# material

> Returns the first instantiated Material assigned to the renderer.

## Definition

* **Type:** Property
* **Namespace:** [UnityEngine](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine.md)
* **Assembly:** UnityEngine.CoreModule

```csharp
public Material material { get; set; }
```

### Remarks

Modifying `material` will change the material for this object only.

If the material is used by any other renderers, this will clone the shared material and start using it from now on.

**Note:**

This function automatically instantiates the materials and makes them unique to this renderer. It is your responsibility to destroy the materials when the game object is being destroyed. [Resources.UnloadUnusedAssets](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/resources/unloadunusedassets.md) also destroys the materials but it is usually only called when loading a new level.

### Examples

```csharp
using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

public class ExampleClass : MonoBehaviour
{
    Material m_Material;

    void Start()
    {
        //Fetch the Material from the Renderer of the GameObject
        m_Material = GetComponent<Renderer>().material;
        print("Materials " + Resources.FindObjectsOfTypeAll(typeof(Material)).Length);
    }

    void Update()
    {
        if (Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.A))
        {
            //Output the amount of materials before GameObject is destroyed
            print("Materials " + Resources.FindObjectsOfTypeAll(typeof(Material)).Length);
            //Destroy GameObject
            Destroy(gameObject);
        }
    }

    void OnMouseOver()
    {
        // Change the Color of the GameObject when the mouse hovers over it
        m_Material.color = Color.red;
    }

    void OnMouseExit()
    {
        //Change the Color back to white when the mouse exits the GameObject
        m_Material.color = Color.white;
    }

    void OnDestroy()
    {
        //Destroy the instance
        Destroy(m_Material);
        //Output the amount of materials to show if the instance was deleted
        print("Materials " + Resources.FindObjectsOfTypeAll(typeof(Material)).Length);
    }
}
```