SpriteKit API Reference

Complete API reference for SpriteKit organized by category.

When to Use This Reference

Use this reference when:

• Looking up specific SpriteKit API signatures or properties
• Checking which node types are available and their performance characteristics
• Finding the right physics body creation method
• Browsing the complete action catalog
• Configuring SKView, scale modes, or transitions
• Setting up particle emitter properties
• Working with SKRenderer or SKShader

Part 1: Node Hierarchy

All Node Types

Node	Purpose	Batches?	Performance Notes
SKNode	Container, grouping	N/A	Zero rendering cost
SKSpriteNode	Textured sprites	Yes (same atlas)	Primary gameplay node
SKShapeNode	Vector paths	No	1 draw call each — avoid in gameplay
SKLabelNode	Text rendering	No	1 draw call each
SKEmitterNode	Particle systems	N/A	GPU-bound, limit birth rate
SKCameraNode	Viewport control	N/A	Attach HUD as children
SKEffectNode	Core Image filters	No	Expensive — cache with shouldRasterize
SKCropNode	Masking	No	Mask + content = 2+ draw calls
SKTileMapNode	Tile-based maps	Yes (same tileset)	Efficient for large maps
SKVideoNode	Video playback	No	Uses AVPlayer
SK3DNode	SceneKit content	No	Renders SceneKit scene
SKReferenceNode	Reusable .sks files	N/A	Loads archive at runtime
SKLightNode	Per-pixel lighting	N/A	Limits: 8 lights per scene
SKFieldNode	Physics fields	N/A	Gravity, electric, magnetic, etc.
SKAudioNode	Positional audio	N/A	Uses AVAudioEngine
SKTransformNode	3D rotation wrapper	N/A	xRotation, yRotation for perspective

SKSpriteNode Properties

// Creation
SKSpriteNode(imageNamed: "player")           // From asset catalog
SKSpriteNode(texture: texture)                // From SKTexture
SKSpriteNode(texture: texture, size: size)    // Custom size
SKSpriteNode(color: .red, size: CGSize(width: 50, height: 50))  // Solid color

// Key properties
sprite.anchorPoint = CGPoint(x: 0.5, y: 0)   // Bottom-center
sprite.colorBlendFactor = 0.5                  // Tint strength (0-1)
sprite.color = .red                            // Tint color
sprite.normalTexture = normalMap               // For lighting
sprite.lightingBitMask = 0x1                   // Which lights affect this
sprite.shadowCastBitMask = 0x1                 // Which lights cast shadows
sprite.shader = customShader                   // Per-pixel effects

SKLabelNode Properties

let label = SKLabelNode(text: "Score: 0")
label.fontName = "AvenirNext-Bold"
label.fontSize = 24
label.fontColor = .white
label.horizontalAlignmentMode = .left
label.verticalAlignmentMode = .top
label.numberOfLines = 0          // Multi-line (iOS 11+)
label.preferredMaxLayoutWidth = 200
label.lineBreakMode = .byWordWrapping

---

Part 2: Physics API

SKPhysicsBody Creation

// Volume bodies (have mass, respond to forces)
SKPhysicsBody(circleOfRadius: 20)                    // Cheapest
SKPhysicsBody(rectangleOf: CGSize(width: 40, height: 60))
SKPhysicsBody(polygonFrom: path)                     // Convex only
SKPhysicsBody(texture: texture, size: size)          // Pixel-perfect (expensive)
SKPhysicsBody(texture: texture, alphaThreshold: 0.5, size: size)
SKPhysicsBody(bodies: [body1, body2])                // Compound

// Edge bodies (massless boundaries)
SKPhysicsBody(edgeLoopFrom: rect)                    // Rectangle boundary
SKPhysicsBody(edgeLoopFrom: path)                    // Path boundary
SKPhysicsBody(edgeFrom: pointA, to: pointB)          // Single edge
SKPhysicsBody(edgeChainFrom: path)                   // Open path

Physics Body Properties

// Identity
body.categoryBitMask = 0x1          // What this body IS
body.collisionBitMask = 0x2         // What it bounces off
body.contactTestBitMask = 0x4       // What triggers didBegin/didEnd

// Physical characteristics
body.mass = 1.0                     // kg
body.density = 1.0                  // kg/m^2 (auto-calculates mass)
body.friction = 0.2                 // 0.0 (ice) to 1.0 (rubber)
body.restitution = 0.3              // 0.0 (no bounce) to 1.0 (perfect bounce)
body.linearDamping = 0.1            // Air resistance (0 = none)
body.angularDamping = 0.1           // Rotational damping

