Using Area2D

Introduction

Godot offers a number of collision objects to provide both collision detection and response. Trying to decide which one to use for your project can be confusing. You can avoid problems and simplify development if you understand how each of them works and what their pros and cons are. In this tutorial, we’ll look at the Area2D node and show some examples of how it can be used.

Note

This document assumes you’re familiar with Godot’s various physics bodies. Please read Physics introduction first.

What is an area?

An Area2D defines a region of 2D space. In this space you can detect other CollisionObject2D nodes overlapping, entering, and exiting. Areas also allow for overriding local physics properties. We’ll explore each of these functions below.

Area properties

Areas have many properties you can use to customize their behavior.

The Gravity, Linear Damp, and Angular Damp sections are used to configure the area’s physics override behavior. We’ll look at how to use those in the Area influence section below.

Monitoring and Monitorable are used to enable and disable the area.

The Audio Bus section allows you to override audio in the area, for example to apply an audio effect when the player moves through.

Note that Area2D extends CollisionObject2D, so it also provides properties inherited from that class. The Collision section of CollisionObject2D is where you configure the area’s collision layer(s) and mask(s).

Overlap detection

Perhaps the most common use of Area2D nodes is for contact and overlap detection. When you need to know that two objects have touched, but don’t need physical collision, you can use an area to notify you of the contact.

For example, let’s say we’re making a coin for the player to pick up. The coin is not a solid object - the player can’t stand on it or push it - we just want it to disappear when the player touches it.

Here’s the node setup for the coin:

To detect the overlap, we’ll connect the appropriate signal on the Area2D. Which signal to use depends on the player’s node type. If the player is another area, use area_entered. However, let’s assume our player is a CharacterBody2D (and therefore a CollisionObject2D type), so we’ll connect the body_entered signal.

Note

If you’re not familiar with using signals, see Using signals for an introduction.

GDScriptC#

extends Area2D
func _on_coin_body_entered(body):
    queue_free()

using Godot;
public partial class Coin : Area2D
{
    private void OnCoinBodyEntered(PhysicsBody2D body)
    {
        QueueFree();
    }
}

Now our player can collect the coins!

Some other usage examples:

• Areas are great for bullets and other projectiles that hit and deal damage, but don’t need any other physics such as bouncing.

• Use a large circular area around an enemy to define its “detect” radius. When the player is outside the area, the enemy can’t “see” it.

• “Security cameras” - In a large level with multiple cameras, attach areas to each camera and activate them when the player enters.

See the Your first 2D game for an example of using Area2D in a game.

Area influence

The second major use for area nodes is to alter physics. By default, the area won’t do this, but you can enable this with the Space Override property. When areas overlap, they are processed in Priority order (higher priority areas are processed first). There are four options for override:

• Combine - The area adds its values to what has been calculated so far.

• Replace - The area replaces physics properties, and lower priority areas are ignored.

• Combine-Replace - The area adds its gravity/damping values to whatever has been calculated so far (in priority order), ignoring any lower priority areas.

• Replace-Combine - The area replaces any gravity/damping calculated so far, but keeps calculating the rest of the areas.

Using these properties, you can create very complex behavior with multiple overlapping areas.

The physics properties that can be overridden are:

• Gravity - Gravity’s strength inside the area.

• Gravity Direction - This vector does not need to be normalized.

• Linear Damp - How quickly objects stop moving - linear velocity lost per second.

• Angular Damp - How quickly objects stop spinning - angular velocity lost per second.

Point gravity

The Gravity Point property allows you to create an “attractor”. Gravity in the area will be calculated towards a point, given by the Point Center property. Values are relative to the Area2D, so for example using (0, 0) will attract objects to the center of the area.

Examples

The example project attached below has three areas demonstrating physics override.

You can download this project here: area_2d_starter.zip

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