ShaderLab: assigning tags to a SubShader

This page contains information on using a Tags block in your ShaderLabUnity’s language for defining the structure of Shader objects. More info
See in Glossary code to assign tags to a SubShader.

For information on defining SubShader, see ShaderLab: defining a SubShader. For information on how a ShaderA program that runs on the GPU. More info
See in Glossary object works, and the relationship between Shader objects, SubShaders and Passes, see Shader objects.

Overview

Tags are key-value pairs of data. Unity uses predefined keys and values to determine how and when to use a given SubShader, or you can also create your own custom SubShader tags with custom values. You can access SubShader tags from C# code.

Render pipeline compatibility

Feature name	Built-in Render Pipeline	Universal Render Pipeline (URP)	High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP)	Custom SRP
ShaderLab: SubShader Tags block	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
ShaderLab: RenderPipeline SubShader tag	No	Yes	Yes	No
ShaderLab: Queue SubShader tag	No	Yes	Yes	Yes Note: in a custom SRP, you can define your own rendering order and choose whether or not to use render queues. For more information, see DrawingSettings and SortingCriteria.
ShaderLab: RenderType SubShader tag	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
ShaderLab: DisableBatching SubShader tag	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
ShaderLab: ForceNoShadowCasting SubShader tag	Yes	Yes	Yes This disables regular shadows, but has no effect on contact shadows.	Yes
ShaderLab: CanUseSpriteAtlas SubShader tag	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
ShaderLab: PreviewType SubShader tag	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Using the Tags block in a SubShader

In ShaderLab, you assign tags to a SubShader by placing a Tags block inside a SubShader block.

Note that both SubShaders and Passes use the Tags block, but they work differently. Assigning SubShader tags to a Pass has no effect, and vice versa. The difference is where you put the Tags block:

• To define Pass tags, place the Tags block inside a Pass block.
• To define SubShader tags, place the Tags block inside a SubShader block but outside a Pass block.

For information on assigning tags to a Pass, see Assigning tags to a Pass.

Signature	Function
Tags { “[name1]” = “[value1]” “[name2]” = “[value2]”}	Applies the given tags to the SubShader. You can define as many tags as you like.

Using SubShader tags with C# code

You can read SubShader tags from a C# script using the Material.GetTag API, like this:

using UnityEngine;

public class Example : MonoBehaviour
{
    // Attach this to a gameObject that has a Renderer component
    string tagName = "ExampleTagName";

    void Start()
    {
        Renderer myRenderer = GetComponent<Renderer>();
        string tagValue = myRenderer.material.GetTag(ExampleTagName, true, "Tag not found");
        Debug.Log(tagValue);
    }
}

RenderPipeline tag

The RenderPipeline tag tells Unity whether a SubShader is compatible with the Universal Render Pipeline (URP) or the High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP).

Syntax and valid values

Signature	Function
“RenderPipeline” = “[name]”	Tells Unity whether this SubShader is compatible with URP or HDRP.

Parameter	Value	Function
[name]	UniversalRenderPipeline	This SubShader is compatible with URP only.
	HighDefinitionRenderPipeline	This SubShader is compatible with HDRP only.
	(any other value, or not declared)	This SubShader is not compatible with URP or HDRP.

Examples

This example code declares that a SubShader is compatible with URP:

Shader "ExampleShader" {
    SubShader {
        Tags { "RenderPipeline" = "UniversalRenderPipeline" }
        Pass {
            …
        }
    }
}

Queue tag

The Queue tag tells Unity which render queue to use for geometry that it renders. The render queue is one of the factors that determines the order that Unity renders geometry in.

Syntax and valid values

You can use the Queue tag in two ways: you can tell Unity to use a named render queue, or an unnamed render queue that it renders after a named render queue.

Signature	Function
“Queue” = “[queue name]”	Use the named render queue.
“Queue” = “[queue name] + [offset]”	Use an unnamed queue, at a given offset from the named queue. An example of when this is useful is in the case of transparent water, which you should draw after opaque objects but before transparent objects.

