# MTLCommandBufferDescriptor A configuration that customizes the behavior for a new command buffer. ``` class MTLCommandBufferDescriptor ``` ## Overview Create a command buffer with a custom configuration by creating an [`MTLCommandBufferDescriptor`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandBufferDescriptor) instance and passing it to an [`MTLCommandQueue`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue) instance’s [`makeCommandBuffer(descriptor:)`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/makeCommandBuffer(descriptor:)) method. You can configure whether the command buffer retains references to resources that its commands refer to with the [`retainedReferences`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandBufferDescriptor/retainedReferences) property. The command buffer can save extra error information, which is useful during development, by setting its [`errorOptions`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandBufferDescriptor/errorOptions) property to [`encoderExecutionStatus`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandBufferErrorOption/encoderExecutionStatus). ## Topics ### Configuring the command buffer [`logState`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandBufferDescriptor/logState) The shader logging configuration that the command buffer uses. [`retainedReferences`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandBufferDescriptor/retainedReferences) A Boolean value that indicates whether the command buffer the descriptor creates maintains strong references to the resources it uses. [`errorOptions`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandBufferDescriptor/errorOptions) The reporting configuration that indicates which information the GPU driver stores in a command buffer’s error property. [`MTLCommandBufferErrorOption`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandBufferErrorOption) Options for reporting errors from a command buffer. --- 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)