# copy(sourceTexture:sourceSlice:sourceLevel:sourceOrigin:sourceSize:destinationBuffer:destinationOffset:destinationBytesPerRow:destinationBytesPerImage:options:) Encodes a command that copies image data from a slice of a texture instance to a buffer, with options for special texture formats. ``` func copy(sourceTexture: any MTLTexture, sourceSlice: Int, sourceLevel: Int, sourceOrigin: MTLOrigin, sourceSize: MTLSize, destinationBuffer: any MTLBuffer, destinationOffset: Int, destinationBytesPerRow: Int, destinationBytesPerImage: Int, options: MTLBlitOption = []) ``` ## Parameters `sourceTexture` An [`MTLTexture`](/documentation/Metal/MTLTexture) texture that the command copies data from. To read the source texture contents, you need to set its [`isFramebufferOnly`](/documentation/Metal/MTLTexture/isFramebufferOnly) property to prior to drawing into it. `sourceSlice` A slice within `sourceTexture` the command uses as a starting point to copy data from. Set this to `0` if `sourceTexture` isn’t a texture array or a cube texture. `sourceLevel` A mipmap level within `sourceTexture`. `sourceOrigin` An [`MTLOrigin`](/documentation/Metal/MTLOrigin) instance that represents a location within `sourceTexture` that the command begins copying data from. Assign `0` to each dimension that’s not relevant to `sourceTexture`. `sourceSize` An [`MTLSize`](/documentation/Metal/MTLSize) instance that represents the size of the region, in pixels, that the command copies from `sourceTexture`, starting at `sourceOrigin`. Assign `1` to each dimension that’s not relevant to `sourceTexture`. If `sourceTexture` uses a compressed pixel format, set `sourceSize` to a multiple of the `sourceTexture's` [`pixelFormat`](/documentation/Metal/MTLTexture/pixelFormat) block size. If the block extends outside the bounds of the texture, clamp `sourceSize` to the edge of the texture. `destinationBuffer` An [`MTLBuffer`](/documentation/Metal/MTLBuffer) instance the command copies data to. `destinationOffset` A byte offset within `destinationBuffer` the command copies to. The value you provide as this argument needs to be a multiple of `sourceTexture's` pixel size, in bytes. `destinationBytesPerRow` The number of bytes between adjacent rows of pixels in `destinationBuffer`. This value must be a multiple of `sourceTexture's` pixel size, in bytes, and less than or equal to the product of `sourceTexture's` pixel size, in bytes, and the largest pixel width `sourceTexture’s` type allows. If `sourceTexture` uses a compressed pixel format, set `destinationBytesPerRow` to the number of bytes between the starts of two row blocks. `destinationBytesPerImage` The number of bytes between each 2D image of a 3D texture. This value must be a multiple of `sourceTexture's` pixel size, in bytes. Set this value to `0` if `sourceSize's` [`depth`](/documentation/Metal/MTLSize/depth) value is `1`. `options` A [`MTLBlitOption`](/documentation/Metal/MTLBlitOption) value that applies to textures with applicable pixel formats, such as combined depth/stencil or PVRTC formats. If `sourceTexture's` [`pixelFormat`](/documentation/Metal/MTLTexture/pixelFormat) is a combined depth/stencil format, set `options` to either [`depthFromDepthStencil`](/documentation/Metal/MTLBlitOption/depthFromDepthStencil) or [`stencilFromDepthStencil`](/documentation/Metal/MTLBlitOption/stencilFromDepthStencil), but not both. If `sourceTexture's` [`pixelFormat`](/documentation/Metal/MTLTexture/pixelFormat) is a PVRTC format, set `options` to [`rowLinearPVRTC`](/documentation/Metal/MTLBlitOption/rowLinearPVRTC). --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)