As a game developer, you would often come across the requirement of storing values between script instances, or even saving and loading data across different sessions. Unity provides the SerializeField attribute – a critical feature in Unity’s overall design that helps with this requirement.
However, there may be times where you’d want to access the values of a field, but not have them visible or editable in the Unity Editor’s Inspector. That’s precisely where Unity’s no SerializeField attribute comes in. In this article, we’ll take a look at the no SerializeField attribute and how it works with some code examples.
What is SerializeField?
Before we dive into understanding what no SerializeField is all about, let’s understand what SerializeField is all about. The SerializeField attribute can be used to serialize any variable or property in Unity, making it accessible between script instances or between sessions. It indicates that a private field or any property of a script can be serialized and displayed in the Inspector window of the Unity Editor. When we mark a C# field with the SerializeField attribute, Unity offers us a complete solution to store and load the value of this variable.
Unity’s Serializer routine reads any serialized fields and saves their values with the Object data. The Serializer also is responsible for loading these values back to our objects whenever our game reloads. This attribute helps save an incredible amount of time by saves developers from manually handling serialization themselves.
Why Use no SerializeField?
There can be several situations when we don’t want certain fields or properties in a script to be serialized or visible in the Inspector. One reasonable case to use no SerializeField is when we want to store sensitive information, such as the player’s current password, keys, or anything specific to our game. Suppose we serialize these values using SerializeField. In that case, any user who has access to the game source code can simply open the script in the editor and view the password or the keys used in the game.
Another scenario can be when you have a private or protected field that still needs to be accessed but isn’t essential for the user to view or edit in the Inspector. Hiding these variables reduces the clutter in your inspector and keeps the useful variables in front and center.
How to use no SerializeField?
The no SerializeField attribute is handy when you need to hide a field in the Inspector window of Unity, preventing accidental changes or hacking attempts to sensitive data in your project.
To use no SerializeField, we simply add [NonSerialized] to our property or field declaration. Here’s how you might use no SerializeField:
[SerializeField] private string secretPassword;
[NonSerialized] private float enemyDifficulty;
The [NonSerialized] attribute tells the Unity Serializer not to serialize this data during serialization. With this, our field ‘secretPassword’ can no longer be viewed or edited in the inspector window.
Unity no SerializeField code example
Here’s an example of how to integrate no SerializeField into a Unity project:
Let’s say you have a Player script, and here are some private variables:
private string playerName;
private int playerLevel;
private float playerHealth;
private bool canMove;
Marking these variables with the SerializeField attribute will serialize them to the object and make them editable within the Unity Editor. Now, let’s say the player's name holds sensitive information, which the player mustn't tamper with. We would then mark the playerName variable as a no SerializeField variable.
Below is what the complete player script should look like:
public class Player : MonoBehaviour {
[NonSerialized] private string playerName;
[SerializeField] private int playerLevel;
[SerializeField] private float playerHealth;
[SerializeField] private bool canMove;
}
This will prevent accessing the player's name from the Inspector and turn it into a hidden variable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Unity’s no SerializeField attribute is a simple yet effective tool that can help with various scenarios. With its ability to hide specific fields and variables, developers can ensure that sensitive information remains secured while keeping the essential information front and centre. Using no SerializeField is an excellent way to maintain the right balance of functionality and security in your games.
let's dive a bit deeper into the topics mentioned in the article.
SerializeField:
The SerializeField attribute in Unity is a critical feature in Unity’s overall design that helps with storing values between script instances, and even saving and loading data across different sessions. It allows developers to indicate that a private field or any property of a script can be serialized and displayed in the Inspector window of the Unity Editor.
One essential aspect of using SerializeField is that it offers a complete solution to storing and loading the value of a variable, saving developers time. Unity’s Serializer routine reads any serialized fields and saves their values with the Object data. The Serializer is also responsible for loading these values back to our objects whenever our game reloads.
No SerializeField:
No SerializeField, on the other hand, is used to hide sensitive data or prevent users from accidentally modifying and breaking code. Adding [NonSerialized] to a property or field declaration in a script tells the Unity Serializer not to serialize this data during serialization. In other words, we can mark any field or property that we do not wish to serialize using the no SerializeField attribute.
An essential use case for no SerializeField is to hide sensitive information such as passwords, keys or any specific information related to our game. Marking such variables using no SerializeField keeps the data safe and secure in the game.
Code Example:
The code example presented in the article showcases how easy it is to integrate no SerializeField into a Unity project. In the example, we have a Player script, and some fields are marked with SerializeField while others are marked with no SerializeField to hide sensitive information. Using no SerializeField helps developers create a cleaner code.
Developers can use the no SerializeField attribute to hide any field or property that should not be visible, editable or serializable in the Inspector. This helps maintain the integrity of sensitive information while providing a cleaner and more organized experience in the editor.
Conclusion:
Unity provides a vast suite of tools and functionality to game developers, and SerializeField and no SerializeField are just two of the powerful attributes it offers. As developers create different functionality in their game, they must find a balance between security and functionality, and using no SerializeField is an excellent tool that can help achieve that balance.
It is essential to keep sensitive information secure and hidden, and using no SerializeField is a simple and effective way to achieve this. The attribute can be used in various situations to help create cleaner and more organized code without risking security. As developers explore Unity's capabilities, they must keep these attributes in mind and use them to their advantage to create top-notch games.
Popular questions
- What is the purpose of the no SerializeField attribute in Unity?
The no SerializeField attribute tells the Unity Serializer not to serialize specific data during serialization, helping hide sensitive data or variables that do not need to be visible or modified in the Inspector.
- Can we use both SerializeField and no SerializeField on the same variable?
Yes, developers can use both attributes depending on their needs. SerializeField is used to serialize variables, while no SerializeField is used to prevent serialization and hide sensitive information.
- How does the Unity Serializer work with SerializedFields?
When we mark any C# field with the SerializeField attribute, Unity's Serializer routine reads and saves the data along with the Object data and loads it back to the objects when the game is reloaded.
- What is the benefit of using no SerializeField in a game project?
Using no SerializeField in a game project helps ensure the security of sensitive data in the game, such as passwords, keys, and other critical information. It also helps keep the code cleaner and more organized by hiding variables that do not need to be visible or edited in the Inspector.
- Can we use no SerializeField on public variables?
No, the attribute is only applicable to private fields and properties; it cannot be used with public variables. Using the attribute on public variables will lead to a compilation error.
Tag
"UnserializedUnityExamples"
