About Unity Visual Scripting

Getting Started with Visual Scripting

Program a visual script

Configure your visual script with variables

Programming fundamentals in visual scripts

Challenge: Control your character with Visual Scripting

Start here to learn Visual Scripting, whether you are new to Unity or an experienced Unity programmer.

In this project, you will learn the windows and tools in Unity’s Visual Scripting user interface. 

If you are new to programming, you will learn the basics of programming along the way. Everything you need to know before starting this project is in the Unity Essentials Pathway. 

Introduction to Visual Scripting

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Overview

Before you begin

Prepare the Scene

Create the Script Machine

Create the Graph

Set up your Script Graph window

What’s next?

In this tutorial, you’ll begin setting up Visual Scripting for your first scripts. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be able to:

Add a Script Machine component to a GameObject

Save a Visual Scripting Graph as a project asset

Open the Visual Scripting windows in the Unity Editor

Explain and arrange the panels of the Script Graph window

Pan, zoom, and return to center in the Script Graph window

Games

Unity for Artists Curricular Framework Resources

AI, ML Curricular Framework Resources 

This tutorial is for experienced and new Unity users alike to become familiar with the Visual Scripting user interface. You’ll begin by creating a new Unity project and creating your first visual script asset.

For these tutorials, we recommend that you use Unity version 2021.1 or higher, using the Visual Scripting package that is installed by default with Unity. 

If you use Bolt, the user interface and the names of items will be slightly different than what is presented here, but you will be able to follow along.

Before you begin to set up your Unity project, consider updating your Unity Hub to the latest release. If you are using an older version of the Hub, there may be differences between the guidance provided and your experience.

If you need to refresh your memory of the Unity Editor basics, you can take a moment to review Explore the Unity Editor at any time.

1.  Install the latest TECH stream release (or another version from Unity 2021.1 onward).

2.  Create a new Unity project using one of the Core Templates (2D or 3D).  It doesn’t matter which Core Template you select; the package that you import will override the default Template settings. 

1. In a new empty Scene, create a cube primitive.

2. Position the cube and the Main Camera to get a good view of the cube in Play mode. You’ll need to be able to see the cube rotate.

Scene view with Main Camera selected and Main Camera preview window; Main Camera positioned to view the cube

A Machine is a component that runs a visual script. As a component, the Machine will carry out the instructions in the visual script upon the component’s GameObject. There are two types, Script Machines (like this one) and State Machines (which we will cover in the next project).  

Let’s add a new Script Machine to the cube, which will contain your visual script, also known as a Graph.

With the cube selected, go to the Inspector and select Add Component > Visual Scripting > Script Machine. The component will be added in the Inspector window, and you’ll see a scripting symbol (<>) on your GameObject in Scene view (when the GameObject is not selected).

Notice that the Machine and the Graph are not the same thing: the Machine is the component attached to the GameObject, and the Graph is an asset, stored in a separate file of your project, that can be used in multiple Machines. This distinction will be important later.

At this point, the Machine is created, but it doesn’t yet have a Graph assigned to it. Let’s create a Graph.

1. In the Script Machine component, select the New button to create a new Graph. A Save window will appear, displaying the Assets folder of your Unity project.

2. To keep your project organized, create a folder called VisualScripts to save your assets from Visual Scripting. This name will help differentiate your Visual Scripting assets from other scripts (such as C# scripts) and graphs (such as those from Shader Graph and VFX Graph) in Unity.

3. Save your Graph using the name “Rotation” to create a new file named Rotation.asset. 

Tip: Another way to add a new Graph to a Script Machine component is to create and name it in the Project window, and then drag it from the Project window to the Graph field in the Script Machine in the Inspector. We’ll use this technique later.

4. The Script Machine component in the Inspector will update to include fields for Title and Summary. These are for your own use. For demonstration purposes, let’s give this Graph the title “Rotate the Cube” and the summary “Make the cube rotate.” 

5. Select the Edit Graph button that appears in the component. The Script Graph window will appear. 

The Script Machine component with the title and summary filled 

When you create your first Graph in a Scene, the Script Graph window appears. Depending on your current window configuration, it might be undocked. If so, drag the Script Graph tab to the Dock Zone next to your Project and Console window tabs, so that you can see this window and your Scene view at the same time.

The Script Graph window includes three panels: 

Graph window: the gridded area where you will build your Graph

Graph Inspector: a panel providing additional information about the units in your Graph as you edit it

Blackboard: a panel for creating and managing variables

The Graph Inspector and Blackboard panels are stacked vertically the first time you open them. You can use the right and left arrow buttons to move them to either side of the Graph. For this tutorial, we recommend moving the Graph Inspector to the right and the Blackboard to the left, so that you can find each one easily.

For additional controls and keyboard shortcuts, consult the Unity Manual for details.

The Visual Scripting window docked next to the Project tab in the editor

Script Graph window with Blackboard on left, Graph Inspector on right, and arrow buttons highlighted.

Now that you have had a tour of the Visual Scripting interface, you’re ready to create a working visual script in the next tutorial.

Getting Started with Visual Scripting

1. Overview

2. Before you begin

3. Prepare the Scene

4. Create the Script Machine

5. Create the Graph

6. Set up your Script Graph window

7. What’s next?

Complete this tutorial