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# tessellationControlPointIndexType

The size of the control point indices in a control point index buffer.

```
var tessellationControlPointIndexType: MTLTessellationControlPointIndexType { get set }
```

## Discussion

The default value is [`MTLTessellationControlPointIndexType.none`](/documentation/Metal/MTLTessellationControlPointIndexType/none); use this value when drawing patches without a control point index buffer. This value needs to be either [`MTLTessellationControlPointIndexType.uint16`](/documentation/Metal/MTLTessellationControlPointIndexType/uint16) or [`MTLTessellationControlPointIndexType.uint32`](/documentation/Metal/MTLTessellationControlPointIndexType/uint32) when drawing patches with indexed control points.

## See Also

[`drawIndexedPatches(numberOfPatchControlPoints:patchStart:patchCount:patchIndexBuffer:patchIndexBufferOffset:controlPointIndexBuffer:controlPointIndexBufferOffset:instanceCount:baseInstance:)`](/documentation/Metal/MTLRenderCommandEncoder/drawIndexedPatches(numberOfPatchControlPoints:patchStart:patchCount:patchIndexBuffer:patchIndexBufferOffset:controlPointIndexBuffer:controlPointIndexBufferOffset:instanceCount:baseInstance:))

Encodes a draw command that renders multiple instances of tessellated patches with a control point index buffer.

[`drawIndexedPatches(numberOfPatchControlPoints:patchIndexBuffer:patchIndexBufferOffset:controlPointIndexBuffer:controlPointIndexBufferOffset:indirectBuffer:indirectBufferOffset:)`](/documentation/Metal/MTLRenderCommandEncoder/drawIndexedPatches(numberOfPatchControlPoints:patchIndexBuffer:patchIndexBufferOffset:controlPointIndexBuffer:controlPointIndexBufferOffset:indirectBuffer:indirectBufferOffset:))

Encodes a draw command that renders multiple instances of tessellated patches with a control point index buffer and indirect arguments.



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