# Element Class

> The base class for elements of the content of a page.

- Product: Adobe PDF Library 21
- Language: .NET Framework
- Version: APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e
- HTML page: https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Element
- Version index: https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/llms.txt

```csharp
class Element : SystemIDisposable
```

**Namespace:** `Datalogics::PDFL`

**Inherits from:** `SystemIDisposable`

**Derived classes:** [`Container`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Container.md), [`Form`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Form.md), [`Group`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Group.md), [`Image`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Image.md), [`Path`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Path.md), [`PostScript`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/PostScript.md), [`Shading`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Shading.md), [`Text`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Text.md), [`TextRun`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/TextRun.md)

## Description

The base class for elements of the content of a page.

An element is a building block; everything in a PDF file is an element. An element object can be associated with a large amount of unmanaged memory in APDFL and should be deleted when the object is no longer in use.

**Referenced by:** [`Clip`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Clip.md), [`Content`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Content.md), [`Element`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Element.md), [`Form`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Form.md), [`PostScript`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/PostScript.md), [`Shading`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Shading.md), [`TextRun`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/TextRun.md)

**Uses types:** [`Clip`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Clip.md), [`Element`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Element.md), [`ElementCloneFlags`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/enum/ElementCloneFlags.md), [`Matrix`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Matrix.md), [`Rect`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Rect.md)

## Properties

### BoundingBox

```csharp
Rect Datalogics.PDFL.Element.BoundingBox { get; }
```

The bounding box for this element.

The bounding box is a rectangle that is guaranteed to encompass the element, but it is not guaranteed to be the smallest box that could contain the element. For example, if the element is a Path that contains an arc, the bounding box encompasses the bezier control points, and not just the curve itself.

### Clip

```csharp
Clip Datalogics.PDFL.Element.Clip { get; set; }
```

Gets the current Clip for an Element.

### Matrix

```csharp
Matrix Datalogics.PDFL.Element.Matrix { get; set; }
```

The transformation matrix for the element.

## Methods

### Clone

```csharp
Element Datalogics.PDFL.Element.Clone()
```

**Returns:** [`Element`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Element.md)

The copied element.

Makes a copy of the element.

Make a copy of an element to obtain a new element that has a distinct set of attributes.

Note: TextRun objects may not be cloned.

### Clone

```csharp
Element Datalogics.PDFL.Element.Clone(ElementCloneFlags cloneFlags)
```

**Parameters**

- `cloneFlags` ([`ElementCloneFlags`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/enum/ElementCloneFlags.md)): Flags that modify the cloning operation.

**Returns:** [`Element`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/DotNetFramework/APDFL21.0.0PlusP1e/class/Element.md)

The copied element.

Makes a copy of the element.

Make a copy of an element to obtain a new element that has a distinct set of attributes.

Note: TextRun objects may not be cloned.

### Dispose

```csharp
void Datalogics.PDFL.Element.Dispose()
```

**Returns:** `void`

### Rotate

```csharp
void Datalogics.PDFL.Element.Rotate(double theta)
```

**Parameters**

- `theta` (`double`): The rotation angle in degrees.

**Returns:** `void`

Rotate an element by theta degrees counterclockwise using the matrix [ cos T sin T -sin T cos T 0 0 ].

### Scale

```csharp
void Datalogics.PDFL.Element.Scale(double sx, double sy)
```

**Parameters**

- `sx` (`double`): The horizontal scale factor.
- `sy` (`double`): The vertical scale factor.

**Returns:** `void`

Scale an element by (sx,sy) units using the matrix [ sx 0 0 sy 0 0 ].

### Translate

```csharp
void Datalogics.PDFL.Element.Translate(double tx, double ty)
```

**Parameters**

- `tx` (`double`): The horizontal translation distance in user space units.
- `ty` (`double`): The vertical translation distance in user space units.

**Returns:** `void`

Translate an element by (tx,ty) units using the matrix [ 1 0 0 1 tx ty ].