Unity Coordinates : World Space vs. Object Space Simplified!

Part 1: Making Sense of Unity’s Big Picture – World Space

Okay, so Unity has this grand coordinate system called World Space. Imagine it as the giant map that covers your entire game. Everything, and I mean everything, happens in relation to this global map.

1. World Space Coordinates ExplainedThink of World Space as a huge grid where the X-axis goes right, the Y-axis goes up, and the Z-axis goes forward. Every object in your game gets its position and rotation based on this global grid.
2. Messing with Objects in World SpaceWhen you tweak an object’s position, rotation, or size, you’re doing it in relation to World Space. It’s like saying, “Hey, move a bit to the right, spin around, and be this big,” and Unity makes it happen on the grand stage.
3. Global Stuff and World SpaceAnything that involves the entire game scene operates in World Space. So, if you’re dealing with variables or calculations that span the whole game world, you’re playing in the World Space sandbox.
4. Physics in the Grand SchemeUnity’s physics engine is like a wizard that follows the laws of physics on this grand scale. Objects bump, roll, and collide based on their positions and rotations in this big World Space dance.
5. Cameras Playing in the Big LeagueCameras are like the directors of your game, deciding what the players see. Their positions and angles are all defined in World Space, crafting the perfect view for your players.

Part 2: Diving into the Nitty-Gritty – Object Space

Now, Object Space is like each object’s own little world. It’s where an object defines its own position, rotation, and size, thinking it’s the center of the universe.

1. Objects Talking Local CoordinatesEvery object has its personal coordinate system. Move it a bit, rotate, or change its size – all this happens in its own Local Space, as if it has its tiny coordinate system.
2. Transforms: The Object’s DiaryThe Transform component of an object keeps a diary of its life – position, rotation, and size – all in its Object Space. Tweak these, and you’re directly messing with how the object behaves and looks in its world.
3. Parent-Child Drama in Object SpaceObjects can have parent-child relationships. When a parent moves, the child goes along for the ride. It’s like a family, and their positions and rotations are all relative to each other in their little Object Space family album.
4. Objects Chit-Chatting in Their SpaceWhen objects interact, they often talk in their own language – converting positions and rotations between their respective Object Spaces. It’s like making sure they understand each other’s personal coordinates.
5. Local Stuff and Object SpaceVariables specific to one object’s characteristics and behaviors are like secrets kept in its Object Space. It’s where an object defines what makes it unique in the grand World Space party.

By playing with both World Space and Object Space in Unity, you’re basically becoming the master puppeteer, pulling the strings to create awesome, immersive games. It’s like having your own universe, where every object dances to your game development tunes within Unity’s wild playground.
In some simple points lets figure out the differences between World space and Object space:

World Space: The Big Picture

• What it is: Imagine your game is a big neighborhood. World Space is like the entire neighborhood map.
• How things work: Every house (object) in the neighborhood has its address (position) on this map. When you tell a house to move or rotate, it’s in reference to this big neighborhood map.
• Global Playground: Anything that involves the whole neighborhood, like the weather (global variables), happens in World Space. Physics, like cars crashing, follows the rules of the neighborhood (Unity’s physics engine).
• Director’s Chair: Cameras (your game’s cameras) decide what everyone sees on the big neighborhood screen. Their positions and angles are set according to this grand neighborhood map.

Object Space: Each House’s Little World

• What it is: Now, zoom into one house in the neighborhood. Object Space is like that house’s personal space.
• How things work: Inside the house, furniture (objects) has its own place (local coordinates). When you move a sofa, it’s based on where it thinks the center of the room is, not the whole neighborhood.
• Family Album: The Transform component is like a diary for each piece of furniture (object). It notes down where it is, which way it’s facing, and how big it is – all in relation to its own little space.
• Family Ties: Objects can have family relationships (parent-child connections). If the parent moves, the child moves with it. It’s like the kid’s position is based on where their parent is in their house.
• Personal Stuff: Anything specific to that one piece of furniture, like its favorite color (local variables), is kept in its own little space. It doesn’t care about the neighborhood; it just wants to be unique in its house.

In a nutshell, World Space is like the big map of your entire game neighborhood, where everything is positioned in relation to that map. Object Space is like each individual house’s interior, where things are arranged based on that house’s own rules and measurements. They work together to create the grand stage and the unique personalities within your game.