---
title: alpha
framework: spritekit
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Property
path: spritekit/sknode/alpha
---

# alpha

The transparency value applied to the node’s contents.

## Declaration

```swift
var alpha: CGFloat { get set }
```

## Mentioned in

About Node Property Propagation Controlling User Interaction on Nodes Getting Started with Nodes

## Discussion

Discussion The default value is 1.0. The SKNode class does not perform drawing, but many of its subclasses do. When a node or any of its descendants are drawn, the alpha component of each pixel is multiplied by the node’s alpha property and then clamped to the range 0.0-1.0. This modified alpha value is used to blend the pixel into the framebuffer. Subclasses that render content define properties that determine the blending operations used in conjunction with the alpha value to blend pixels into the parent’s framebuffer.

## See Also

### Altering Node Visibility

- [isHidden](spritekit/sknode/ishidden.md)