Signature	Value	Function
[queue name]	Background	Specifies the Background render queue.
	Geometry	Specifies the Geometry render queue.
	AlphaTest	Specifies the AlphaTest render queue.
	Transparent	Specifies the Transparent render queue.
	Overlay	Specifies the Overlay render queue.
[offset]	integer	Specifies the index at which Unity renders the unnamed queue, relative to the named queue.

Using this tag with C# code

You can use Shader.renderQueue to read the Queue tag value of a Shader object’s active SubShader.

By default, Unity renders geometry in the render queue specified in the [Queue] tag. You can override this value on a per-material basis. In the Unity Editor, you can do this in the material Inspector by setting the Render Queue property. In a C# script, you can do this by setting the value of Material.renderQueue using the Rendering.RenderQueue enum.

Examples

This example code creates a SubShader that renders geometry as part of the Transparent render queue:

Shader "ExampleShader" {
    SubShader {
        Tags { "Queue" = "Transparent" }
        Pass {
            …
        }
    }
}

This example code creates a SubShader that renders geometry in an unnamed queue, after the Geometry queue.

Shader "ExampleShader" {
    SubShader {
        Tags { "Queue" = "Geometry+1" }
        Pass {
            …
        }
    }
}

RenderType tag

Use the RenderType tag to override the behavior of a Shader object.

In the Built-in Render Pipeline, you can swap SubShaders at runtime using a technique called shader replacement. This technique works by identifying SubShaders that have matching RenderType tag values. This is used in some cases to produce camera’s depth texture.

In a render pipeline based on the Scriptable Render Pipeline, you can override the render state defined in a Shader object using a RenderStateBlock struct. You can use the value of the RenderType tag to identify SubShaders to override.

Syntax and valid values

Signature	Function
“RenderType” = “[renderType]”	Set the RenderType value for this SubShader.

Signature	Value	Function
[renderType]	String	There are no set values for this parameter. To identify the RenderType value for any SubShader that you want to replace, open its shader source file. The RenderType SubShader tags for Unity’s legacy built-in shaders are listed on the shader replacement page. You can also create your own values for your custom SubShaders.

Using this tag with C# code

For information on shader replacement in the Built-in Render Pipeline, see Shader replacement. For information on using a RenderStateBlock in the Scriptable Render Pipeline, see the API documentation for ScriptableRenderContext.DrawRenderers.

Examples

This example code creates a SubShader with a RenderType value of TransparentCutout:

Shader "ExampleShader" {
    SubShader {
        Tags { "RenderType" = "TransparentCutout" }
        Pass {
            …
        }
    }
}

ForceNoShadowCasting tag

The ForceNoShadowCasting tag prevents geometry in a SubShader from casting (and sometimes receiving) shadows. The exact behavior depends on the render pipeline and 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 path.

This can be useful if you are using shader replacement, but you do not want to inherit a shadow pass from another SubShader.

Syntax and valid values

Signature	Function
“ForceNoShadowCasting” = “[state]”	Whether to prevent shadow casting (and sometimes receiving) for all geometry that uses this SubShader.

Signature	Value	Function
[state]	True	Unity prevents the geometry in this SubShader from casting shadows. In the Built in Render Pipeline, with the Forward, Legacy Vertex Lit or Legacy Deferred rendering paths, Unity also prevents the geometry in this SubShader from receiving shadows. In HDRP, this does not prevent the geometry from casting contact shadows.
	False	Unity does not prevent the geometry in this SubShader from casting or receiving shadows. This is the default value.

Examples

This example code creates a SubShader with a ForceNoShadowCasting value of True:

Shader "ExampleShader" {
    SubShader {
        Tags { "ForceNoShadowCasting" = "True" }
        Pass {
            …
        }
    }
}

DisableBatching tag

The DisableBatching SubShader Tag prevents Unity from applying Dynamic BatchingAn automatic Unity process which attempts to render multiple meshes as if they were a single mesh for optimized graphics performance. The technique transforms all of the GameObject vertices on the CPU and groups many similar vertices together. More info
See in Glossary to geometry that uses this SubShader.

