Actor API

The Actor type is both:

  • an instance class for live actors
  • a static namespace for actor lookup / creation helpers

Instance methods

Identity and hierarchy

Method Description
actor:GetName() Returns the actor name
actor:GetUID() Returns the stable runtime/editor actor UID
actor:SetParent(parent_actor) Reparents the actor in the live runtime world
actor:GetChildCount() Returns the number of direct children
actor:GetChildren() Returns direct children as a Lua array

Component lookup

Method Description
actor:GetComponentByKey(key) Returns the component with that key, or nil
actor:GetComponent(type_name) Returns the first component of that type, or nil
actor:GetComponents(type_name) Returns all components of that type as a Lua array
actor:GetComponentInChildren(type_name) Returns the first matching component on self or descendants
actor:GetComponentsInChildren(type_name) Returns all matching components on self and descendants

Component mutation

Method Description
actor:AddComponent(type_name) Adds a component instance and returns it
actor:RemoveComponent(component_ref) Removes a component instance

Static Actor namespace

Function Description
Actor.Instantiate(template_name) Spawns an actor from a template
Actor.Destroy(actor) Requests destroying the actor at frame end
Actor.Find(name) Returns the first actor with the given name
Actor.FindAll(name) Returns all matching actors as a Lua array

Notes

  • GetChildren() only returns direct children.
  • GetComponentInChildren() and GetComponentsInChildren() include self first, then descendants.
  • Runtime child queries are derived from parent links on demand; there is no separate permanent children tree in the runtime core.