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Scripting Fundamentals

Master the core concepts of PlayCanvas scripting. Whether you're using modern ESM scripts or classic scripts, these fundamentals apply to all PlayCanvas development.

Essential Concepts​

Getting Started​

Learn the basic structure and syntax of PlayCanvas scripts. Understand how scripts work, their lifecycle, and how to attach them to entities.

ESM Scripts​

Explore modern ES Module-based scripting with classes, imports, and better tooling. Recommended for new projects.

Script Lifecycle​

Understand when and how script methods are called - from initialization through updates to cleanup.

Script Attributes​

Expose configurable properties that can be tweaked in the editor or set programmatically.

Calling the Engine API​

Learn the key PlayCanvas Engine classes and patterns you'll use when writing scripts.

Events​

Learn how scripts communicate with each other and respond to changes in your application.