This is useful for shader programs that perform object space operations. Dynamic Batching transforms all geometry into world space, meaning that shader programs can no longer access object space. Shader programs that rely on object space therefore do not render correctly. To avoid this problem, use this SubShader Tag to prevent Unity from applying Dynamic Batching.

Syntax and valid values

Signature	Function
“DisableBatching” = “[state]”	Whether Unity prevents Dynamic Batching for all geometry that uses this SubShader.

Signature	Value	Function
[state]	True	Unity prevents Dynamic Batching for geometry that uses this SubShader.
	False	Unity does not prevent Dynamic Batching for geometry that uses this SubShader. This is the default value.
	LODFading	Unity prevents Dynamic Batching for all geometry that is part of a LODGroup with a Fade Mode value that is not None. Otherwise, Unity does not prevent Dynamic Batching.

Examples

This example code creates a SubShader with a DisableBatching value of True:

Shader "ExampleShader" {
    SubShader {
        Tags { "DisableBatching" = "True" }
        Pass {
            …
        }
    }
}

IgnoreProjector tag

In the Built-in Render Pipeline, the IgnoreProjector SubShader tag tells Unity whether geometry is affected by Projectors. This is mostly useful for excluding semi-transparent geometry, which Projectors are not compatible with.

This tag has no effect in other render pipelines.

Syntax and valid values

Signature	Function
“IgnoreProjector” = “[state]”	Whether Unity ignores Projectors when rendering this geometry.

Signature	Value	Function
[state]	True	Unity ignores Projectors when rendering this geometry.
	False	Unity does not ignore Projectors when rendering this geometry. This is the default value.

Examples

This example code creates a SubShader with an IgnoreProjectors value of True:

Shader "ExampleShader" {
    SubShader {
        Tags { "IgnoreProjector" = "True" }
        Pass {
            …
        }
    }
}

PreviewType tag

The PreviewType SubShader Tag tells the Unity Editor how to display a material that uses this SubShader in the Material InspectorA Unity window that displays information about the currently selected GameObject, asset or project settings, allowing you to inspect and edit the values. More info
See in Glossary.

Syntax and valid values

Signature	Function
“PreviewType” = “[shape]”	Which shape the Unity Editor uses to display a preview of a material that uses this SubShader.

Signature	Value	Function
[shape]	Sphere	Display the material on a sphere. This is the default value.
	Plane	Display the material on a plane.
	SkyboxA special type of Material used to represent skies. Usually six-sided. More info See in Glossary	Display the material on a skybox.

Examples

This example code creates a SubShader with an PreviewType value of Plane:

Shader "ExampleShader" {
    SubShader {
        Tags { "PreviewType" = "Plane" }
        Pass {
            …
        }
    }
}

CanUseSpriteAtlas tag

Use this SubShader tag in projects that use the Legacy Sprite Packer to warn users that your shader relies on original texture coordinates, and that they should therefore not pack its textures into atlases.

Syntax and valid values

Signature	Function
“CanUseSpriteAtlas” = “[state]”	Whether the Sprites that use this SubShader are compatible with the Legacy SpriteA 2D graphic objects. If you are used to working in 3D, Sprites are essentially just standard textures but there are special techniques for combining and managing sprite textures for efficiency and convenience during development. More info See in Glossary Packer.

Signature	Value	Function
[state]	True	Sprites that use this SubShader are compatible with the Legacy Sprite PackerA facility that packs graphics from several sprite textures tightly together within a single texture known as an atlas. Unity provides a Sprite Packer utility to automate the process of generating atlases from the individual sprite textures. More info See in Glossary. This is the default value.
	False	Sprites that use this SubShader are not compatible with the Legacy Sprite Packer. When a SubShader with a CanUseSpriteAtlas value of False is used with a Sprite that has a Legacy Sprite Packer packing tag, Unity shows an error message in the Inspector.

CanUseSpriteAtlas tag code examples

This example code creates a SubShader with an CanUseSpriteAtlas value of False:

Shader "ExampleShader" {
    SubShader {
        Tags { "CanUseSpriteAtlas" = "False" }
        Pass {
            …
        }
    }
}