Component fields

A component’s public fields are saved with the scene and shown in the Inspector, as are private ones marked [ShowInInspector]. Fields marked [NonSerialized] are left out, and [HideInInspector] saves a field without showing it.

Single values

A field can hold any of these:

• numbers (float, double, and every integer type)
• bool and char
• enums (shown by name; engine enums need [Reflect(.All)] for their names)
• Vector2, Vector3, Vector4, Int3, Quaternion, Matrix4 and Color
• String, declared as public String name = new .() ~ delete _;
• references to objects in the scene: GameObject, Transform or any component type

Lists and arrays

A List<T>, an array T[] or a fixed-size array T[N] of any of the types above is saved and shown too:

public List<Vector3> waypoints = new .() ~ delete _;
public List<String> names = new .() ~ DeleteContainerAndItems!(_);
public List<Transform> targets = new .() ~ delete _;
public float[] weights = new .[3] ~ delete _;
public Color[4] palette;

In the Inspector a list shows its size, then a row for each element with buttons to move it up (^) and remove it (x). The size’s + button adds a copy of the last element. Lists of 16 elements or fewer start open; click the arrow to open or close one. A fixed-size T[N] keeps its size.

Scripts use them as ordinary lists. Whatever they hold when the scene is saved is what loads next time.

Some things to know:

• Ownership: declare them with new and free them (~ delete _, or DeleteContainerAndItems! for a list of Strings). A List or T[] that is null gets made when the Inspector or a scene file puts something in it, and is never freed.
• References: a list of references is remapped when objects are copied or loaded, like a single reference. When an object is destroyed, its entries become null rather than being removed.
• What lists can’t do:
  • nest (a List<List<float>> is left out)
  • hold structs or classes of your own (use several lists, or a data asset)
  • be [Sync]ed over the network
• Data assets: data assets save their lists the same way, except lists of references, since a data asset has no scene to refer to.