---
title: renderingAPI
framework: scenekit
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Property
path: scenekit/scnscenerenderer/renderingapi
---

# renderingAPI

The graphics technology SceneKit uses to render the scene.

## Declaration

```swift
var renderingAPI: SCNRenderingAPI { get }
```

## Discussion

Discussion You choose a graphics technology when initializing a scene renderer: When initializing a SCNView object, use the init(frame:options:) initializer and the preferredRenderingAPI key. Alternatively, create a view in Interface Builder and use the Rendering API control in the inspector. During initialization, the view will attempt to use the preferred API, but will fall back to a different API if the preferred one is not supported on the current hardware. To create a SCNRenderer object that renders into your own OpenGL contect, use the init(context:options:) initializer. To create a renderer for use in your own Metal workflow, use the init(device:options:) initializer. The rendering technology used by a SCNLayer object is determined by Core Animation. After initializing a renderer, this property reflects the rendering technology in use.

## See Also

### Managing Scene Display

- [pointOfView](scenekit/scnscenerenderer/pointofview.md)
- [autoenablesDefaultLighting](scenekit/scnscenerenderer/autoenablesdefaultlighting.md)
- [isJitteringEnabled](scenekit/scnscenerenderer/isjitteringenabled.md)
- [showsStatistics](scenekit/scnscenerenderer/showsstatistics.md)
- [debugOptions](scenekit/scnscenerenderer/debugoptions.md)
- [SCNDebugOptions](scenekit/scndebugoptions.md)
- [SCNRenderingAPI](scenekit/scnrenderingapi.md)