GPUBuffer: usage property

Experimental: This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

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The usage read-only property of the GPUBuffer interface contains the bitwise flags representing the allowed usages of the GPUBuffer.

usage is set via the usage property in the descriptor object passed into the originating GPUDevice.createBuffer() call.

Value

The bitwise flags representing the original usages set when the GPUBuffer was first created. The returned number is the sum of decimal values representing the different flags, as seen in the table below.

Bitwise flag Usage description Hex equiv. Decimal equiv.
GPUBufferUsage.COPY_SRC The buffer can be used as the source of a copy operation, for example the source argument of a copyBufferToBuffer() call. 0x0004 4
GPUBufferUsage.COPY_DST The buffer can be used as the destination of a copy/write operation, for example the destination argument of a copyTextureToBuffer() call. 0x0008 8
GPUBufferUsage.INDEX The buffer can be used as an index buffer, for example as the buffer argument passed to setIndexBuffer(). 0x0010 16
GPUBufferUsage.INDIRECT The buffer can be used to store indirect command arguments, for example as the indirectBuffer argument of a drawIndirect() or dispatchWorkgroupsIndirect() call. 0x0100 256
GPUBufferUsage.MAP_READ The buffer can be mapped for reading, for example when calling mapAsync() with a mode of GPUMapMode.READ. This flag may only be combined with GPUBufferUsage.COPY_DST. 0x0001 1
GPUBufferUsage.MAP_WRITE The buffer can be mapped for writing, for example when calling mapAsync() with a mode of GPUMapMode.WRITE. This flag may only be combined with GPUBufferUsage.COPY_SRC. 0x0002 2
GPUBufferUsage.QUERY_RESOLVE The buffer can be used to capture query results, for example as the destination argument of a resolveQuerySet() call. 0x0200 512
GPUBufferUsage.STORAGE The buffer can be used as a storage buffer, for example as a resource in a bind group entry when creating a GPUBindGroup (via createBindGroup()), which adheres to a GPUBindGroupLayout entry with a buffer binding layout type of "storage" or "read-only-storage". 0x0080 128
GPUBufferUsage.UNIFORM The buffer can be used as a uniform buffer, for example as a resource in a bind group entry when creating a GPUBindGroup (via createBindGroup()), which adheres to a GPUBindGroupLayout entry with a buffer binding layout type of "uniform". 0x0040 64
GPUBufferUsage.VERTEX The buffer can be used as a vertex buffer, for example as the buffer argument passed to setVertexBuffer(). 0x0020 32

Examples

js
const output = device.createBuffer({
  size: BUFFER_SIZE,
  usage: GPUBufferUsage.STORAGE | GPUBufferUsage.COPY_SRC,
});

console.log(output.usage); // 132

const stagingBuffer = device.createBuffer({
  size: BUFFER_SIZE,
  usage: GPUBufferUsage.MAP_READ | GPUBufferUsage.COPY_DST,
});

console.log(stagingBuffer.usage); // 9

Specifications

Specification
WebGPU
# dom-gpubuffer-usage

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also