This reference page is linked to from the following overview topics: Objects and Function Sets.

Detailed Description

Generic Class for Accessing Internal Maya Objects.

Determine the exact type (MFn::Type) of an MObject within Maya.

Determine if an Object exists.

Determine if an Object is compatible with a specific Function Set.

MObject is the generic class for accessing all Maya internal modelling, animation and rendering Objects, collectively referred to as Model Objects, through the API. This includes all Dependency Graph (DG) Nodes, of which Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) Nodes are a subset.

Each instance of an MObject represents a specific Node or Attribute on a Node in the DG. Under the C++ class scheme MObjects simply have type MObject with no base or derived hierarchy. However, MObjects may be many different types of Model objects, from Attributes to transforms, including components of geometry such as Control Vertices (CV), faces, edges and vertices. This allows many different types of objects to be moved accessed through the API without undue concern on the part of plug-in developers for the type of object being manipulated.

Since it is impractical to provide every applicable method in MObjects, the methods applicable to Maya Objects are encapsulated in Function Sets. Function Sets can be attached to compatible MObjects to provide an external interface to methods appropriate to that MObject.

The link between an MObject and the role it performs as a Maya Model object, as well as the compatibility between MObjects and Function Sets is managed by the API Run-Time Type Identification (RTTI) system. The two key concepts of this system are the Maya Object type and the Function Set type (both in MFn::Type). All MObjects have one and only one Maya Object type. All Function Sets have one and only one Function Set type. MObjects may, however, be compatible with many types of Function Sets. This compatibility follows the class hierarchy of the Function Sets. Thus an MObject with Maya Object type MFn::kNurbsSurface would be compatible with MFnNurbsSurface, MFnDagNode, MFnDependencyNode, MFnNamedObject and MFnBase.

Use the apiType() method to determine the type (MFn::Type) of the Maya Model Object.

Use hasFn() to determine if the Object is comaptible with a given Function Set.

Use isNull() to determine if the internal Maya Object exists.

