# shaderWrite An option for writing to the texture in a shader. ``` static var shaderWrite: MTLTextureUsage { get } ``` ## Discussion Set this option if you access the given texture with a `write()` function in any shader. This option enables the `access::write` attribute for the texture. For more information about texture functions and access attributes, see [Metal Shading Language Guide](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Metal/Reference/MetalShadingLanguageGuide/Introduction/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40014364). If the texture is a read-write texture that you also access with a `read()` function in the same shader, set the [`shaderRead`](/documentation/Metal/MTLTextureUsage/shaderRead) option to enable the `access::read_write` attribute. In iOS devices with GPU family 5, Metal doesn’t apply lossless compression to the given texture if you set this option. > Important: > Rendering and writing to a texture are different operations, and you don’t need to combine their usage options. Set the ``doc://com.apple.metal/documentation/Metal/MTLTextureUsage/renderTarget`` option if you render to a given texture, but don’t set the ``doc://com.apple.metal/documentation/Metal/MTLTextureUsage/shaderWrite`` option if you don’t write to the texture. The ``doc://com.apple.metal/documentation/Metal/MTLTextureUsage/renderTarget`` and ``doc://com.apple.metal/documentation/Metal/MTLTextureUsage/shaderWrite`` options aren’t equivalent, and setting ``doc://com.apple.metal/documentation/Metal/MTLTextureUsage/renderTarget`` doesn’t require you to also set ``doc://com.apple.metal/documentation/Metal/MTLTextureUsage/shaderWrite``. --- 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)