---
name: "SoEnvironment"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "coin"
version: "1:4.0.10-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/SoEnvironment"
---

# SoEnvironment(3)

The SoEnvironment class is a node for specifying global rendering parameters.

## NAME

SoEnvironment - The **SoEnvironment** class is a node for specifying global rendering parameters.

## SYNOPSIS

\#include \<Inventor/nodes/SoEnvironment.h\>

Inherits **SoNode**.

### Public Types

enum **FogType** { **NONE** = SoEnvironmentElement::NONE, **HAZE** = SoEnvironmentElement::HAZE, **FOG** = SoEnvironmentElement::FOG, **SMOKE** = SoEnvironmentElement::SMOKE }\

Public Types inherited from **SoNode** enum **NodeType** { **INVENTOR** = 0x0000, **VRML1** = 0x0001, **VRML2** = 0x0002, **INVENTOR\_1** = 0x0004, **INVENTOR\_2\_0** = 0x0008, **INVENTOR\_2\_1** = 0x0010, **INVENTOR\_2\_5** = 0x0020, **INVENTOR\_2\_6** = 0x0040, **COIN\_1\_0** = 0x0080, **COIN\_2\_0** = 0x0100, **EXTENSION** = 0x0200, **COIN\_2\_2** = 0x0400, **COIN\_2\_3** = 0x0800, **COIN\_2\_4** = 0x1000, **INVENTOR\_5\_0** = 0x2000, **COIN\_2\_5** = 0x4000, **COIN\_3\_0** = 0x8000, **INVENTOR\_6\_0** = 0x10000, **COIN\_4\_0** = 0x20000 }\

### Public Member Functions

virtual **SoType** **getTypeId** (void) const\
 **SoEnvironment** (void)\
 virtual void **GLRender** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **callback** (**SoCallbackAction** \*action)\

Public Member Functions inherited from **SoNode** void **setOverride** (const SbBool state)\
 SbBool **isOverride** (void) const\
 void **setNodeType** (const **NodeType** type)\
 **NodeType** **getNodeType** (void) const\
 virtual **SoNode** \* **copy** (SbBool copyconnections=FALSE) const\
 virtual SbBool **affectsState** (void) const\
 virtual void **doAction** (**SoAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **GLRenderBelowPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **GLRenderInPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **GLRenderOffPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **getBoundingBox** (**SoGetBoundingBoxAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **getMatrix** (**SoGetMatrixAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **handleEvent** (**SoHandleEventAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **pick** (**SoPickAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **rayPick** (**SoRayPickAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **search** (**SoSearchAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **write** (**SoWriteAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **audioRender** (**SoAudioRenderAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **getPrimitiveCount** (**SoGetPrimitiveCountAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **grabEventsSetup** (void)\
 virtual void **grabEventsCleanup** (void)\
 virtual void **startNotify** (void)\
 virtual void **notify** (**SoNotList** \*l)\
 SbUniqueId **getNodeId** (void) const\
 virtual **SoChildList** \* **getChildren** (void) const\
 virtual void **writeInstance** (**SoOutput** \*out)\
 virtual **SoNode** \* **addToCopyDict** (void) const\
 virtual void **copyContents** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*from, SbBool copyconnections)\
 virtual **SoFieldContainer** \* **copyThroughConnection** (void) const\

Public Member Functions inherited from **SoFieldContainer** void **setToDefaults** (void)\
 SbBool **hasDefaultValues** (void) const\
 SbBool **fieldsAreEqual** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*container) const\
 void **copyFieldValues** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*container, SbBool copyconnections=FALSE)\
 SbBool **set** (const char \*const fielddata)\
 void **get** (**SbString** &fielddata)\
 virtual int **getFields** (**SoFieldList** &l) const\
 virtual int **getAllFields** (**SoFieldList** &l) const\
 virtual **SoField** \* **getField** (const **SbName** &name) const\
 virtual **SoField** \* **getEventIn** (const **SbName** &name) const\
 virtual **SoField** \* **getEventOut** (const **SbName** &name) const\
 SbBool **getFieldName** (const **SoField** \*const field, **SbName** &name) const\
 SbBool **enableNotify** (const SbBool flag)\
 SbBool **isNotifyEnabled** (void) const\
 SbBool **set** (const char \*fielddata, **SoInput** \*input)\
 void **get** (**SbString** &fielddata, **SoOutput** \*out)\
 virtual SbBool **validateNewFieldValue** (**SoField** \*field, void \*newval)\
 virtual void **addWriteReference** (**SoOutput** \*out, SbBool isfromfield=FALSE)\
 SbBool **getIsBuiltIn** (void) const\
 virtual void **getFieldsMemorySize** (size\_t &managed, size\_t &unmanaged) const\
 void **setUserData** (void \*userdata) const\
 void \* **getUserData** (void) const\