// Behavior
body.isDynamic = true               // Responds to forces
body.affectedByGravity = true       // Subject to world gravity
body.allowsRotation = true          // Can rotate from physics
body.pinned = false                 // Pinned to parent position
body.usesPreciseCollisionDetection = false  // For fast objects

// Motion (read/write)
body.velocity = CGVector(dx: 100, dy: 0)
body.angularVelocity = 0.0

// Force application
body.applyForce(CGVector(dx: 0, dy: 100))           // Continuous
body.applyImpulse(CGVector(dx: 0, dy: 50))          // Instant
body.applyTorque(0.5)                                 // Continuous rotation
body.applyAngularImpulse(1.0)                         // Instant rotation
body.applyForce(CGVector(dx: 10, dy: 0), at: point)  // Force at point

SKPhysicsWorld

scene.physicsWorld.gravity = CGVector(dx: 0, dy: -9.8)
scene.physicsWorld.speed = 1.0        // 0 = paused, 2 = double speed
scene.physicsWorld.contactDelegate = self

// Ray casting
let body = scene.physicsWorld.body(at: point)
let bodyInRect = scene.physicsWorld.body(in: rect)
scene.physicsWorld.enumerateBodies(alongRayStart: start, end: end) { body, point, normal, stop in
    // Process each body the ray intersects
}

Physics Joints

// Pin joint (pivot)
let pin = SKPhysicsJointPin.joint(
    withBodyA: bodyA, bodyB: bodyB,
    anchor: anchorPoint
)

// Fixed joint (rigid connection)
let fixed = SKPhysicsJointFixed.joint(
    withBodyA: bodyA, bodyB: bodyB,
    anchor: anchorPoint
)

// Spring joint
let spring = SKPhysicsJointSpring.joint(
    withBodyA: bodyA, bodyB: bodyB,
    anchorA: pointA, anchorB: pointB
)
spring.frequency = 1.0    // Oscillations per second
spring.damping = 0.5       // 0 = no damping

// Sliding joint (linear constraint)
let slide = SKPhysicsJointSliding.joint(
    withBodyA: bodyA, bodyB: bodyB,
    anchor: point, axis: CGVector(dx: 1, dy: 0)
)

// Limit joint (distance constraint)
let limit = SKPhysicsJointLimit.joint(
    withBodyA: bodyA, bodyB: bodyB,
    anchorA: pointA, anchorB: pointB
)

// Add joint to world
scene.physicsWorld.add(joint)
// Remove: scene.physicsWorld.remove(joint)

Physics Fields

// Gravity (directional)
let gravity = SKFieldNode.linearGravityField(withVector: vector_float3(0, -9.8, 0))

// Radial gravity (toward/away from point)
let radial = SKFieldNode.radialGravityField()
radial.strength = 5.0

// Electric field (charge-dependent)
let electric = SKFieldNode.electricField()

// Noise field (turbulence)
let noise = SKFieldNode.noiseField(withSmoothness: 0.5, animationSpeed: 1.0)

// Vortex
let vortex = SKFieldNode.vortexField()

// Drag
let drag = SKFieldNode.dragField()

// All fields share:
field.region = SKRegion(radius: 100)     // Area of effect
field.strength = 1.0                      // Intensity
field.falloff = 0.0                       // Distance falloff
field.minimumRadius = 10                  // Inner dead zone
field.isEnabled = true
field.categoryBitMask = 0xFFFFFFFF        // Which bodies affected

---

Part 3: Action Catalog

Movement

SKAction.move(to: point, duration: 1.0)
SKAction.move(by: CGVector(dx: 100, dy: 0), duration: 0.5)
SKAction.moveTo(x: 200, duration: 1.0)
SKAction.moveTo(y: 300, duration: 1.0)
SKAction.moveBy(x: 50, y: 0, duration: 0.5)
SKAction.follow(path, asOffset: true, orientToPath: true, duration: 2.0)

Rotation

SKAction.rotate(byAngle: .pi, duration: 1.0)        // Relative
SKAction.rotate(toAngle: .pi / 2, duration: 0.5)    // Absolute
SKAction.rotate(toAngle: angle, duration: 0.5, shortestUnitArc: true)

Scaling

SKAction.scale(to: 2.0, duration: 0.5)
SKAction.scale(by: 1.5, duration: 0.3)
SKAction.scaleX(to: 2.0, y: 1.0, duration: 0.5)
SKAction.resize(toWidth: 100, height: 50, duration: 0.5)

