Do i need to delete this instance of a packed scene?????

REVBENT

As the title says... i have a PackedScene in an array at the top of this script.

i am setting the index of the array, based off a variable i am assigning when i scroll the mouse wheel up/down.

then taking the "stats" resource inside the packed scene and accessing the "energy_cost" variable.

What i am wondering is "DO I NEED TO DELETE THE INSTANCE" or will that happen automatically for me at some point if accessed/unused.

Zini

With this instance you mean the scene you create with instantiate? stat? Then yes, you need to free stat as shown in your code. Scenes consist of nodes and nodes are not reference counted. They only get freed automatically if they are attached to a parent and that parent is freed.

If you mean the PackedScene in the array, then no. PackedScenes are resources. Resources are references counted and get freed automatically when not in use anymore.

REVBENT

Zini
yes, i mean the instance (instantiate).

I was confused if this was still needed in Godot 4 or not?

I believe i had "confused" two different things i was reading on a caffeine fueled binge, and got lost in my thoughts on this.

I have always deleted any instance i made for accessing resources like this. I think this is the way (best way?) to go about this.

As someone trying to get better at coding... i am trying to really "sniff" out any ways to make my scripts more efficient/shorter.

Thank you greatly for responding, and helping me not question what i am doing.