View source for Entity (Source 2)

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An object defined within {{gldsrc|4}}, {{src|4}} or {{source2|4}} as having characteristics which differentiate it from "the [[worldspawn|world]]" (world brushes).

== Types of entities ==
{{note|These types are only from perspective of map editors and are based on [[FGD]] definitions or how map compilers deal with them {{confirm}}}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
|-
!Types
!available in
!Info
|-
! colspan="3" | By Form
|-
|align="center"|[[Brush entity]]
|align="center"|{{src|4}} and earlier
|A '''Brush Entity''' is an '''entity''' type in the {{gldsrc|2}} and {{source|2}} engines, created by ''tying'' an entity to a BSP geometry [[brush]] in the map, giving the brush a specific effect or ability defined by the entity ''tied'' to it.<br>(The default shortcut is {{Key|Ctrl}} + {{Key|T}} after selecting a brush)
|-
|align="center"|[[Point entity]]
|align="center"|All engines
|'''Point Entities''' are '''entities''' created at a specific position point on the [[coordinates|grid]]. Some require a model to be selected for them in order to function fully.
|-
|align="center"|[[Mesh entity]]
|rowspan="2" align="center"|Only in {{source2|4}}
|'''Mesh entities''' available only in {{source2|2}}.<br>'''Mesh entities''' replace the {{source|2}} [[brush entity|brush entities]]. Since {{Source2|2}} no longer uses [[BSP]] [[brushes]], '''entities''' that need to be associated with geometry are now tied to Hammer meshes instead.
|-
|align="center"|[[Path entity]]
|'''Path entities''' are a type of entity recently added to the tools. They can be created with the currently hidden Path Tool (Shift + P).
|-
! colspan="3" | By Internality
|-
|align="center"|[[Internal entity]]
|rowspan="2" align="center"| In all Engines
|'''Internal entities''' are those which are processed by [[VBSP]] ({{gldsrc}} [[HLBSP]], or {{src2}} [[resourcecompiler]]) then either deleted or merged into another entity. They do not exist when the map is running, so they won't count to the [[entity limit]].<br>Internal entities get special treatment by the map compile tools and are removed from the final product, usually stored in a special chunk.
|-
|align="center"|[[:Category:Non-internal entity|Non-Internal entity]]
|'''non-internal entities''' are not processed by [[VBSP]] ({{gldsrc}} [[HLBSP]], or {{src2}} [[resourcecompiler]]) and remains as a separate entity.<br>These are typically interactive objects or characters that the player can interact with or that affect gameplay.<br>Examples of non-internal entities: {{ent|prop_dynamic}}, {{ent|logic_relay}}, {{ent|light}}, {{ent|npc_citizen}}.
|}

== Limitations ==
{{Main|Entity limit}}
For reasons of memory allocation, there is a limit to the number of '''entities''' {{gldsrc|4}}/{{source|4}}/{{source2|4}} can manage at once. 

The combined size (in bytes) of a map's entity data should also be considered, even if the number of entities is within safe limits. Large amounts of [[Source BSP File Format#Entity|entdata]] can take a noticeably long time to transmit from server to client, and may lead to crashes.

== See also ==
* [[:Category:Entities]]
* [[Adding Point Entities]] (part of a series of tutorials)
* [[Creating Brush Entities]] (ditto)
* [[Entity creation]] (a quick reference)
* [[Entities in Depth]]
* [[List of Entities]]
* Coding [[Your First Entity]]
* Console command {{ent|dump_entity_sizes}}
* [[Constraint]]
* [[S_PreserveEnts|preserved entity]]
* [[Void]]

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[[Category:Source]]
[[Category:Source 2]]