---
name: "SDL_CreateTextureFromSurface"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libsdl3-doc"
version: "3.2.10+ds-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/SDL_CreateTextureFromSurface"
---

# SDL\_CreateTextureFromSurface(3)

Create a texture from an existing surface.

## NAME

SDL\_CreateTextureFromSurface - Create a texture from an existing surface.

## HEADER FILE

Defined in SDL3/SDL\_render.h

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include "SDL3/SDL.h"
```

**SDL\_Texture \* SDL\_CreateTextureFromSurface(SDL\_Renderer \*renderer, SDL\_Surface \*surface);**

## DESCRIPTION

The surface is not modified or freed by this function.

The  **SDL\_TextureAccess**\
  hint for the created texture is

**SDL\_TEXTUREACCESS\_STATIC** .

The pixel format of the created texture may be different from the pixel format of the surface, and can be queried using the

**SDL\_PROP\_TEXTURE\_FORMAT\_NUMBER**\
  property.

## FUNCTION PARAMETERS

- *renderer*

  the rendering context.

- *surface*

  the  **SDL\_Surface**\
    structure containing pixel data used to fill the texture.

## RETURN VALUE

( **SDL\_Texture**\
  \*) Returns the created texture or NULL on failure; call  **SDL\_GetError** () for more information.

## THREAD SAFETY

This function should only be called on the main thread.

## AVAILABILITY

This function is available since SDL 3.2.0.

## SEE ALSO

**•**(3), [**SDL\_CreateTexture**(3)](/SDL_CreateTexture/3.md), **•**(3), [**SDL\_CreateTextureWithProperties**(3)](/SDL_CreateTextureWithProperties/3.md), **•**(3), [**SDL\_DestroyTexture**(3)](/SDL_DestroyTexture/3.md)