# MTLCommandQueue An instance you use to create, submit, and schedule command buffers to a specific GPU device to run the commands within those buffers. ``` protocol MTLCommandQueue : NSObjectProtocol, Sendable ``` ## Overview A command queue maintains an ordered list of command buffers. You use a command queue to: - Create command buffers, which you fill with commands for the GPU device that creates the queue - Submit command buffers to run on that GPU Create a command queue from an [`MTLDevice`](/documentation/Metal/MTLDevice) instance by calling its [`makeCommandQueue()`](/documentation/Metal/MTLDevice/makeCommandQueue()) or [`makeCommandQueue(maxCommandBufferCount:)`](/documentation/Metal/MTLDevice/makeCommandQueue(maxCommandBufferCount:)) method. Typically, you create one or more command queues when your app launches and then keep them throughout your app’s lifetime. With each [`MTLCommandQueue`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue) instance you create, you can create [`MTLCommandBuffer`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandBuffer) instances for that queue by calling its [`makeCommandBuffer()`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/makeCommandBuffer()) or [`makeCommandBufferWithUnretainedReferences()`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/makeCommandBufferWithUnretainedReferences()) method. > Note: > Each command queue is thread-safe and allows you to encode commands in multiple command buffers simultaneously. For more information about command buffers and encoding GPU commands to them — such as rendering images and computing data in parallel — see [Setting up a command structure](/documentation/Metal/setting-up-a-command-structure). ## Topics ### Creating command buffers [`makeCommandBuffer(descriptor:)`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/makeCommandBuffer(descriptor:)) Returns a command buffer from the command queue that you configure with a descriptor. [`makeCommandBuffer()`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/makeCommandBuffer()) Returns a command buffer from the command queue that maintains strong references to resources. [`makeCommandBufferWithUnretainedReferences()`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/makeCommandBufferWithUnretainedReferences()) Returns a command buffer from the command queue that doesn’t maintain strong references to resources. ### Attaching residency sets [`addResidencySet(_:)`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/addResidencySet(_:)) Applies a residency set to a queue, which Metal applies to the queue’s command buffers as you commit them. [`addResidencySets(_:)`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/addResidencySets(_:)) Applies multiple residency sets to a queue, which Metal applies to the queue’s command buffers as you commit them. [`addResidencySets:count:`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/addResidencySets:count:) Applies multiple residency sets to a queue, which Metal applies to the queue’s command buffers as you commit them. ### Detaching residency sets [`removeResidencySet(_:)`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/removeResidencySet(_:)) Removes a residency set from a command queue’s list, which means Metal doesn’t apply it to the queue’s command buffers as you commit them. [`removeResidencySets(_:)`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/removeResidencySets(_:)) Removes multiple residency sets from a command queue’s list, which means Metal doesn’t apply them to the queue’s command buffers as you commit them. [`removeResidencySets:count:`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/removeResidencySets:count:) Removes multiple residency sets from a command queue’s list, which means Metal doesn’t apply them to the queue’s command buffers as you commit them. ### Identifying the command queue [`device`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/device) The GPU device that creates the command queue. [`label`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/label) An optional name that can help you identify the command queue. ### Deprecated [`insertDebugCaptureBoundary()`](/documentation/Metal/MTLCommandQueue/insertDebugCaptureBoundary()) Informs Xcode about when GPU Frame Capture starts and stops. --- 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)