Binding Types

Binding types define what kind of component the binding targets and how the binding operates.

Type Overview

Type	Description	Use Case
Property	Generic property/field binding	Any component property
UI	UI component optimized binding	TextMeshProUGUI, Image, Slider
EventToMethod	Event-to-method invocation	Button onClick, custom methods
AnimatorParameter	Animator parameter sync	Character animations
Light	Light component properties	Dynamic lighting
Transform	Transform properties	Position, rotation, scale
AudioSource	AudioSource properties	Volume, pitch control
Renderer	Material property binding	Shader parameters
GameObject	GameObject state control	Active state, layer, tag

Property Binding

Generic binding for any component property or field.

Use Case: When no specialized type applies.

// Example: Custom component property
FloatVariable customValue → CustomComponent.someProperty

// Configuration:
Type: Property
Mode: VariableToTarget
Target: CustomComponent
Property: someProperty

UI Binding

Optimized for Unity UI components.

Supported Components:

• TextMeshProUGUI / Text
• Image / RawImage
• Slider / Scrollbar
• Toggle / Button
• TMP_InputField

// Example: Health bar
IntVariable playerHealth → Image.fillAmount
// Type: UI (auto-detected)
// Transformation: Input (0,100) → Output (0,1)

// Example: Score display
IntVariable score → TextMeshProUGUI.text
// Type: UI (auto-detected)
// String Format: "Score: {0:N0}"

EventToMethod Binding

Connects GameEvents to component methods.

Use Case: Execute methods when events fire.

// Example: Play sound on event
UnitGameEvent onPlayerDied → AudioSource.Play()

// Example: Trigger animation
StringGameEvent onAction → Animator.SetTrigger(string)

// Configuration:
Type: EventToMethod
Mode: VariableToTarget (events always push)
Target Method: Play() or SetTrigger()

Supported Method Signatures:

• void Method() - Parameterless
• void Method(T value) - Single parameter matching event type
• void SetTrigger(string) - Animator triggers

AnimatorParameter Binding

Synchronizes Variables with Animator parameters.

Supported Parameter Types:

• Float → SetFloat(string, float)
• Int → SetInteger(string, int)
• Bool → SetBool(string, bool)
• Trigger → SetTrigger(string)

// Example: Movement speed
FloatVariable moveSpeed → Animator.SetFloat("Speed")
// Updates "Speed" parameter automatically

// Example: Grounded state
BoolVariable isGrounded → Animator.SetBool("Grounded")
// Syncs grounded state to animation

// Configuration:
Type: AnimatorParameter
Target: Animator component
Parameter Name: "Speed" / "Grounded"

Light Binding

Controls Light component properties.

Supported Properties:

• color - Light color
• intensity - Light brightness
• range - Light distance
• enabled - Light on/off

// Example: Dynamic lighting
ColorVariable ambientColor → Light.color
FloatVariable brightness → Light.intensity

// Use Case: Day/night cycle, flashlight battery, etc.

Transform Binding

Modifies Transform properties.

Supported Properties:

• position / localPosition
• rotation / localRotation
• scale / localScale
• eulerAngles / localEulerAngles

// Example: Camera position
Vector3Variable cameraTarget → Transform.position

// Example: Object rotation
Vector3Variable rotationAngles → Transform.eulerAngles

// Note: Use Transform type for Transform-specific operations

AudioSource Binding

Controls AudioSource properties.

Supported Properties:

• volume - Audio volume (0-1)
• pitch - Playback speed
• panStereo - Left/right balance
• enabled - Audio on/off

// Example: Dynamic volume
FloatVariable masterVolume → AudioSource.volume

// Example: Speed-based pitch
FloatVariable engineSpeed → AudioSource.pitch
// Higher speed = higher pitch

// Use Case: Distance-based volume, engine sounds, etc.

Renderer Binding

Updates Renderer material properties.

Supported Operations:

• Material properties (color, float, vector, texture)
• Shader parameters via _PropertyName
• Material swapping

// Example: Team color
ColorVariable teamColor → Renderer.material.color
// Or shader property:
ColorVariable teamColor → Renderer._BaseColor

// Example: Dissolve effect
FloatVariable dissolveAmount → Renderer._DissolveProgress

// Note: Requires shader to have matching property names

GameObject Binding

Direct GameObject control without targeting child components.

Supported Properties:

• Active - Show/hide GameObject (SetActive)
• Name - GameObject name in hierarchy
• Tag - GameObject tag
• Layer - GameObject layer

// Example: UI panel visibility
BoolVariable menuOpen → GameObject.Active
// menuOpen = true → GameObject.SetActive(true)

// Example: Dynamic naming
StringVariable playerName → GameObject.Name
// Updates GameObject name in hierarchy

// Example: Layer switching
IntVariable uiLayer → GameObject.Layer
// Changes GameObject rendering layer

// Configuration:
Component: GameObject (first option in dropdown)
Property: Active / Name / Tag / Layer

Use Case: When you need to control the GameObject itself, not specific components.

Type Auto-Detection

The Inspector automatically suggests binding types:

Component Selected        → Suggested Type
─────────────────────────────────────────
TextMeshProUGUI           → UI
Image, Slider             → UI
Animator                  → AnimatorParameter
Light                     → Light
Transform                 → Transform
AudioSource               → AudioSource
Renderer                  → Renderer
GameObject                → GameObject
Other components          → Property

Choosing the Right Type

Decision Tree:

What are you binding to?
├─ UI Component (Text, Image, Slider)     → UI
├─ Animator                                → AnimatorParameter
├─ Light                                   → Light
├─ Transform                               → Transform
├─ AudioSource                             → AudioSource
├─ Renderer                                → Renderer
├─ GameObject itself                       → GameObject
├─ Event → Method                          → EventToMethod
└─ Other component property                → Property

Performance by Type

Type	Overhead	Notes
UI	Low	Optimized UI update paths
Property	Low	Cached reflection
AnimatorParameter	Low	Direct Animator API
Transform	Very Low	Direct Transform access
Light	Very Low	Direct component access
AudioSource	Very Low	Direct component access
Renderer	Medium	Material property access
GameObject	Very Low	Direct GameObject API
EventToMethod	Low	Cached method invocation

Next Steps

• Binding Modes - Understand data flow directions
• Transformation - Value conversion and formatting
• Performance - Optimization strategies