Fading

SKAction.fadeIn(withDuration: 0.5)
SKAction.fadeOut(withDuration: 0.5)
SKAction.fadeAlpha(to: 0.5, duration: 0.3)
SKAction.fadeAlpha(by: -0.2, duration: 0.3)

Composition

SKAction.sequence([action1, action2, action3])       // Sequential
SKAction.group([action1, action2])                    // Parallel
SKAction.repeat(action, count: 5)                     // Finite repeat
SKAction.repeatForever(action)                         // Infinite
action.reversed()                                      // Reverse
SKAction.wait(forDuration: 1.0)                       // Delay
SKAction.wait(forDuration: 1.0, withRange: 0.5)      // Random delay

Texture & Color

SKAction.setTexture(texture)
SKAction.setTexture(texture, resize: true)
SKAction.animate(with: [tex1, tex2, tex3], timePerFrame: 0.1)
SKAction.animate(with: textures, timePerFrame: 0.1, resize: false, restore: true)
SKAction.colorize(with: .red, colorBlendFactor: 1.0, duration: 0.5)
SKAction.colorize(withColorBlendFactor: 0, duration: 0.5)

Sound

SKAction.playSoundFileNamed("explosion.wav", waitForCompletion: false)

Node Tree

SKAction.removeFromParent()
SKAction.run(block)
SKAction.run(block, queue: .main)
SKAction.customAction(withDuration: 1.0) { node, elapsed in
    // Custom per-frame logic
}

Physics

SKAction.applyForce(CGVector(dx: 0, dy: 100), duration: 0.5)
SKAction.applyImpulse(CGVector(dx: 50, dy: 0), duration: 1.0/60.0)  // ~1 frame
SKAction.applyTorque(0.5, duration: 1.0)
SKAction.changeCharge(to: 1.0, duration: 0.5)
SKAction.changeMass(to: 2.0, duration: 0.5)

Timing Modes

action.timingMode = .linear          // Constant speed
action.timingMode = .easeIn          // Slow → fast
action.timingMode = .easeOut         // Fast → slow
action.timingMode = .easeInEaseOut   // Slow → fast → slow

action.speed = 2.0                   // 2x speed

---

Part 4: Textures and Atlases

SKTexture

// From image
let tex = SKTexture(imageNamed: "player")

// From atlas
let atlas = SKTextureAtlas(named: "Characters")
let tex = atlas.textureNamed("player_run_1")

// Subrectangle (for manual sprite sheets)
let sub = SKTexture(rect: CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 0.25, height: 0.5), in: sheetTexture)

// From CGImage
let tex = SKTexture(cgImage: cgImage)

// Filtering
tex.filteringMode = .nearest    // Pixel art (no smoothing)
tex.filteringMode = .linear     // Smooth scaling (default)

// Preload
SKTexture.preload([tex1, tex2]) { /* Ready */ }

SKTextureAtlas

// Create in Xcode: Assets.xcassets → New Sprite Atlas
// Or .atlas folder in project bundle

let atlas = SKTextureAtlas(named: "Characters")
let textureNames = atlas.textureNames  // All texture names in atlas

// Preload entire atlas
atlas.preload { /* Atlas ready */ }

// Preload multiple atlases
SKTextureAtlas.preloadTextureAtlases([atlas1, atlas2]) { /* All ready */ }

// Animation from atlas
let frames = (1...8).map { atlas.textureNamed("run_\($0)") }
let animate = SKAction.animate(with: frames, timePerFrame: 0.1)

---

Part 5: Constraints

// Orient toward another node
let orient = SKConstraint.orient(to: targetNode, offset: SKRange(constantValue: 0))

// Orient toward a point
let orient = SKConstraint.orient(to: point, offset: SKRange(constantValue: 0))

// Position constraint (keep X in range)
let xRange = SKConstraint.positionX(SKRange(lowerLimit: 0, upperLimit: 400))

// Position constraint (keep Y in range)
let yRange = SKConstraint.positionY(SKRange(lowerLimit: 50, upperLimit: 750))

// Distance constraint (stay within range of node)
let dist = SKConstraint.distance(SKRange(lowerLimit: 50, upperLimit: 200), to: targetNode)

// Rotation constraint
let rot = SKConstraint.zRotation(SKRange(lowerLimit: -.pi/4, upperLimit: .pi/4))

// Apply constraints (processed in order)
node.constraints = [orient, xRange, yRange]

