The Book of Nodes
If you’ve ever delved into the Godot Documentation, you likely noticed two things: first, there is an abundance of nodes (many of which you might never use), and second, some of these nodes can be quite confusing.
As a beginner Godot developer, understanding the purpose of each node can be confusing. Even as a somewhat seasoned Godot creator, I am still learning about new nodes and methods of doing things to this day. For example, when I first started learning Godot, I used a ColorRect node for all my UI backgrounds. However, this meant that if I wanted a background with a border, I had to use multiple ColorRects to achieve this.
Later on, I discovered the Panel node, which offers a lot more customization, built-in borders, and even rounded corners! Although I still use ColorRects, I now know that there are better nodes (like the Panel node) that I can use to achieve the same result.
That’s why I wanted to create an encyclopedia of sorts, focusing on the most essential nodes to know as a beginner. I also want to give a big thanks to Robert at GameDev Journey for suggesting this idea, as the “Know Your Nodes” concept originally came from him.
Now, to complete this encyclopedia, I’ve decided to organize the content into three distinct categories: 2D, 3D, and UI. Within each category, you’ll find a list of nodes relevant to that section. For each node, I will cover the mechanics that can be implemented using this node, along with basic examples of how this mechanic can be implemented into a project. This ensures that you not only learn about each node’s functionality but also how they can be practically applied during your game development process.
Before we begin, if you need a base project to test these code snippets, feel free to download my FREE 2D and 3D templates here. I’ll be using these templates throughout this post.
*Please note that this list is not 100% complete yet, but I will be updating this list as time goes on.
UPDATE:
Get your copy of My Book of Nodes for Godot 4 in an offline PDF format (and Word for GIF previews) now!
In the offline version, all the categories (2D, 3D, and UI) are combined in a single document. No more waiting for my websites and blogs to load — take the content with you and access it instantly, wherever you are.
Check it out, it’s free. 😊
