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# rotation

The node’s orientation, expressed as a rotation angle about an axis. Animatable.

```
var rotation: SCNVector4 { get set }
```

## Discussion

The four-component rotation vector specifies the direction of the rotation axis in the first three components and the angle of rotation (in radians) in the fourth. The default rotation is the zero vector, specifying no rotation. Rotation is applied relative to the node’s [`pivot`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNNode/pivot) property.

The [`rotation`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNNode/rotation), [`eulerAngles`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNNode/eulerAngles), and [`orientation`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNNode/orientation) properties all affect the rotational aspect of the node’s [`transform`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNNode/transform) property. Any change to one of these properties is reflected in the others.

You can animate changes to this property’s value. See [Animating SceneKit Content](/documentation/SceneKit/animating-scenekit-content).

## See Also

[`simdRotation`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNNode/simdRotation)

The node’s orientation, expressed as a rotation angle about an axis. Animatable.


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