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  "identifier" : "/documentation/SceneKit/SCNParticleSystem/birthLocation",
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# birthLocation

The possible locations for newly spawned particles, relative to the emitter shape.

```
var birthLocation: SCNParticleBirthLocation { get set }
```

## Discussion

This property defines locations for spawning new particles relative to the geometry specified in the [`emitterShape`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNParticleSystem/emitterShape) property. This property has no effect if the [`emitterShape`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNParticleSystem/emitterShape) property value is `nil`.

For example, if the emitter shape is an [`SCNBox`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNBox) geometry and the birth location is [`SCNParticleBirthLocation.vertex`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNParticleBirthLocation/vertex), new particles may randomly spawn at any of the eight corners of the box.

The default value is [`SCNParticleBirthLocation.surface`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNParticleBirthLocation/surface), specifying that new particles spawn at random locations along the surface of the [`emitterShape`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNParticleSystem/emitterShape) geometry. For possible values, see [`SCNParticleBirthLocation`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNParticleBirthLocation).

---

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