# Local Variables

**Local Variables** are one of the most useful **Game Creator** tools. They allow to access different variable instances from different game objects but with the same name.

For example, let's say you want to give each character of your game a unique name. You can create a **Local Variables** component on each one of them and create a local variable called `name`.

When accessing it, each character will return its own unique name.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Local Variables** work pretty much like **Global Variables**. The difference is that they live inside the scope of a game object, not project wide.
{% endhint %}

## Creating and Editing

To create a local variable you can add the `Local Variables` component to any game object. Alternatively you can create one using the **Game Creator Toolbar** option to create a new instance.

![](https://2174264233-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LAqwYovmUPn5V6CMeID%2F-LB6_5doHgvI413M1kUA%2F-LB6_msnLoVj4HNyjFFu%2Flocal-variables.jpg?alt=media\&token=7813636f-6b47-4333-a1ef-f4eaff372c9f)

Notice there's a UID field at the end of the component. This `UID` is used by the save-system to keep track of the different variables between play sessions.

Every time you create a `Local Variable`, a unique `UID` is generated. You have to bear in mind though that when duplicating a `Local Variable`, this value will stay the same and two `Local Variables` will exists with the same `UID`. In that case, click on the `R` button to generate a new unique button.

{% hint style="danger" %}
It is specially important that you don't modify the **UID** after releasing your game. Doing so will reset the player's game progress.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
You can also modify the UID value with a more descriptive one, as long as they are unique.
{% endhint %}

### Nested Access

Since version **0.9.7** you can access nested **Game Object** variables. For example, if a **Local Variable A** has a reference to another **Game Object B** that also contains a **Local Variable**, you can access the **Local Variable B** by adding a "slash" character between the names of both variables.

* **Game Object 1** has Local Variable "myVariableA" with **Game Object 2** as its value
* **Game Object 2** has Local Variable "myVariableB" with an arbitrary value

```
myVariableA/myVariableB
```

Accessing via the above name will return the value of the second **Local Variable**.

## Saving Variables

Just like Global Variables, Local Variables have a little checkbox next to its name field. Marking it will tell Game Creator that this variable value must be tracked between play sessions.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Prefabs** can't save the value of any type of variable because there can be any number of prefab instances in a scene at any given point.
{% endhint %}

## Advanced

If you are a programmer and want to access the Local Variables API, check out the [scripting guide documentation](https://docs.gamecreator.one/game-creator/systems/game-creator-api/variables-access).