---
title: USDPrim.Reference
framework: usdkit
role: symbol
role_heading: Structure
path: usdkit/usdprim/reference
---

# USDPrim.Reference

A reference to an external layer or asset.

## Declaration

```swift
struct Reference
```

## Overview

Overview References are composition arcs that bring content from another layer into this prim. A reference specifies the asset path, an optional target prim path within that asset, a time offset for remapping animation, and arbitrary custom metadata.

## Topics

### Initializers

- [init(assetPath:primPath:layerOffset:customData:)](usdkit/usdprim/reference/init(assetpath:primpath:layeroffset:customdata:).md)

### Instance Properties

- [assetPath](usdkit/usdprim/reference/assetpath.md)
- [customData](usdkit/usdprim/reference/customdata.md)
- [isInternal](usdkit/usdprim/reference/isinternal.md)
- [layerOffset](usdkit/usdprim/reference/layeroffset.md)
- [primPath](usdkit/usdprim/reference/primpath.md)

### Instance Methods

- [setCustomData(_:to:)](usdkit/usdprim/reference/setcustomdata(_:to:).md)

## Relationships

### Conforms To

- [Copyable](swift/copyable.md)
- [Equatable](swift/equatable.md)
- [Escapable](swift/escapable.md)
- [Hashable](swift/hashable.md)
- [Sendable](swift/sendable.md)
- [SendableMetatype](swift/sendablemetatype.md)

## See Also

### Composing references and payloads

- [references](usdkit/usdprim/references.md)
- [USDPrim.ReferenceCollection](usdkit/usdprim/referencecollection.md)
- [USDPrim.Payload](usdkit/usdprim/payload.md)
- [USDPrim.ListPosition](usdkit/usdprim/listposition.md)