IComponentData

Learn to define components with IComponentData.

What Is IComponentData?

IComponentData is an interface used to create data components in Unity ECS architecture. Structures implementing this interface are generally defined as structs and are used to add data to Entity objects. For example, a Position component can store an object's coordinates.

using Unity.Entities;

public struct Position : IComponentData
{
    public float X;
    public float Y;
}

This component only stores data; the logic that processes the data belongs in a separate System.

Creating a Data Component

To create an ECS component, include the Unity.Entities namespace in your project. Then define a struct that implements the IComponentData interface. You can place numerical data belonging to a game object inside the component.

using Unity.Entities;

public struct Health : IComponentData
{
    public int Value;
}

The Health component can be used to store the health value of an Entity object.

Exercise Create a Score Component

Create an ECS component named Score. The structure must implement the IComponentData interface and contain an int field named Value. Also include the required Unity.Entities namespace and define a static method that prints the initial score to the console.

Show example solution

using Unity.Entities;
using UnityEngine;

public struct Score : IComponentData
{
    public int Value;

    public static void PrintInitial()
    {
        Debug.Log("Score: " + 0);
    }
}

Test yourself

Which C# type is used when creating an ECS data component?
- delegate
- struct
- enum
- interface
Show answer

struct — ECS data components implementing IComponentData are defined as structs.

Complete the Health Component

public struct Health : ____
{
    public int Value;
}

Show answer

public struct Health : IComponentData
{
    public int Value;
}

IComponentData Structure

IComponentData

ECS component interface
struct

Defines a value-type structure
int Value

Stores integer data
Unity.Entities

Contains ECS types

Next lesson: SystemBase

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