# defaultRenderPipeline

> The RenderPipelineAsset that defines the default render pipeline.

## Definition

* **Type:** Property
* **Namespace:** [UnityEngine.Rendering](/engine/6000.3/script-reference/unityengine/rendering.md)
* **Assembly:** UnityEngine.CoreModule

```csharp
public static RenderPipelineAsset defaultRenderPipeline { get; set; }
```

### Remarks

If this value is `null`, the default render pipeline is the Built-in Render Pipeline. Otherwise, the default render pipeline is the [RenderPipeline](/engine/6000.3/script-reference/unityengine/rendering/renderpipeline.md) defined in this [RenderPipelineAsset](/engine/6000.3/script-reference/unityengine/rendering/renderpipelineasset.md).

Unity uses this value and the override value in [QualitySettings.renderPipeline](/engine/6000.3/script-reference/unityengine/qualitysettings/renderpipeline.md) to determine the active render pipeline for the current quality level. For more information, see [GraphicsSettings.currentRenderPipeline](/engine/6000.3/script-reference/unityengine/rendering/graphicssettings/currentrenderpipeline.md).

In the Unity Editor, this property corresponds to the **Render Pipeline Setting** field in the **Graphics Settings** window.

```csharp
using UnityEngine;
using UnityEngine.Rendering;

public class ActiveRenderPipelineExample : MonoBehaviour
{
    // In the Inspector, assign a Render Pipeline Asset to each of these fields
    public RenderPipelineAsset defaultRenderPipelineAsset;
    public RenderPipelineAsset overrideRenderPipelineAsset;

    void Start()
    {
        GraphicsSettings.defaultRenderPipeline = defaultRenderPipelineAsset;
        QualitySettings.renderPipeline = overrideRenderPipelineAsset;

        DisplayCurrentRenderPipeline();
    }

    void Update()
    {
        // When the user presses the left shift key, switch the default render pipeline
        if (Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.LeftShift))
        {
            SwitchDefaultRenderPipeline();
            DisplayCurrentRenderPipeline();
        }
        // When the user presses the right shift key, switch the override render pipeline
        else if (Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.RightShift))
        {
            SwitchOverrideRenderPipeline();
            DisplayCurrentRenderPipeline();
        }
    }

    // Switch the default render pipeline between null,
    // and the render pipeline defined in defaultRenderPipelineAsset
    void SwitchDefaultRenderPipeline()
    {
        if (GraphicsSettings.defaultRenderPipeline == defaultRenderPipelineAsset)
        {
            GraphicsSettings.defaultRenderPipeline = null;
        }
        else
        {
            GraphicsSettings.defaultRenderPipeline = defaultRenderPipelineAsset;
        }
    }

    // Switch the override render pipeline between null,
    // and the render pipeline defined in overrideRenderPipelineAsset
    void SwitchOverrideRenderPipeline()
    {
        if (QualitySettings.renderPipeline == overrideRenderPipelineAsset)
        {
            QualitySettings.renderPipeline = null;
        }
        else
        {
            QualitySettings.renderPipeline = overrideRenderPipelineAsset;
        }
    }

    // Print the current render pipeline information to the console
    void DisplayCurrentRenderPipeline()
    {
        // GraphicsSettings.defaultRenderPipeline determines the default render pipeline
        // If it is null, the default is the Built-in Render Pipeline
        if (GraphicsSettings.defaultRenderPipeline != null)
        {
            Debug.Log("The default render pipeline is defined by " + GraphicsSettings.defaultRenderPipeline.name);
        }
        else
        {
            Debug.Log("The default render pipeline is the Built-in Render Pipeline");
        }

        // QualitySettings.renderPipeline determines the override render pipeline for the current quality level
        // If it is null, no override exists for the current quality level
        if (QualitySettings.renderPipeline != null)
        {
            Debug.Log("The override render pipeline for the current quality level is defined by " + QualitySettings.renderPipeline.name);
        }
        else
        {
            Debug.Log("No override render pipeline exists for the current quality level");
        }

        // If an override render pipeline is defined, Unity uses that
        // Otherwise, it falls back to the default value
        if (QualitySettings.renderPipeline != null)
        {
            Debug.Log("The active render pipeline is the override render pipeline");
        }
        else
        {
            Debug.Log("The active render pipeline is the default render pipeline");
        }

        // To get a reference to the Render Pipeline Asset that defines the active render pipeline,
        // without knowing if it is the default or an override, use GraphicsSettings.currentRenderPipeline
        if (GraphicsSettings.currentRenderPipeline != null)
        {
            Debug.Log("The active render pipeline is defined by " + GraphicsSettings.currentRenderPipeline.name);
        }
        else
        {
            Debug.Log("The active render pipeline is the Built-in Render Pipeline");
        }
    }
}
```

Additional Resources: [How to get, set, and configure the active render pipeline](/engine/6000.3/manual/render-pipelines/choose-a-render-pipeline/srp-setting-render-pipeline-asset.md), [GraphicsSettings.currentRenderPipeline](/engine/6000.3/script-reference/unityengine/rendering/graphicssettings/currentrenderpipeline.md), [QualitySettings.renderPipeline](/engine/6000.3/script-reference/unityengine/qualitysettings/renderpipeline.md), [RenderPipelineManager.activeRenderPipelineTypeChanged](/engine/6000.3/script-reference/unityengine/rendering/renderpipelinemanager/activerenderpipelinetypechanged.md)