# Custom Data module reference > Explore properties in the Custom Data module, to configure custom data formats in the Editor to attach to particles. View and edit the settings you can use to define custom data formats for particles. Use the Custom Data module to define two additional channels (`Custom1` and `Custom2`) of data in the Unity Editor for each particle. You can use custom data to specify additional particle properties to control gameplay effects (for example, the health of a player) or particle appearance in a custom shader (for example, the temperature of a surface). For more information, refer to [Define custom data formats for particles](/engine/6000.0/manual/materials-and-shaders/built-in/shader-built-in-birp/shader-standard-particle-shaders/custom-data-streams-particle-systems/define-custom-data-formats-particles.md). > **Note:** > > If you want to set your custom data from a script, disable the **Custom Data** module. ## Custom Data module properties Each channel in the Custom Data module contains the following settings. | **Property** | **Description** | | ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Mode** | Specifies the format of your custom data. The following options are available:**Disabled:** Disables the Custom Data module.**Vector:** Defines up to four [MinMaxCurve](/engine/6000.0/script-reference/unityengine/particlesystem/minmaxcurve.md) components.**Color:** Defines an HDR-enabled [MinMaxGradient](/engine/6000.0/script-reference/unityengine/particlesystem/minmaxgradient.md) using a fixed color or gradient. | | **Number of Components** | Defines how many components to include in the vector. The minimum value is 1 and the maximum value is 4.This property is available only when **Mode** is **Vector**. | | **X** | Defines how the `x` component of the custom data changes over the particle’s lifetime. This corresponds with the `x` channel in a `Vector4`. For the X component dropdown options, refer to [X, Y, Z, and W component dropdown](#vector-component-dropdown).This property is available only when **Mode** is **Vector** and **Number of Components** is **1** or higher. | | **Y** | Defines how the `y` component of the custom data changes over the particle’s lifetime. This corresponds with the `y` channel in a `Vector4`. For the Y component dropdown options, refer to [X, Y, Z, and W component dropdown](#vector-component-dropdown).This property is available only when **Mode** is **Vector** and **Number of Components** is **2** or higher. | | **Z** | Defines how the `z` component of the custom data changes over the particle’s lifetime. This corresponds with the `z` channel in a `Vector4`. For the Z component dropdown options, refer to [X, Y, Z, and W component dropdown](#vector-component-dropdown).This property is available only when **Mode** is **Vector** and **Number of Components** is **3** or higher. | | **W** | Defines how the `w` component of the custom data changes over the particle’s lifetime. This corresponds with the `w` channel in a `Vector4`. For the W component dropdown options, refer to [X, Y, Z, and W component dropdown](#vector-component-dropdown).This property is available only when **Mode** is **Vector** and **Number of Components** is **4**. | | **Color** | Defines an HDR [color or gradient](/engine/6000.0/manual/working-with-gameobjects/unity-components/inspector-manage-components/inspector-color-picker.md) for the particle. The following options are available:**Color:** Uses a fixed HDR color value.**Gradient:** Applies a color gradient over the particle's lifetime. The color changes from the start to the end of the particle’s life according to the gradient.**Random Between Two Colors:** Uses a random HDR color between two color values.**Random Between Two Gradients:** Applies a random gradient between two color gradients. The color changes from the start to the end of the particle’s life according to the gradient.This property is available only when **Mode** is **Color**. | #### X, Y, Z, and W component dropdown | **Property** | **Description** | | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Constant** | Uses a fixed value throughout the particle’s lifetime. | | **Curve** | Uses a single [curve](/engine/6000.0/manual/animation-section/animation-mecanim/animation-clips/animation-editor-guide/editing-curves.md) to change the value over the particle's lifetime. | | **Random Between Two Constants** | Uses a random fixed value between two constants throughout the particle's lifetime. | | **Random Between Two Curves** | Uses a random [curve](/engine/6000.0/manual/animation-section/animation-mecanim/animation-clips/animation-editor-guide/editing-curves.md) between two curves to change the value over the particle's lifetime. | ## Additional resources * [Define custom data formats for particles](/engine/6000.0/manual/materials-and-shaders/built-in/shader-built-in-birp/shader-standard-particle-shaders/custom-data-streams-particle-systems/define-custom-data-formats-particles.md) * [Particle System custom vertex streams](/engine/6000.0/manual/materials-and-shaders/built-in/shader-built-in-birp/shader-standard-particle-shaders/custom-data-streams-particle-systems/part-sys-vertex-streams.md) * [ParticleSystem-customData API](/engine/6000.0/script-reference/unityengine/particlesystem/customdata.md) * [ParticleSystem.CustomDataModule API](/engine/6000.0/script-reference/unityengine/particlesystem/customdatamodule.md) * [ParticleSystem.SetCustomParticleData API](/engine/6000.0/script-reference/unityengine/particlesystem/setcustomparticledata.md)