Slider Joint 2D fundamentals

Use this joint slide GameObjects by maintaining the position of two points on a configurable line that extends to infinity. Those two points can be two Rigidbody2D components, or a Rigidbody2D component and a fixed position in the world (by setting Connected Rigidbody to None).

The joint applies a linear force to both connected Rigidbody objects to keep them on the line. It also has a simulated linear motor that applies linear force to move the Rigidbody GameObjects along the line. You can turn the motor off or on. Although the line is infinite, you can specify just a segment of the line that you want to use, using the Translation Limits option.

This joint has three simultaneous constraints. All are optional:

• Maintain a relative linear distance away from a specified line between two anchor points on two Rigidbody objects.
• Maintain a linear speed between two anchor points on two Rigidbody objects along a specified line. (The speed is limited with a maximum force.)
• Maintain a linear distance between two points along the specified line.

You can use this joint to construct physical objects that need to react as if they are connected together on a line. For example:

• A platform which can move up or down. The platform reacts by moving down when something lands on it but must never move sideways. You can use this joint to ensure platform to never moves up or down beyond certain limits. Use the motor to make the platform move up.

Additional resources

• Joints 2D
• Slider Joint 2D component reference

SliderJoint2D