Examples:: affectsNode.cpp, animCubeNode.cpp, animExportUtil.cpp, animExportUtil.h, animFileExport.cpp, animFileExport.h, animFileUtils.cpp, animFileUtils.h, animImportExport.cpp, animInfoCmd.cpp, anisotropicShader.cpp, apiMeshCreator.cpp, apiMeshCreator.h, apiMeshData.cpp, apiMeshData.h, apiMeshIterator.cpp, apiMeshIterator.h, apiMeshShape.cpp, apiMeshShape.h, apiMeshShapeUI.cpp, apiSimpleShape.cpp, apiSimpleShape.h, apiSimpleShapeIterator.cpp, apiSimpleShapeIterator.h, apiSimpleShapeUI.cpp, arcLenNode.cpp, AshliPluginMain.cpp, backfillShader.cpp, blindComplexDataCmd.cpp, blindDataMesh.cpp, blindDataMesh.h, blindDataPluginMain.cpp, blindDataShader.cpp, blindDoubleDataCmd.cpp, blindShortDataCmd.cpp, brickShader.cpp, buildRotationNode.cpp, cellShader.cpp, cgfxAttrDef.cpp, cgfxAttrDef.h, cgfxShaderCmd.cpp, cgfxShaderCmd.h, cgfxShaderNode.cpp, cgfxShaderNode.h, cgfxVector.cpp, cgfxVector.h, checkerShader.cpp, circleNode.cpp, cleanPerFaceAssignmentPluginMain.cpp, clearcoat.cpp, closestPointCmd.cpp, closestPointOnCurveNode.cpp, closestPointOnCurveNode.h, closestPointOnCurvePlugin.cpp, closestPointOnNurbsSurfaceCmd.cpp, closestTangentUAndDistance.cpp, closestTangentUAndDistance.h, clothPaintAttrCmd.cpp, clusterWeightFunction.cpp, componentScaleManip.cpp, compositingShader.cpp, conditionTest.cpp, contrastShader.cpp, convertBumpCmd.cpp, convertEdgesToFacesCmd.cpp, convertVerticesToEdgesCmd.cpp, convertVerticesToFacesCmd.cpp, createClipCmd.cpp, curvedArrowsNode.cpp, customAttrManip.cpp, customImagePlane.cpp, cvColorNode.cpp, cvColorShader.cpp, cvExpandCmd.cpp, cvPosCmd.cpp, D3DResourceManager.cpp, D3DResourceManager.h, D3DTextureItem.h, D3DViewportRenderer.cpp, D3DViewportRenderer.h, D3DViewportRendererPlugin.cpp, dagMessageCmd.cpp, dagPoseInfoCmd.cpp, ddsFloatReader.cpp, deletedMsgCmd.cpp, depthShader.cpp, displacementShader.cpp, dynExprField.cpp, dynExprField.h, eventTest.cpp, exampleMRampAttribute.cpp, exportJointClusterDataCmd.cpp, exportSkinClusterDataCmd.cpp, fileIOMsgCmd.cpp, filteredAsciiFile.cpp, findFileTexturesCmd.cpp, findTexturesPerPolygonCmd.cpp, flameShader.cpp, flipUVCmd.cpp, flipUVCmd.h, flipUVMain.cpp, fluidInfoCmd.cpp, footPrintManip.cpp, footPrintNode.cpp, fullLoftNode.cpp, gammaShader.cpp, genericAttributeNode.cpp, geometryCacheConverter.cpp, geometrySurfaceConstraint.cpp, geometrySurfaceConstraint.h, geomShader.cpp, getAttrAffectsCmd.cpp, getPointAndNormal.cpp, getPointAndNormal.h, GLSLShaderNode.cpp, GLSLShaderNode.h, hairCollisionSolver.cpp, helix2Cmd.cpp, helixTool.cpp, hlslPluginMain.cpp, hlslShader.cpp, hlslShader.h, hwAnisotropicShader_NV20.cpp, hwAnisotropicShader_NV20.h, hwColorPerVertexShader.cpp, hwDecalBumpShader_NV20.cpp, hwDecalBumpShader_NV20.h, hwManagedTextureShader.cpp, hwPhongShader.cpp, hwPhongShader.h, hwPhongShaderBehavior.cpp, hwPhongShaderBehavior.h, hwReflectBumpShader_NV20.cpp, hwReflectBumpShader_NV20.h, hwRefractReflectShader_NV20.cpp, hwRefractReflectShader_NV20.h, hwRenderPostEffect.cpp, hwToonShader_NV20.cpp, hwToonShader_NV20.h, hwUnlitShader.cpp, hwUnlitShader.h, iffInfoCmd.cpp, iffPixelCmd.cpp, iffPpmCmd.cpp, instanceCallbackCmd.cpp, instancerListCmd.cpp, interpShader.cpp, intersectCmd.cpp, intersectOnNurbsSurfaceCmd.cpp, jitterNode.cpp, jlcVcrDevice.cpp, lambertShader.cpp, lassoTool.cpp, latticeNoise.cpp, latticeNoise.h, latticeNoiseCmd.cpp, latticeNoiseNode.cpp, lavaShader.cpp, lepTranslator.cpp, lightShader.cpp, lineManip.cpp, lineManipContainer.cpp, lineManipContainer.h, listLightLinksCmd.cpp, listPolyHolesCmd.cpp, lockEvent.cpp, marqueeTool.cpp, maTranslator.cpp, meshOpCmd.cpp, meshOpCmd.h, meshOpFty.cpp, meshOpFty.h, meshOpMain.cpp, meshOpNode.cpp, meshOpNode