Public Member Functions inherited from **SoBase** void **ref** (void) const\
 void **unref** (void) const\
 void **unrefNoDelete** (void) const\
 int32\_t **getRefCount** (void) const\
 void **touch** (void)\
 SbBool **isOfType** (**SoType** type) const\
 Returns TRUE if the type of this object is either of the same type or inherited from *type*.  virtual **SbName** **getName** (void) const\
 virtual void **setName** (const **SbName** &newname)\
 void **addAuditor** (void \*const auditor, const **SoNotRec::Type** type)\
 void **removeAuditor** (void \*const auditor, const **SoNotRec::Type** type)\
 const **SoAuditorList** & **getAuditors** (void) const\
 SbBool **shouldWrite** (void)\
 void **assertAlive** (void) const\

### Static Public Member Functions

static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\
 static void **initClass** (void)\
 Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system.

Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoNode** static uint32\_t **getCompatibilityTypes** (const **SoType** &nodetype)\
 static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\
 static **SoNode** \* **getByName** (const **SbName** &name)\
 static int **getByName** (const **SbName** &name, **SoNodeList** &l)\
 static void **initClass** (void)\
 Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system.     static void **initClasses** (void)\
 static SbUniqueId **getNextNodeId** (void)\
 static int **getActionMethodIndex** (const **SoType** type)\
 static void **getBoundingBoxS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **GLRenderS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **callbackS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **getMatrixS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **handleEventS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **pickS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **rayPickS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **searchS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **writeS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **audioRenderS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **getPrimitiveCountS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\

Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoFieldContainer** static void **initClass** (void)\
 Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system.     static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\
 This static method returns the **SoType** object associated with objects of this class.     static void **cleanupClass** (void)\
 static void **initCopyDict** (void)\
 static void **addCopy** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*orig, const **SoFieldContainer** \*copy)\
 static **SoFieldContainer** \* **checkCopy** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*orig)\
 static **SoFieldContainer** \* **findCopy** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*orig, const SbBool copyconnections)\
 static void **copyDone** (void)\

Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoBase** static void **initClass** (void)\
 Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system.  static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\
 This static method returns the **SoType** object associated with objects of this class.  static void **addName** (**SoBase** \*const base, const char \*const name)\
 static void **removeName** (**SoBase** \*const base, const char \*const name)\
 static void **incrementCurrentWriteCounter** (void)\
 static void **decrementCurrentWriteCounter** (void)\
 static **SoBase** \* **getNamedBase** (const **SbName** &name, **SoType** type)\
 static int **getNamedBases** (const **SbName** &name, **SoBaseList** &baselist, **SoType** type)\
 static SbBool **read** (**SoInput** \*input, **SoBase** \*&base, **SoType** expectedtype)\
 static void **setInstancePrefix** (const **SbString** &c)\
 static void **setTraceRefs** (SbBool trace)\
 static SbBool **getTraceRefs** (void)\
 static SbBool **connectRoute** (**SoInput** \*input, const **SbName** &fromnodename, const **SbName** &fromfieldname, const **SbName** &tonodename, const **SbName** &tofieldname)\
 static SbBool **readRoute** (**SoInput** \*input)\

### Public Attributes

**SoSFFloat** **ambientIntensity**\
 **SoSFColor** **ambientColor**\
 **SoSFVec3f** **attenuation**\
 **SoSFEnum** **fogType**\
 **SoSFColor** **fogColor**\
 **SoSFFloat** **fogVisibility**\

### Protected Member Functions

virtual const **SoFieldData** \* **getFieldData** (void) const\
 virtual **~SoEnvironment** ()\

Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoNode** **SoNode** (void)\
 virtual **~SoNode** ()\
 virtual SbBool **readInstance** (**SoInput** \*in, unsigned short flags)\

Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoFieldContainer** **SoFieldContainer** (void)\
 virtual **~SoFieldContainer** ()\

Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoBase** **SoBase** (void)\
 virtual **~SoBase** ()\
 virtual void **destroy** (void)\
 SbBool **hasMultipleWriteRefs** (void) const\
 SbBool **writeHeader** (**SoOutput** \*out, SbBool isgroup, SbBool isengine) const\
 void **writeFooter** (**SoOutput** \*out) const\
 virtual const char \* **getFileFormatName** (void) const\
 virtual **SoNotRec** **createNotRec** (void)\

### Static Protected Member Functions

static const **SoFieldData** \*\* **getFieldDataPtr** (void)\

Static Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoNode** static const **SoFieldData** \*\* **getFieldDataPtr** (void)\
 static void **setNextActionMethodIndex** (int index)\
 static int **getNextActionMethodIndex** (void)\
 static void **incNextActionMethodIndex** (void)\
 static void **setCompatibilityTypes** (const **SoType** &nodetype, const uint32\_t bitmask)\

