# subdivisionLevel The number of subdivisions SceneKit uses to smooth the geometry’s surface at render time. ``` var subdivisionLevel: Int { get set } ``` ## Discussion *Surface subdivision* is a technique for using low-detail geometry to generate a smooth surface for rendering. When you increase the [`subdivisionLevel`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNGeometry/subdivisionLevel) value of a geometry, SceneKit automatically splits each face in the rendered surface, creating a more detailed, smoother geometry, as shown in . SceneKit performs this subdivision process at render time, preserving the original geometry data.  Subdividing a surface rounds away any sharp edges and corners in the geometry; however, such details may be important to a model’s design. To preserve edges, use the [`edgeCreasesElement`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNGeometry/edgeCreasesElement) property to identify edges and the [`edgeCreasesSource`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNGeometry/edgeCreasesSource) property to specify how smooth or sharp they should appear after subdivision. To preserve corners, include a geometry source whose [`semantic`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNGeometrySource/semantic-swift.property) value is [`vertexCrease`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNGeometrySource/Semantic-swift.struct/vertexCrease) when creating the geometry. The default subdivision level is zero, specifying no subdivision—SceneKit renders the geometry exactly as its vertex data specifies. --- 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)