Version: 2022.1
Targeting shader models and GPU features in HLSL
Declaring and using shader keywords in HLSL

Targeting graphics APIs and platforms in HLSL

Some #pragma directives take parameters that allow you to target specific graphics APIs and platforms. This page contains information on using those directives, and provides a list of valid parameter values.

Including or excluding graphics APIs

By default, Unity compiles all shaderA program that runs on the GPU. More info
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programs for each graphics API in the list for the current build target. Sometimes, you might want to compile certain shader programs only for certain graphics APIs; for example, if you use features that are not supported on all platforms.

To compile a shader program only for given APIs, use the #pragma only_renderers directive. You can pass multiple values, space delimited.

This example demonstrates how to compile shaders only for Metal and Vulkan:

#pragma only_renderers metal vulkan

To exclude shader code from compilation by given compilers, use the #pragma exclude_renderers directive. You can pass multiple values, space delimited.

This example demonstrates how to exclude a shader from compilation for Metal and Vulkan:

#pragma exclude_renderers metal vulkan

Generating shader variants for graphics tiers for a given graphics API

In the Built-in Render PipelineA series of operations that take the contents of a Scene, and displays them on a screen. Unity lets you choose from pre-built render pipelines, or write your own. More info
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, Unity automatically generates shader variantsA verion of a shader program that Unity generates according to a specific combination of shader keywords and their status. A Shader object can contain multiple shader variants. More info
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that correspond to graphics tiers under certain conditions. You can also force Unity to generate these variants, if required.

To do this, use the #pragma hardware_tier_variants preprocessor directive and specify the graphics APIs for which you want to generate tier shader variants.

For example, this instructs Unity to compile tier shader variants for Metal:

#pragma hardware_tier_variants metal

List of valid parameter values

Supported values are:

Value Description
d3d11 DirectX 11 feature level 10 and above, DirectX 12
gles OpenGL ES 2.0, WebGLA JavaScript API that renders 2D and 3D graphics in a web browser. The Unity WebGL build option allows Unity to publish content as JavaScript programs which use HTML5 technologies and the WebGL rendering API to run Unity content in a web browser. More info
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1.0
gles3 OpenGL ES 3.x, WebGL 2.0
ps4 PlayStation 4
xboxone Xbox One and GameCore, DirectX 11 and DirectX 12
metal iOS/Mac Metal
glcore OpenGL 3.x, OpenGL 4.x
vulkan Vulkan
switch Nintendo Switch
ps5 PlayStation 5
Targeting shader models and GPU features in HLSL
Declaring and using shader keywords in HLSL