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# MTLHeapDescriptor

A configuration that customizes the behavior for a Metal memory heap.

```
class MTLHeapDescriptor
```

## Overview

Create an [`MTLHeap`](/documentation/Metal/MTLHeap) by configuring an [`MTLHeapDescriptor`](/documentation/Metal/MTLHeapDescriptor) instance’s properties and passing it to the [`makeHeap(descriptor:)`](/documentation/Metal/MTLDevice/makeHeap(descriptor:)) method of an [`MTLDevice`](/documentation/Metal/MTLDevice).

Each new heap inherits the descriptor’s configuration as you create it, which means you can modify and reuse a descriptor to create other heaps.

## Topics

### Configuring a heap

[`type`](/documentation/Metal/MTLHeapDescriptor/type)

The memory placement strategy for any resources you allocate from the heaps you create with this descriptor.

[`storageMode`](/documentation/Metal/MTLHeapDescriptor/storageMode)

The storage mode for the heaps you create with this descriptor.

[`cpuCacheMode`](/documentation/Metal/MTLHeapDescriptor/cpuCacheMode)

The CPU cache behavior for any resources you allocate from the heaps you create with this descriptor.

[`hazardTrackingMode`](/documentation/Metal/MTLHeapDescriptor/hazardTrackingMode)

The hazard tracking behavior for any resources you allocate from the heaps you create with this descriptor.

[`resourceOptions`](/documentation/Metal/MTLHeapDescriptor/resourceOptions)

The combined behavior for any resources you allocate from the heaps you create with this descriptor.

[`size`](/documentation/Metal/MTLHeapDescriptor/size)

The total amount of memory, in bytes, for the heaps you create with this descriptor.

[`sparsePageSize`](/documentation/Metal/MTLHeapDescriptor/sparsePageSize)

The page size for any resources you allocate from the heaps you create with this descriptor.


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