.h, meshRemapTool.cpp, meshReorderPlugin.cpp, meshReorderTool.cpp, mixtureShader.cpp, motionPathCmd.cpp, motionTraceCmd.cpp, moveCurveCVsCmd.cpp, moveManip.cpp, moveNumericTool.cpp, moveTool.cpp, MTextureCache.cpp, MTextureCache.h, multiCurveNode.cpp, narrowPolyViewer.h, narrowPolyViewerCmd.h, narrowPolyViewerMain.cpp, nodeCreatedCBCmd.cpp, nodeCreatedCBCmd.h, nodeInfoCmd.cpp, nodeMessageCmd.cpp, NodeMonitor.cpp, NodeMonitor.h, noiseShader.cpp, objExport.cpp, offsetNode.cpp, OpenEXR.cpp, OpenGLViewportRenderer.cpp, OpenGLViewportRendererPlugin.cpp, ownerEmitter.cpp, particleAttrNode.cpp, particleAttrNode.h, particleAttrNodeMain.cpp, particlePathsCmd.cpp, particleSystemInfoCmd.cpp, peltOverlapCmd.cpp, pfxInfoCmd.cpp, phongShader.cpp, pickCmd.cpp, pluginCallbacks.cpp, pluginMain.cpp, pnTrianglesNode.cpp, pnTrianglesNode.h, pointOnMeshInfoNode.cpp, pointOnMeshInfoNode.h, pointOnMeshInfoPlugin.cpp, pointOnSubdNode.cpp, pointOnSubdNode.h, polyMessageCmd.cpp, polyModifierCmd.cpp, polyModifierCmd.h, polyModifierNode.cpp, polyModifierNode.h, polyPrimitiveCmd.cpp, polyRawExporter.cpp, polyRawExporter.h, polyTrgNode.cpp, polyWriter.cpp, polyWriter.h, polyX3DExporter.cpp, polyX3DExporter.h, progressWindowCmd.cpp, quadricShape.cpp, referenceQueryCmd.cpp, renderAccessNode.cpp, renderViewInteractiveRenderCmd.cpp, renderViewRenderCmd.cpp, renderViewRenderRegionCmd.cpp, rockingTransform.cpp, rockingTransform.h, rockingTransformCheck.cpp, rockingTransformCheckMain.cpp, rockingTransformMain.cpp, rotateManip.cpp, sampleCmd.cpp, sampleParticles.cpp, scanDagCmd.cpp, scanDagSyntax.cpp, ShadingConnection.cpp, ShadingConnection.h, shadowMatteShader.cpp, ShapeMonitor.cpp, ShapeMonitor.h, shellNode.cpp, shiftNode.cpp, simpleEmitter.cpp, simpleFluidEmitter.cpp, simpleFluidEmitter.h, simpleImageFile.cpp, simpleLoftNode.cpp, simpleSolverNode.cpp, simpleSpring.cpp, simpleSpring.h, sineNode.cpp, slopeShader.cpp, slopeShaderBehavior.cpp, slopeShaderBehavior.h, slopeShaderNode.cpp, slopeShaderNode.h, solidCheckerShader.cpp, spiralAnimCurveCmd.cpp, splitUVCmd.cpp, splitUVCmd.h, splitUVFty.cpp, splitUVFty.h, splitUVMain.cpp, splitUVNode.cpp, splitUVNode.h, squareScaleManip.cpp, squareScaleManipContext.cpp, squareScaleManipContext.h, stringFormatNode.cpp, surfaceBumpManip.cpp, surfaceCreateCmd.cpp, surfaceTwist.cpp, surfaceTwistCmd.cpp, sweptEmitter.cpp, swissArmyManip.cpp, testNobjectNode.cpp, testNobjectNode.h, testNucleusNode.cpp, testNucleusNode.h, tiffFloatReader.cpp, torusField.cpp, torusField.h, transCircleNode.cpp, translateCmd.cpp, undoRedoMsgCmd.cpp, userMsgCmd.cpp, viewCallbackTest.cpp, volumeShader.cpp, weightListNode.cpp, whatisCmd.cpp, XmlGeometryCache.cpp, yTwistNode.cpp, and zoomCameraCmd.cpp.

#include <MObject.h>

List of all members.

Public Member Functions
	MObject ()
	Class Constructor.
	MObject (const MObject &other)
	Class Copy Constructor.
	~MObject ()
	The class destructor.
bool	hasFn (MFn::Type fs) const
	Determines the whether or not the internal Object is compatible with the given Function Type.
bool	isNull () const
	Determines the whether or not an internal Object exists.
MFn::Type	apiType () const
	Determines the exact type of the Maya internal Object.
const char *	apiTypeStr () const
	Returns a string that gives the object's type is a readable form.
bool	operator== (const MObject &) const
	The comparison operator.
bool	operator!= (const MObject &) const
	The inequality operator.
MObject &	operator= (const MObject &)
	The assignment operator.
Static Public Attributes
static MObject	kNullObj
	Null Object for use as default argument.
Friends Search for all occurrences
class	MObjectHandle Search for all occurrences