Blueprint visual scripting is a system that is used throughout Unreal Engine in different ways. Blueprints can drive level-based events, control internally scripted behaviors for in-game Actors, and be used to control complex animations across highly realistic game character systems. For each of these Blueprint applications, the location where you edit that Blueprint script, as well as the tools available to you, will change depending on your needs. This means that there are multiple places and different ways within Unreal Engine that the Blueprint Editor can appear. However, no matter the differences, the Blueprint Editor can create and edit powerful visual scripts to drive various aspects of your game.
The Blueprint Editor is a node-based graph editor. It is your primary tool for creating and editing visual scripting node networks, commonly referred to as Blueprints. The Blueprint Editor includes a context sensitive design that helps you access functionality for the objects you need specifically when you need them, while also providing flexibility for those times when you need to do something a bit unconventional.
Here are some critical things to know about the Blueprint Editor:
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It includes several tools and panels tools to help you create your own variables, functions, arrays, and more.
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It has a variety of debugging and analysis tools built into it to help you quickly debug and improve data flow in your networks.
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Within Unreal Engine, the Blueprint Editor comes in a variety of different specialized forms depending on the types of Blueprint networks you are editing.
Before you get too far into the Blueprint Editor, you should make sure you have a solid understanding of Blueprints themselves. For more information, refer to Getting Started with Blueprints, and Blueprints Overview.
Interface Breakdown
The Blueprint Editor's location and available toolset will be different based on the type of Blueprint you are currently editing, our goal in this document is to allow you the freedom to choose whether you want to see a UI breakdown for a specific form of the Blueprint Editor, or if you would just like to get a sequential list of everything available.
If you are completely new to Blueprint editing, or are unsure what type of Blueprint you are currently working on, it will be useful to familiarize yourself with the various Blueprint Types.