SharePoint 2010 Web part, which one is used where and when

SharePoint 2010 picking the web part depending upon the data coming from  data source.


Comparing view and form web parts

1. XSLTListViewWebPart : SP list, libraries, external content types
2. XSLTListFormViewWebPart : from external list
3. ListViewWebPart:
4. ListFormWebPart : From a SharePoint  list
5. DataViewWebPart : n/a - only for backwards compatibility.
6. DataFormWebPart: Xml, SOAP, REST, Database data source 
7. InfopathFormWebPart

If you migration your database from 2007 to 2010 then DataViewWebPart gives backwards compatibility.

When you added View in your web part: If data coming from the list like “SP list, libraries, and external content types” then it will display the data in  XSLTListViewWebPart. 

If data coming from the list like “Xml, SOAP, REST, Database data source” then it will display the data in  DataFormWebPart.

When you added View in your web part : If you added the form in your web part and your data coming from the external list then SPD choose XSLTListFormViewWebPart.

If your data coming from the SharePoint list then render the form as a ListFormWebPart.

If want to know which one is used where the really thing is it is not up to us SharePoint Deal with it which web part is used when it depend upon the data source we used.

New Web Part vs Old Web Part

New WebPart
XSLTListViewWebPart is a new type of web Part comes in SharePoint 2010. It gives us a full ribbon supports when we edit the page in browser. Please see the below image.

Old WebPart 
DataFormWebPart gives us less ribbon support when we edit the page in browser. Please See the below image.