// Toggle
node.constraints?.first?.isEnabled = false

SKRange

SKRange(constantValue: 100)                    // Exactly 100
SKRange(lowerLimit: 50, upperLimit: 200)       // 50...200
SKRange(lowerLimit: 0)                          // >= 0
SKRange(upperLimit: 500)                        // <= 500
SKRange(value: 100, variance: 20)              // 80...120

---

Part 6: Scene Setup

SKView Configuration

let skView = SKView(frame: view.bounds)

// Debug overlays
skView.showsFPS = true
skView.showsNodeCount = true
skView.showsDrawCount = true
skView.showsPhysics = true
skView.showsFields = true
skView.showsQuadCount = true

// Performance
skView.ignoresSiblingOrder = true        // Enables batching optimizations
skView.shouldCullNonVisibleNodes = true  // Auto-hide offscreen (manual is faster)
skView.isAsynchronous = true             // Default: renders asynchronously
skView.allowsTransparency = false        // Opaque is faster

// Frame rate
skView.preferredFramesPerSecond = 60     // Or 120 for ProMotion

// Present scene
skView.presentScene(scene)
skView.presentScene(scene, transition: .fade(withDuration: 0.5))

Scale Mode Matrix

Mode	Aspect Ratio	Content	Best For
.aspectFill	Preserved	Fills view, crops edges	Most games
.aspectFit	Preserved	Fits in view, letterboxes	Exact layout needed
.resizeFill	Distorted	Stretches to fill	Almost never
.fill	Varies	Scene resizes to match view	Adaptive scenes

SKTransition Types

SKTransition.fade(withDuration: 0.5)
SKTransition.fade(with: .black, duration: 0.5)
SKTransition.crossFade(withDuration: 0.5)
SKTransition.flipHorizontal(withDuration: 0.5)
SKTransition.flipVertical(withDuration: 0.5)
SKTransition.reveal(with: .left, duration: 0.5)
SKTransition.moveIn(with: .right, duration: 0.5)
SKTransition.push(with: .up, duration: 0.5)
SKTransition.doorway(withDuration: 0.5)
SKTransition.doorsOpenHorizontal(withDuration: 0.5)
SKTransition.doorsOpenVertical(withDuration: 0.5)
SKTransition.doorsCloseHorizontal(withDuration: 0.5)
SKTransition.doorsCloseVertical(withDuration: 0.5)
// Custom with CIFilter:
SKTransition(ciFilter: filter, duration: 0.5)

---

Part 7: Particles

SKEmitterNode Key Properties

let emitter = SKEmitterNode(fileNamed: "Spark")!

// Emission control
emitter.particleBirthRate = 100          // Particles per second
emitter.numParticlesToEmit = 0           // 0 = infinite
emitter.particleLifetime = 2.0           // Seconds
emitter.particleLifetimeRange = 0.5      // ± random

// Position
emitter.particlePosition = .zero
emitter.particlePositionRange = CGVector(dx: 10, dy: 10)

// Movement
emitter.emissionAngle = .pi / 2         // Direction (radians)
emitter.emissionAngleRange = .pi / 4    // Spread
emitter.particleSpeed = 100              // Points per second
emitter.particleSpeedRange = 50          // ± random
emitter.xAcceleration = 0
emitter.yAcceleration = -100             // Gravity-like

// Appearance
emitter.particleTexture = SKTexture(imageNamed: "spark")
emitter.particleSize = CGSize(width: 8, height: 8)
emitter.particleColor = .white
emitter.particleColorAlphaSpeed = -0.5   // Fade out
emitter.particleBlendMode = .add         // Additive for fire/glow
emitter.particleAlpha = 1.0
emitter.particleAlphaSpeed = -0.5

// Scale
emitter.particleScale = 1.0
emitter.particleScaleRange = 0.5
emitter.particleScaleSpeed = -0.3        // Shrink over time

// Rotation
emitter.particleRotation = 0
emitter.particleRotationSpeed = 2.0

// Target node (for trails)
emitter.targetNode = scene               // Particles stay in world space

// Render order
emitter.particleRenderOrder = .dontCare  // .oldestFirst, .oldestLast, .dontCare

// Physics field interaction
emitter.fieldBitMask = 0x1

Common Particle Presets

Effect	Key Settings
Fire	blendMode: .add, fast alphaSpeed, orange→red color, upward speed
Smoke	blendMode: .alpha, slow speed, gray color, scale up over time
Sparks	blendMode: .add, high speed + range, short lifetime, small size
Rain	Downward emissionAngle, narrow range, long lifetime, thin texture
Snow	Slow downward speed, wide position range, slight x acceleration
Trail	Set targetNode to scene, narrow emission angle, medium lifetime
Explosion	High birth rate, short numParticlesToEmit, high speed range

