Does unused materials get into the build?

I´m in the making of texturing parts of my game and I´m wondering about the Materials. Let´s say I have 100 materials in my project but I only end up using let´s say 50 of them. When I then build my game, will only the materials I used "count" and get in to the build?

 

Yes. Any thing in the resources folder and all scripts get included i think but the rest is only included if used.

 

Ok, what counts as the resources folder? I don´t have one

 

If they are not in a folder called Resources or any folder inside it and they are not used in the scene, they will not be included. This goes for 3D models, materials, textures, shaders, etc.

 

Ok! So if I don´t use a Resources folder the build will only include things that is needed for the scene? Just to be sure

 

Yes.

Resources folder is an internal asset bundle, and will eventually get phased out once asset bundles are super easy to use (AFAIK).

 

But what counts as usage? If I have a script attached to a GO and one of the public variables is set to a material, does that count? I need to change materials via script, so I'm wondering how to make sure all the needed materials are included.

 

Yes.

 

I assume that also works with prefabs? (I.e. if a public variable of a script in the scene is set to a prefab, the prefab is included in the build even if it's not in a folder that's normally included?)

 

If a material is referenced by anything, a prefab (that is also included by being referenced itself in a scene or prefab), an object in a scene (including renderers) then it will be included.

For a full list of what gets included in your build, check the Editor log file just after performing a build. It will contain a list of all the assets that were built, and their resultant sizes.

 

If I ensure the inclusion of materials, prefabs, etc, through referencing them in objects in the scene hierarchy, will all that stuff be in memory at all times, or only when the GOs are activated or the assets are otherwise used?

 

Any definitive answer on this? I.e. if an inactive GO references assets (materials, meshes) are those assets always in CPU memory or are they only loaded in when the GO is activated or otherwise when its needed?

 

Active or not does not matter it's always loaded what is referenced.

 

Thank you. Would that include even assets that are only referenced in a script's public variables? E.g. if a GO has a script with a public variable that is set to prefab X, would prefab X always be loaded in system memory at all times, or just included in the build? I would think it would be the latter.