A Command Buffer holds a list of renderingThe process of drawing graphics to the screen (or to a render texture). By default, the main camera in Unity renders its view to the screen. More info
See in Glossary commands. You can instruct Unity to schedule and execute those commands.
This page contains information on using Command Buffers in the Built-in Render Pipeline. For information on using Command Buffers in the Scriptable Rendering Pipeline, see Scheduling and executing rendering commands in the Scriptable Rendering Pipeline.
For a full list of the commands that you can execute using Command Buffers, see the CommandBuffer API documentation. Note that some commands are supported only on certain hardware; for example, the commands relating to ray tracingThe process of generating an image by tracing out rays from the Camera through each pixel and recording the color contribution at the hit point. This is an alternative to rasterization. raytracing
See in Glossary are supported only in DX12.
You can execute Command Buffers immediately using the Graphics.ExecuteCommandBuffer API.
In the Built-in Render Pipeline, you can execute Command Buffers at specific times in the render loop; to do this, use the Camera.AddCommandBuffer API with the CameraEvent enum, and the Light.AddCommandBuffer API with the LightEvent enum.
For example, you can use a Command Buffer with the AfterGBuffer CameraEvent to render additional GameObjectsThe fundamental object in Unity scenes, which can represent characters, props, scenery, cameras, waypoints, and more. A GameObject’s functionality is defined by the Components attached to it. More info
See in Glossary into the Deferred pipeline, after the pipeline processes all opaque GameObjects.
The order of execution depends on the rendering pathThe technique Unity uses to render graphics. Choosing a different path affects the performance of your game, and how lighting and shading are calculated. Some paths are more suited to different platforms and hardware than others. More info
See in Glossary that your Project uses.
| Deferred rendering path | |
|---|---|
| BeforeGBuffer | |
| Unity renders opaque geometry. | |
| AfterGBuffer | |
| Unity resolves depth. | |
| BeforeReflections | |
| Unity renders default reflections. | |
| Unity renders Reflection ProbeA rendering component that captures a spherical view of its surroundings in all directions, rather like a camera. The captured image is then stored as a Cubemap that can be used by objects with reflective materials. More info See in Glossary reflections. |
|
| AfterReflections | |
| Unity copies reflections to the Emissive channel of the G-buffer. | |
| BeforeLighting | |
| Unity renders shadows. See LightEvent order of execution. | |
| AfterLighting | |
| BeforeFinalPass | |
| Unity processes the final pass. | |
| AfterFinalPass | |
| BeforeForwardOpaque (only called if there is opaque geometry that cannot be rendered using deferred) | |
| Unity renders opaque geometry that cannot be rendered with deferred rendering. | |
| AfterForwardOpaque (only called if there is opaque geometry that cannot be rendered using deferred) | |
| BeforeSkybox | |
| Unity renders the skyboxA special type of Material used to represent skies. Usually six-sided. More info See in Glossary. |
|
| AfterSkybox | |
| Unity renders halos. | |
| BeforeImageEffectsOpaque | |
| If you are using the Post-processing Stack V2 package, Unity applies opaque-only post-processingA process that improves product visuals by applying filters and effects before the image appears on screen. You can use post-processing effects to simulate physical camera and film properties, for example Bloom and Depth of Field. More info post processing, postprocessing, postprocess See in Glossary effects. |
|
| AfterImageEffectsOpaque | |
| BeforeForwardAlpha | |
| Unity renders transparent geometry, and UI(User Interface) Allows a user to interact with your application. More info See in Glossary Canvases with a Rendering ModeA Standard Shader Material parameter that allows you to choose whether the object uses transparency, and if so, which type of blending mode to use. More info See in Glossary of Screen Space - CameraA component which creates an image of a particular viewpoint in your scene. The output is either drawn to the screen or captured as a texture. More info See in Glossary. |
|
| AfterForwardAlpha | |
| BeforeHaloAndLensFlares | |
| Unity renders lens flaresA component that simulates the effect of lights refracting inside a camera lens. Use a Lens Flare to represent very bright lights or add atmosphere to your scene. More info See in Glossary. |
|
| AfterHaloAndLensFlares | |
| BeforeImageEffects | |
| If you are using the Post-processing Stack V2 package, Unity applies post-processing effects. | |
| AfterImageEffects | |
| AfterEverything | |
| Unity renders UI Canvases with a Rendering Mode that is not Screen Space - Camera. | |
| Forward rendering path |
|---|
| BeforeDepthTexture |
| Unity renders depth for opaque geometry. |
| AfterDepthTexture |
| BeforeDepthNormalsTexture |
| Unity renders depth normals for opaque geometry. |
| AfterDepthNormalsTexture |
| Unity renders shadows. See LightEvent order of execution. |
| BeforeForwardOpaque |
| Unity renders opaque geometry. |
| AfterForwardOpaque |
| BeforeSkybox |
| Unity renders the skybox. |
| AfterSkybox |
| Unity renders halos. |
| BeforeImageEffectsOpaque |
| If you are using the Post-processing Stack V2 package, Unity applies opaque-only post-processing effects. |
| AfterImageEffectsOpaque |
| BeforeForwardAlpha |
| Unity renders transparent geometry, and UI Canvases with a Rendering Mode of Screen Space - Camera. |
| AfterForwardAlpha |
| BeforeHaloAndLensFlares |
| Unity renders lens flares. |
| AfterHaloAndLensFlares |
| BeforeImageEffects |
| If you are using the Post-processing Stack V2 package, Unity applies post-processing effects. |
| AfterImageEffects |
| AfterEverything |
| Unity renders UI Canvases with a Rendering Mode of Screen Space - Camera. |
During the “render shadows” stage above, for each shadow-casting Light, Unity performs these steps:
| BeforeShadowMap | |
|
BeforeShadowMapPass Unity renders all shadow casters for the current pass AfterShadowMapPass |
Repeat for each pass |
| AfterShadowMap | |
| BeforeScreenSpaceMask | |
| Unity gathers the shadow map into a screen space buffer and performs filtering | |
| AfterScreenSpaceMask | |