A Tag is a word which you link to one or more GameObjects. For instance, you might define “Player” and “Enemy” Tags for player-controlled characters and non-player characters respectively; a “Collectable” Tag could be defined for items the player can collect in the Scene; and so on. Clearly, Tags are intended to identify GameObjects for scripting purposes. We can use them to write script code to find a GameObject by looking for any object that contains our desired Tag. This is achieved using the GameObject.FindWithTag() function.
For example:
// Instantiates respawnPrefab at the location
// of the game object with tag "Respawn"
//JS
var respawnPrefab : GameObject;
var respawn = GameObject.FindWithTag ("Respawn");
Instantiate (respawnPrefab, respawn.position, respawn.rotation);
//C#
using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;
public class Example : MonoBehaviour {
public GameObject respawnPrefab;
public GameObject respawn;
void Start() {
if (respawn == null)
respawn = GameObject.FindWithTag("Respawn");
Instantiate(respawnPrefab, respawn.transform.position, respawn.transform.rotation) as GameObject;
}
}
This saves us having to manually add our GameObjects to a script’s exposed properties using drag and drop – a useful timesaver if the same script code is being used in a number of GameObjects. Another example is a TriggerCollider control script which needs to work out whether the player is interacting with an enemy, as opposed to, say, a random prop or collectable item. Tags make this kind of test easy.
The Inspector will show the Tag and Layer->Layers drop-down menus just below any GameObject’s name. To apply a Tag to a GameObject, simply open the Tags drop-down and choose the Tag you require:
The GameObject will now be associated with this Tag.
To create a new Tag, click the “Add Tag…” option at the end of the drop-down menu. This will open up the Tag Manager in the Inspector. The Tag Manager is described here.
Layers appear similar to Tags, but are used to define how Unity should render GameObjects in the Scene. See the Layers page for more information.
A GameObject can only have one Tag assigned to it.
You can use any word you like as a Tag. (You can even use short phrases, but you may need to widen the Inspector to see the tag’s full name.)
When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalized web experience. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
More information
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Some 3rd party video providers do not allow video views without targeting cookies. If you are experiencing difficulty viewing a video, you will need to set your cookie preferences for targeting to yes if you wish to view videos from these providers. Unity does not control this.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.