IDC controls are tightly bound to an IDD application. IDD is a generic application framework which, when combined with an IDD application configuration, provides a user interface customized for a customer's data model and data governance needs. In the same way, IDC controls provide generic functionality that becomes specific when bound to an IDD application configuration.

From an IDD application configuration, an IDC control can use subject area definitions, layouts, search, cleanse and validation, customizations, data security, and localization.