---
title: rootNode
framework: scenekit
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Property
path: scenekit/scnscene/rootnode
---

# rootNode

The root node of the scene graph.

## Declaration

```swift
var rootNode: SCNNode { get }
```

## Discussion

Discussion All scene content—nodes, geometries and their materials, lights, cameras, and related objects—is organized in a node hierarchy with a single common root node. Some scene files created using external tools may describe node hierarchies containing multiple root nodes. When SceneKit imports such files, their separate root nodes will be made children of a new, unique root node. Each child node’s coordinate system is defined relative to the transformation of its parent node. You should not modify the transform property of the root node.

## See Also

### Accessing Scene Contents

- [background](scenekit/scnscene/background.md)
- [lightingEnvironment](scenekit/scnscene/lightingenvironment.md)