Introduction to delta time

Delta time is a concept frequently used in game development. It refers to the time difference between two consecutive frames in a game engine. Delta time is a critical parameter used for animation, physics, and other core game mechanics.

Why is delta time important?

Delta time is essential in ensuring smooth and consistent animation and movement in games. Without delta time, objects in the game would appear to move at different rates, leading to irregularity in the gameplay experience. Delta time allows game developers to make realistic and accurate calculations for physics simulations, animation, and other game mechanics.

How to calculate delta time

Delta time is calculated by taking the time elapsed between two consecutive frames. This can be done using a simple time-based difference calculation.

float deltaTime = currentTime - previousTime;
previousTime = currentTime;

Implementing delta time in game development

Most game engines provide a built-in method for calculating delta time. For example, in Unity, you can use the "Time.deltaTime" function to access the time elapsed between two consecutive frames.

float deltaTime = Time.deltaTime;

Once you have calculated delta time, you can use it to update the position of game objects, simulate physics, and other game mechanics.

transform.position += movement * deltaTime;

Conclusion

Delta time is a crucial concept in game development and is essential for achieving smooth and realistic gameplay. Understanding how delta time works and how to calculate it is vital for all game developers.