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Tags and Layers

Learn Tags and Layers and their role in collision filtering.

Tag concept

A Tag is a reference word used to identify and group GameObjects in the scene. For instance, the main character is tagged "Player", while enemies are tagged "Enemy".

// Safely checking an object's tag
if (collision.gameObject.CompareTag("Enemy")) {
    Console.WriteLine("Enemy detected!");
}

In code, the CompareTag method is much faster and more memory-friendly than direct string equality.

Layer concept

Layers are used to filter objects for physics collisions or camera rendering. For example, using the Layer Collision Matrix, you can prevent bullets from colliding with other bullets.

// Filtering specific layers using LayerMask
int uiLayer = LayerMask.NameToLayer("UI");

In short: Tags identify objects logically, while Layers group objects for physics and camera operations.

Practice Print Tag and Layer information

Assign "Player" to tag and "Default" to layer. Print Tag: Player | Layer: Default to the console.

Starter code

Player.cs
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // tag ve layer değerlerini tanımlayıp yazdır
    }
}

Sample solution

Player.cs
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        string tag = "Player";
        string layer = "Default";
        Console.WriteLine("Tag: " + tag + " | Layer: " + layer);
    }
}

Expected output

Tag: Player | Layer: Default

Questions and answers

Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.

1 What is the most performant and recommended way to check a GameObject's tag in code?

  • Calling gameObject.CompareTag("Player") Correct answer
  • Deleting and reloading all components
  • Recreating all objects in the scene with a loop
  • Searching the object with the mouse in Hierarchy

Explanation: CompareTag is the most efficient approach because it performs tag checks without internal string allocations.

2 Check object tag

Question 
if (target.____("Player"))
Answer 
if (target.CompareTag("Player"))

Explanation: In Unity, the CompareTag function is used to verify an object's tag.

3 Tag and Layer differences

Term Meaning
Tag Label for logically identifying objects
Layer Layer for physics and camera filtering
CompareTag Performant tag comparison function
Collision Matrix Matrix defining which layers collide

All lessons in Beginner

1 What is game development?

  1. Intro to game development
  2. Game engines
  3. 2D and 3D games
  4. The game loop
  5. The scene concept
  6. Summary - Game dev fundamentals

2 Unity setup

  1. Installing Unity Hub
  2. Creating your first project
  3. The editor interface
  4. Toolbar and playback
  5. Saving the project
  6. Summary - Unity setup

3 First scene project

  1. Project overview
  2. Camera and light
  3. Your first cube in the scene
  4. Adding a material
  5. Testing in Play mode
  6. Summary - First scene

4 The GameObject concept

  1. What is a GameObject?
  2. Components
  3. The Hierarchy window
  4. Editing with the Inspector
  5. Tags and Layers
  6. Summary - GameObject

5 C# script basics

  1. Your first C# script
  2. using and namespace
  3. Class structure
  4. Variables and types
  5. Output with Debug.Log
  6. Summary - C# basics

6 MonoBehaviour

  1. What is MonoBehaviour?
  2. The Start method
  3. The Update method
  4. Awake vs Start
  5. SerializeField and public
  6. Summary - MonoBehaviour

7 Transform

  1. What is Transform?
  2. Changing position
  3. Moving with Translate
  4. Changing rotation
  5. Local vs world space
  6. Summary - Transform

8 Input

  1. The Input class
  2. Axis input
  3. Mouse input
  4. The new Input System
  5. Movement vector
  6. Summary - Input

9 Physics (Rigidbody/Collider)

  1. What is a Rigidbody?
  2. What is a Collider?
  3. Applying force with AddForce
  4. Collision events
  5. Trigger events
  6. Summary - Physics

10 2D Sprite

  1. What is a Sprite?
  2. SpriteRenderer
  3. Sprite import settings
  4. Sprite sorting
  5. Preparing sprite animation
  6. Summary - 2D Sprite

11 Godot basics

  1. The Godot editor
  2. A new project
  3. The scene tree
  4. The Node concept
  5. Saving the project
  6. Summary - Godot basics

12 GDScript

  1. What is GDScript?
  2. extends and variables
  3. Function definition
  4. Output with print
  5. Type hints
  6. Summary - GDScript

13 Node and Scene

  1. Node2D and Sprite2D
  2. Saving a scene
  3. Scene instance
  4. The _ready method
  5. The _process method
  6. Summary - Node and Scene

14 Beginner final

  1. Challenge 1: Print a score
  2. Challenge 2: Movement vector
  3. Challenge 3: Godot ready
  4. Challenge 4: Collision log
  5. Challenge 5: Final synthesis