Toolbar and playback

Learn the toolbar buttons and Play/Pause/Step controls.

What is the Unity Toolbar?

The Toolbar is the tool strip located at the top of the Unity Editor. You can access essential controls and some tools used while working on a project from this area.

Toolbar
[Transform Tools] [Play] [Pause] [Step]

The Play, Pause, and Step buttons are especially useful when running and testing a game.

Play, Pause, and Step controls

Play enters or exits Play Mode. Pause temporarily pauses the running game, while Step advances the paused game by one frame.

Play  → Run the game
Pause → Pause the game
Step  → Advance one frame

These controls help you inspect game behavior and control specific moments during testing.

Exercise Print playback controls

Create variables representing the three playback controls in the Unity Toolbar. Print the values Play, Pause, and Step on separate lines in that order.

Show example solution

using UnityEngine;

public class ToolbarInfo : MonoBehaviour
{
    void Start()
    {
        string playControl = "Play";
        string pauseControl = "Pause";
        string stepControl = "Step";

        Debug.Log(playControl);
        Debug.Log(pauseControl);
        Debug.Log(stepControl);
    }
}

Test yourself

Which button should you press to run and test the game in Unity?
- Step
- Play
- Inspector
- Pause
Show answer

Play — The Play button runs the game and lets you test the gameplay in the Game window.

Pause the game

string control = "____";

Show answer

string control = "Pause";

Toolbar controls

Play

Enters Play Mode
Pause

Temporarily pauses the game
Step

Advances one frame
Toolbar

Contains tools and controls

Next lesson: Saving the project

We Are Enhancing Your Experience

Cookie Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Analytical Cookies