | Clears the item's `ImageHtmlAttributes` and merges in the supplied dictionary, then returns the typed builder. |
| ImageUrl(string) | `public TBuilder ImageUrl(string value)` | Sets the item's `ImageUrl`, then returns the typed builder to continue the fluent chain. |
| LinkHtmlAttributes(object) | `public TBuilder LinkHtmlAttributes(object attributes)` | Converts the anonymous object to a dictionary and delegates to the `IDictionary<string, object>` overload. |
| LinkHtmlAttributes(IDictionary&lt;string, object&gt;) | `public TBuilder LinkHtmlAttributes(IDictionary<string, object> attributes)` | Clears the item's `LinkHtmlAttributes` and merges in the supplied dictionary, then returns the typed builder. |
| Route(string, object) | `public TBuilder Route(string routeName, object routeValues)` | Accepts a named route and route values but returns `this` without storing them — a no-op overload. |
| Route(string, RouteValueDictionary) | `public TBuilder Route(string routeName, RouteValueDictionary routeValues)` | Accepts a named route and route values but returns `this` without storing them — a no-op overload. |
| Text(string) | `public TBuilder Text(string value)` | Sets the item's `Text`, then returns the typed builder to continue the fluent chain. |
| Tooltip(string) | `public TBuilder Tooltip(string value)` | Sets the item's `Tooltip`, then returns the typed builder to continue the fluent chain. |
| Url(string) | `public TBuilder Url(string value)` | Sets the item's `Url`, then returns the typed builder to continue the fluent chain. |
| Visible(bool) | `public TBuilder Visible(bool value)` | Sets the item's `Visible` flag, then returns the typed builder to continue the fluent chain. |

## Behavioral notes
- All `Action` and `Route` overloads return `this`/`TBuilder` without storing the supplied value, so routing configuration through this fluent API currently has no effect (see the architecture findings' "Architectural observations").**
- `ViewContext` is never assigned by the constructor even though a `ViewContext` parameter is accepted there; the property remains `null` unless a caller sets it directly.*

> **Note:** Statements marked with * were inferred from code structure, naming conventions, or
> contextual evidence where direct confirmation was not available in source artifacts. Statements
> marked with ** could not be confirmed; treat as unknown until verified.

## Sources
- `src/Web.Mvc/UI/NavigationItemBuilder.cs`