---

Part 8: SKRenderer and Shaders

SKRenderer (Metal Integration)

import MetalKit

let device = MTLCreateSystemDefaultDevice()!
let renderer = SKRenderer(device: device)
renderer.scene = gameScene
renderer.ignoresSiblingOrder = true

// In Metal render loop:
func draw(in view: MTKView) {
    guard let commandBuffer = commandQueue.makeCommandBuffer(),
          let rpd = view.currentRenderPassDescriptor else { return }

    renderer.update(atTime: CACurrentMediaTime())
    renderer.render(
        withViewport: CGRect(origin: .zero, size: view.drawableSize),
        commandBuffer: commandBuffer,
        renderPassDescriptor: rpd
    )

    commandBuffer.present(view.currentDrawable!)
    commandBuffer.commit()
}

SKShader (Custom GLSL ES Effects)

// Fragment shader for per-pixel effects
let shader = SKShader(source: """
    void main() {
        vec4 color = texture2D(u_texture, v_tex_coord);
        // Desaturate
        float gray = dot(color.rgb, vec3(0.299, 0.587, 0.114));
        gl_FragColor = vec4(vec3(gray), color.a) * v_color_mix.a;
    }
""")

sprite.shader = shader

// With uniforms
let shader = SKShader(source: """
    void main() {
        vec4 color = texture2D(u_texture, v_tex_coord);
        color.rgb *= u_intensity;
        gl_FragColor = color;
    }
""")
shader.uniforms = [
    SKUniform(name: "u_intensity", float: 0.8)
]

// Built-in uniforms:
// u_texture     — sprite texture
// u_time        — elapsed time
// u_path_length — shape node path length
// v_tex_coord   — texture coordinate
// v_color_mix   — color/alpha mix
// SKAttribute for per-node values

Part 7: SwiftUI Integration

SpriteView

import SpriteKit
import SwiftUI

// Basic embedding
struct GameView: View {
    var body: some View {
        SpriteView(scene: makeScene())
            .ignoresSafeArea()
    }

    func makeScene() -> SKScene {
        let scene = GameScene(size: CGSize(width: 1024, height: 768))
        scene.scaleMode = .aspectFill
        return scene
    }
}

// With options
SpriteView(
    scene: scene,
    transition: .fade(withDuration: 0.5),       // Scene transition
    isPaused: false,                              // Pause control
    preferredFramesPerSecond: 60,                 // Frame rate
    options: [.ignoresSiblingOrder, .shouldCullNonVisibleNodes],
    debugOptions: [.showsFPS, .showsNodeCount]    // Debug overlays
)

SpriteView Options

Option	Purpose
.ignoresSiblingOrder	Enable draw order batching optimization
.shouldCullNonVisibleNodes	Auto-hide offscreen nodes
.allowsTransparency	Allow transparent background (slower)

Debug Options

Option	Shows
.showsFPS	Frames per second
.showsNodeCount	Total visible nodes
.showsDrawCount	Draw calls per frame
.showsPhysics	Physics body outlines
.showsFields	Physics field regions
.showsQuadCount	Quad subdivisions

Communicating Between SwiftUI and SpriteKit

// Observable model shared between SwiftUI and scene
@Observable
class GameState {
    var score = 0
    var isPaused = false
    var lives = 3
}

// Scene reads/writes the shared model
class GameScene: SKScene {
    var gameState: GameState?

    override func update(_ currentTime: TimeInterval) {
        guard let state = gameState, !state.isPaused else { return }
        // Game logic updates state.score, state.lives, etc.
    }
}

// SwiftUI view owns the model
struct GameContainerView: View {
    @State private var gameState = GameState()
    @State private var scene: GameScene = {
        let s = GameScene(size: CGSize(width: 1024, height: 768))
        s.scaleMode = .aspectFill
        return s
    }()

    var body: some View {
        VStack {
            Text("Score: \(gameState.score)")
            SpriteView(scene: scene, isPaused: gameState.isPaused)
                .ignoresSafeArea()
        }
        .onAppear { scene.gameState = gameState }
    }
}

Key pattern: Use @Observable model as bridge. Scene mutates it; SwiftUI observes changes. Avoid recreating scenes in view body — use @State to persist the scene instance.

---

Resources

WWDC: 2014-608, 2016-610, 2017-609

Docs: /spritekit/skspritenode, /spritekit/skphysicsbody, /spritekit/skaction, /spritekit/skemitternode, /spritekit/skrenderer

Skills: axiom-spritekit, axiom-spritekit-diag