# SizeOf

> Determines the size, in bytes, of a specified type, including padding for alignment.

## Definition

* **Type:** Method
* **Namespace:** [Unity.Collections.LowLevel.Unsafe](/engine/6000.0/script-reference/unity/collections/lowlevel/unsafe.md)
* **Assembly:** UnityEngine.CoreModule

## SizeOf(Type)

Determines the size, in bytes, of a specified type, including padding for alignment.

```csharp
public static int SizeOf(Type type)
```

### Parameters

**** (\[Type]\(https\://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/system.type)): The type whose byte size is to be determined.

### Returns

| Type                                                       | Description                                                                                                          |
| ---------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [int](https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/system.int32) | The total size in bytes of the specified type, including any alignment padding required for efficient memory access. |

### Remarks

The `SizeOf` method calculates the number of bytes needed to store a single instance of a provided type. This includes any padding necessary for proper memory alignment, which ensures efficient data access and hardware compliance.

Use this method when manually allocating memory or interfacing with lower-level systems in Unity. It is essential for tasks that require precise control over memory use, such as custom data structures or interaction with native plugins.

```csharp
using UnityEngine;
using Unity.Collections.LowLevel.Unsafe;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using Unity.Collections;

public class SizeOfExample : MonoBehaviour
{
    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
    struct ComplexStruct
    {
        public byte SmallValue;
        public double LargeValue;
        public short MediumValue;
    }

    void Start()
    {
        // Calculate and log the size of ComplexStruct
        int structSize = UnsafeUtility.SizeOf<ComplexStruct>();
        Debug.Log($"Size of ComplexStruct: {structSize} bytes");

        // Using SizeOf to allocate memory for an array of ComplexStruct
        unsafe
        {
            void* structBuffer = UnsafeUtility.Malloc(structSize * 5, UnsafeUtility.AlignOf<ComplexStruct>(), Allocator.Temp);

            // Cast the buffer to work with the ComplexStruct type
            ComplexStruct* structArray = (ComplexStruct*)structBuffer;
            for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
            {
                structArray[i].SmallValue = (byte)i;
                structArray[i].LargeValue = i * 2.2;
                structArray[i].MediumValue = (short)(i * 10);
                Debug.Log($"Struct[{i}]: SmallValue = {structArray[i].SmallValue}, LargeValue = {structArray[i].LargeValue}, MediumValue = {structArray[i].MediumValue}");
            }

            // Free the allocated memory
            UnsafeUtility.Free(structBuffer, Allocator.Temp);
        }
    }
}
```

Additional Resources: [UnsafeUtility.MallocTracked](/engine/6000.0/script-reference/unity/collections/lowlevel/unsafe/unsafeutility/malloctracked.md) [UnsafeUtility.AlignOf](/engine/6000.0/script-reference/unity/collections/lowlevel/unsafe/unsafeutility/alignof.md).

## SizeOf\<T>()

Determines the size, in bytes, of a specified type, including padding for alignment.

```csharp
public static int SizeOf<T>() where T : struct
```

### Returns

| Type                                                       | Description                                                                                                          |
| ---------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [int](https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/system.int32) | The total size in bytes of the specified type, including any alignment padding required for efficient memory access. |

### Remarks

The `SizeOf` method calculates the number of bytes needed to store a single instance of a provided type. This includes any padding necessary for proper memory alignment, which ensures efficient data access and hardware compliance.

Use this method when manually allocating memory or interfacing with lower-level systems in Unity. It is essential for tasks that require precise control over memory use, such as custom data structures or interaction with native plugins.

```csharp
using UnityEngine;
using Unity.Collections.LowLevel.Unsafe;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using Unity.Collections;

public class SizeOfExample : MonoBehaviour
{
    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
    struct ComplexStruct
    {
        public byte SmallValue;
        public double LargeValue;
        public short MediumValue;
    }

    void Start()
    {
        // Calculate and log the size of ComplexStruct
        int structSize = UnsafeUtility.SizeOf<ComplexStruct>();
        Debug.Log($"Size of ComplexStruct: {structSize} bytes");

        // Using SizeOf to allocate memory for an array of ComplexStruct
        unsafe
        {
            void* structBuffer = UnsafeUtility.Malloc(structSize * 5, UnsafeUtility.AlignOf<ComplexStruct>(), Allocator.Temp);

            // Cast the buffer to work with the ComplexStruct type
            ComplexStruct* structArray = (ComplexStruct*)structBuffer;
            for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
            {
                structArray[i].SmallValue = (byte)i;
                structArray[i].LargeValue = i * 2.2;
                structArray[i].MediumValue = (short)(i * 10);
                Debug.Log($"Struct[{i}]: SmallValue = {structArray[i].SmallValue}, LargeValue = {structArray[i].LargeValue}, MediumValue = {structArray[i].MediumValue}");
            }

            // Free the allocated memory
            UnsafeUtility.Free(structBuffer, Allocator.Temp);
        }
    }
}
```

Additional Resources: [UnsafeUtility.MallocTracked](/engine/6000.0/script-reference/unity/collections/lowlevel/unsafe/unsafeutility/malloctracked.md) [UnsafeUtility.AlignOf](/engine/6000.0/script-reference/unity/collections/lowlevel/unsafe/unsafeutility/alignof.md).