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# SCNReferenceNode

A scene graph node that serves as a placeholder for content to be loaded from a separate scene file.

```
class SCNReferenceNode
```

## Overview

When you tell a reference node to load its content, SceneKit loads the referenced scene file and makes children of the scene file’s root node become children of the reference node.

## Topics

### Creating a Reference Node

[`-  initWithURL:`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNReferenceNode/init(url:)-9dkfj)

Initializes a node whose content is to be loaded from the referenced URL.

[`+  referenceNodeWithURL:`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNReferenceNode/referenceNodeWithURL:)

Creates a node whose content is to be loaded from the referenced URL.

### Loading and Unloading a Reference Node’s Content

[`referenceURL`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNReferenceNode/referenceURL)

The URL to a scene file from which to load content for the reference node.

[`loadingPolicy`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNReferenceNode/loadingPolicy)

An option for whether to load the node’s content automatically.

[`-  load`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNReferenceNode/load())

Loads content into the node from its referenced external scene file.

[`loaded`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNReferenceNode/isLoaded)

A Boolean value that indicates whether the reference node has already loaded its content.

[`-  unload`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNReferenceNode/unload())

Removes the node’s children and marks the node as not loaded.

### Constants

[`SCNReferenceLoadingPolicy`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNReferenceLoadingPolicy)

Options for when to load the reference node’s content, used by the [`loadingPolicy`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNReferenceNode/loadingPolicy) property.

## Relationships

### Conforms To

[`SCNActionable`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNActionable)

[`Equatable`](/documentation/Swift/Equatable)

[`Hashable`](/documentation/Swift/Hashable)

[`NSSecureCoding`](/documentation/Foundation/NSSecureCoding)

[`CustomStringConvertible`](/documentation/Swift/CustomStringConvertible)

[`SCNBoundingVolume`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNBoundingVolume)

[`CustomDebugStringConvertible`](/documentation/Swift/CustomDebugStringConvertible)

[`NSCopying`](/documentation/Foundation/NSCopying)

[`UIFocusEnvironment`](/documentation/UIKit/UIFocusEnvironment)

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

[`CVarArg`](/documentation/Swift/CVarArg)

[`NSCoding`](/documentation/Foundation/NSCoding)

[`Sendable`](/documentation/Swift/Sendable)

[`UIFocusItem`](/documentation/UIKit/UIFocusItem)

[`SCNAnimatable`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNAnimatable)

### Inherits From

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

---

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