Static Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoBase** static uint32\_t **getCurrentWriteCounter** (void)\
 static void **staticDataLock** (void)\
 static void **staticDataUnlock** (void)\

### Additional Inherited Members

Protected Types inherited from **SoBase** enum **BaseFlags** { **IS\_ENGINE** = 0x01, **IS\_GROUP** = 0x02 }\

Protected Attributes inherited from **SoNode** SbUniqueId **uniqueId**\

Protected Attributes inherited from **SoFieldContainer** SbBool **isBuiltIn**\

Static Protected Attributes inherited from **SoNode** static SbUniqueId **nextUniqueId** = 1\
 static int **nextActionMethodIndex** = 0\

## Detailed Description

The **SoEnvironment** class is a node for specifying global rendering parameters.

This node type provides the application programmer with the ability to set global parameters influencing lighting and fog.

**FILE FORMAT/DEFAULTS:**

```
Environment {
    ambientIntensity 0.2
    ambientColor 1 1 1
    attenuation 0 0 1
    fogType NONE
    fogColor 1 1 1
    fogVisibility 0
}
```

## Member Enumeration Documentation

### enum SoEnvironment::FogType

Enumeration of available types of fog.

**Enumerator**

- ***NONE***

  No fog. Visibility will be equal for all objects, independent of distance to camera.

- ***HAZE***

  Fog where visibility will decrease linearly with distance to camera.

- ***FOG***

  Fog where visibility will decrease exponentially with distance to camera.

- ***SMOKE***

  Fog where visibility will decrease exponentially with the square of the distance to camera (simulating really thick fog).

## Constructor & Destructor Documentation

### SoEnvironment::SoEnvironment (void )

Constructor.

### SoEnvironment::~SoEnvironment () \[protected\], \[virtual\]

Destructor.

## Member Function Documentation

### SoType SoEnvironment::getClassTypeId (void ) \[static\]

This static method returns the **SoType** object associated with objects of this class.

### SoType SoEnvironment::getTypeId (void ) const \[virtual\]

Returns the type identification of an object derived from a class inheriting **SoBase**. This is used for runtime type checking and "downward" casting.

Implements **SoBase**.

### const SoFieldData \*\* SoEnvironment::getFieldDataPtr (void ) \[static\], \[protected\]

*This API member is considered internal to the library, as it is not likely to be of interest to the application programmer.*\

 Returns the **SoFieldData** class which holds information about fields in this node.

### const SoFieldData \* SoEnvironment::getFieldData (void ) const \[protected\], \[virtual\]

Returns a pointer to the class-wide field data storage object for this instance. If no fields are present, returns NULL.

Reimplemented from **SoFieldContainer**.

### void SoEnvironment::GLRender (SoGLRenderAction \* action) \[virtual\]

Action method for the **SoGLRenderAction**.

This is called during rendering traversals. Nodes influencing the rendering state in any way or want to throw geometry primitives at OpenGL override this method.

Reimplemented from **SoNode**.

### void SoEnvironment::callback (SoCallbackAction \* action) \[virtual\]

Action method for **SoCallbackAction**.

Simply updates the state according to how the node behaves for the render action, so the application programmer can use the **SoCallbackAction** for extracting information about the scene graph.

Reimplemented from **SoNode**.

## Member Data Documentation

### SoSFFloat SoEnvironment::ambientIntensity

A global ambient value for the light intensity for the complete scene. This will provide some light even when there are no light sources defined for the scene.

Valid values is from 0.0 (no ambient light) to 1.0 (full ambient light intensity). Default value is 0.2.

### SoSFColor SoEnvironment::ambientColor

The color of the global ambient light. Defaults to full intensity white, i.e. \<1.0, 1.0, 1.0\>.

Each component of this RGB vector is multiplied with the scalar value of **SoEnvironment::ambientIntensity**.

### SoSFVec3f SoEnvironment::attenuation

Squared, linear, and constant light attenuation coefficients (in that order). Please note that this is the reverse order of how attenuation is usually specified.

### SoSFEnum SoEnvironment::fogType

The fog model. See SoEnvironment::FoType.

### SoSFColor SoEnvironment::fogColor

Color of fog. Defaults to full intensity white.

### SoSFFloat SoEnvironment::fogVisibility

The "cut-off" distance from the camera where objects will be totally obscured by fog. If set to 0.0, the far plane distance will be used instead.

Default value is 0.0.

## Author

Generated automatically by Doxygen for Coin from the source code.
