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# MDLTransformComponent

The general interface for classes that manage local coordinate space transforms for 3D objects

```
protocol MDLTransformComponent : MDLComponent
```

## Overview

Transform information—that is, the combination of an object’s position, orientation, shear, and scale—can be static, or in the case of resources that describe animations, time-based. By default, the [`MDLTransform`](/documentation/ModelIO/MDLTransform) class manages transform information for objects loaded from a [`MDLAsset`](/documentation/ModelIO/MDLAsset) instance. By providing your own class that adopts this protocol, you can support other ways to associate transform information with objects—for example, when defining a custom asset file format.

## Topics

### Working with Static Transforms

[`matrix`](/documentation/ModelIO/MDLTransformComponent/matrix)

The transform matrix that defines the local coordinate space relative to a parent coordinate space.

[`-  setLocalTransform:`](/documentation/ModelIO/MDLTransformComponent/setLocalTransform(_:))

Sets a new static transform matrix, overriding any time-based transform information.

### Working with Animated Transforms

[`minimumTime`](/documentation/ModelIO/MDLTransformComponent/minimumTime)

The timestamp for the first timed data sample in the transform component.

[`maximumTime`](/documentation/ModelIO/MDLTransformComponent/maximumTime)

The timestamp for the last timed data sample in the transform component.

[`-  localTransformAtTime:`](/documentation/ModelIO/MDLTransformComponent/localTransform(atTime:))

Returns the local transform matrix as of the specified time sample.

[`-  setLocalTransform:forTime:`](/documentation/ModelIO/MDLTransformComponent/setLocalTransform(_:forTime:))

Sets a new local transform matrix for the specified time sample.

### Deriving a Global Transformation

[`+  globalTransformWithObject:atTime:`](/documentation/ModelIO/MDLTransformComponent/globalTransform(with:atTime:))

Returns the absolute coordinate transformation for an object in a transform hierarchy.

## Relationships

### Inherits From

[`MDLComponent`](/documentation/ModelIO/MDLComponent)

[`NSObjectProtocol`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObjectProtocol)

### Conforming Types

[`MDLTransform`](/documentation/ModelIO/MDLTransform)

[`MDLTransformStack`](/documentation/ModelIO/MDLTransformStack)

---

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