A system and method for associating a block diagram with a user interface element. A block diagram associated with a user interface element may include graphical code, i.e., a plurality of interconnected nodes, for controlling functionality of the user interface element. For example, when the user provides user input to a user interface control, a block diagram associated with the control may receive the user input and may respond to the user input. As another example, in response to a user interface indicator receiving data for display, a block diagram associated with the indicator may receive the data and process it, e.g., to control how the data is displayed.