Manual: Build your WebGL application (2024)

  • Unity User Manual 2022.2
  • Platform development
  • WebGL
  • Build and distribute a WebGL application
  • Build your WebGL application

To create a build for WebGL, go to File > Build Settings from Unity’s main menu. In the Platform list, select WebGL and then click Switch Platform.

When you have configured the Build Settings, choose one the following options:

  • Build: Builds your application into a Player.
  • Build and Run: Builds your application in a Player, and opens that Player on your target platform.
Manual: Build your WebGL application (1)

The Unity build system for WebGLA JavaScript API that renders 2D and 3D graphics in a web browser. The Unity WebGL build option allows Unity to publish content as JavaScript programs which use HTML5 technologies and the WebGL rendering API to run Unity content in a web browser. More info
See in Glossary
supports the following settings:

SettingFunction
Texture CompressionA method of storing data that reduces the amount of storage space it requires. See Texture Compression, Animation Compression, Audio Compression, Build Compression.
See in Glossary
The texture compression3D Graphics hardware requires Textures to be compressed in specialized formats which are optimized for fast Texture sampling. More info
See in Glossary
format to use for the build. For more information, refer to WebGL texture compression. The available options are:
Use Player SettingsThis is the default selection. It uses the texture compression format you set in the Player settingsSettings that let you set various player-specific options for the final game built by Unity. More info
See in Glossary
window.
ETC2Uses ETC2 format, which is widely supported on mobile devices.
ASTCUses ASTC format, which is widely supported on mobile devices.
DXTUses DXT format, which is widely supported on desktop devices.
Development BuildA development build includes debug symbols and enables the Profiler. More info
See in Glossary
Enable this setting to include scripting debug symbols and the Profiler in your build. When you enable this, Unity sets the DEVELOPMENT_BUILD scripting define. Use this setting only when you want to test your application because development builds don’t minify content, they’re large to distribute.
Code OptimizationSelect the optimization mode to use for compiling the WebGL code.
SpeedThis is the default setting. Select this to generate WebGL code that’s optimized for runtime performance.
SizeSelect this to generate WebGL code that’s optimized for build size. This is useful for reducing WebGL games to the smallest downloadable size, and for large projects if a mobile browser (Android or iOS) refuses to load the default optimize-for-speed WebAssembly builds as too large for mobile devices to consume.
Autoconnect ProfilerTypically, when enabled, this setting allows you to automatically connect the Unity Profiler to your build. However for WebGL, as you can’t connect the ProfilerA window that helps you to optimize your game. It shows how much time is spent in the various areas of your game. For example, it can report the percentage of time spent rendering, animating, or in your game logic. More info
See in Glossary
to a running build, use this option to connect the content to the Editor instead. This is because the Profiler connection is handled using WebSockets on WebGL, but a web browser only allows outgoing connections from the content. For this setting to be available, you must enable the Development Build option.
Deep ProfilingEnable this setting to activate Deep Profiling in the Profiler. This makes the Profiler instrument every function call in your application and returns more detailed profiling data. When you enable Deep Profiling Support, it might slow down script execution. This option is only available if you enable the Development Build option.
BuildUse it to build your application.
Build And RunUse it to view the WebGL Player locally. Unity uses a local web server to host your build, and opens it from a localhost URL. Alternatively, you can use a custom local web server with properly configured response headers. For more information, see Compressed builds and server configuration.

For changing the settings for Asset Import Overrides, refer to Build Settings.

Build folder

The Build folder has the following files, where [ExampleBuild] represents the name of the target build folder.

File nameContains
[ExampleBuild].loader.jsThe JavaScript code that the web page needs to load the Unity content.
[ExampleBuild].framework.jsJavaScript runtime and plugins.
[ExampleBuild].wasmWebAssembly binary.
[ExampleBuild].memA binary image to initialize the heap memory for your Player. Unity generates this file for multi-threaded WebAssembly builds only.
[ExampleBuild].dataAsset data and ScenesA Scene contains the environments and menus of your game. Think of each unique Scene file as a unique level. In each Scene, you place your environments, obstacles, and decorations, essentially designing and building your game in pieces. More info
See in Glossary
.
[ExampleBuild].symbols.jsonDebug symbol names necessary to demangle an error stack trace. This file is only generated for Release builds when you enable the Debug Symbols option (File > Build Settings > Player Settings.)
[ExampleBuild].jpgA background image, which displays while the build is loading. This file is only generated when a Background Image is available in the Player Settings (File > Build Settings > Player Settings > Splash Image). For more information, see Splash Screen.

If you enable a Compression Method for your build, Unity identifies the extension that corresponds with the compression method and adds this extension to the names of the files inside the Build sub folder. If you enable Decompression Fallback, Unity appends the extension .unityweb to the build file names. Otherwise, Unity appends the extension .gz for the Gzip compression method, or .br for the Brotli compression method.For more information, refer to Compressed builds and server configuration.

If you enable Name Files As Hashes in the Player Settings, Unity uses the hash of the file content instead of the default file name. This applies to each file in the build folder. This option allows you to upload updated versions of the game builds into the same folder on the server, and only upload the files which have changed between build iterations.

Note: Opening a Player directly from the file system might not work in some browsers. This is due to security restrictions applied to local file URLs.

Enable exceptions

Use Enable Exceptions to specify how unexpected code behavior (also known as errors) is handled at runtime. To access Enable Exceptions, go to the Publishing Settings section in WebGL Player Settings.

It has the following options:

  • None: Select this if you don’t need any exception support. This gives the best performance and smallest builds. With this option, any exception thrown causes your content to stop with an error in that setting.
  • Explicitly Thrown Exceptions Only (default): Select this to capture exceptions which are explicitly specified from a throw statement in your scriptsA piece of code that allows you to create your own Components, trigger game events, modify Component properties over time and respond to user input in any way you like. More info
    See in Glossary
    and to also ensure finally blocks are called. Note that selecting this option makes the generated JavaScript code from your scripts longer and slower; This might only be an issue if scripts are the main bottleneck in your project.
  • Full Without Stacktrace: Select this option to capture: * Exceptions which are explicitly specified from throw statements in your scripts (the same as in the Explicitly Thrown Exceptions Only option)
    • Null References
    • Out of Bounds Array accesses
  • Full With Stacktrace: This option is similar to the option above but it also captures Stack traces. Unity generates these exceptions by embedding checks for them in the code, so this option decreases performance and increases browser memory usage. Only use this for debugging, and always test in a 64-bit browser.

Build and distribute a WebGL application

Reduce load times with AssetBundles

Copyright © 2023 Unity Technologies. Publication Date: 2023-05-25.

TutorialsCommunity AnswersKnowledge BaseForumsAsset StoreTerms of useLegalPrivacy PolicyCookiesDo Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Your Privacy Choices (Cookie Settings)

Manual:  Build your WebGL application (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Roderick King

Last Updated:

Views: 5840

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Roderick King

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: 3782 Madge Knoll, East Dudley, MA 63913

Phone: +2521695290067

Job: Customer Sales Coordinator

Hobby: Gunsmithing, Embroidery, Parkour, Kitesurfing, Rock climbing, Sand art, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Roderick King, I am a cute, splendid, excited, perfect, gentle, funny, vivacious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.