Text and TextMeshPro in Unity - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - Text and TextMeshPro

Create UI Canvas

↓

Add Text or TextMeshPro Component

↓

Set Text Content

↓

Customize Font, Size, Color

↓

Run Scene

↓

Text Displays on Screen

This flow shows how to add and display text using Unity's Text or TextMeshPro components step-by-step.

Execution Sample

Unity

using TMPro;
using UnityEngine;

public class DisplayText : MonoBehaviour {
    public TextMeshProUGUI tmpText;
    void Start() {
        tmpText.text = "Hello, Unity!";
    }
}

This code sets the text of a TextMeshProUGUI component to display a message when the scene starts.

Execution Table

Step	Action	Component State	Output on Screen
1	Scene starts, Start() called	tmpText.text = ""	No text shown yet
2	Set tmpText.text = "Hello, Unity!"	tmpText.text = "Hello, Unity!"	Text 'Hello, Unity!' appears on screen
3	Scene running	tmpText.text = "Hello, Unity!"	Text remains visible

💡 Text is set once at Start and remains displayed until changed or scene ends

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 2	Final
tmpText.text	""	"Hello, Unity!"	"Hello, Unity!"

Key Moments - 2 Insights

Why does the text not appear if tmpText is not assigned in the inspector?

If tmpText is null (not linked), setting tmpText.text throws a NullReferenceException and no text appears. See execution_table step 2 where tmpText.text changes only if tmpText is assigned.

What is the difference between Text and TextMeshPro components?

TextMeshPro uses better text rendering with more options like rich text and better clarity, while Text is simpler but less flexible. Both follow the same flow but TextMeshPro is recommended.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, what is tmpText.text at Step 1?

A "Hello, Unity!"

B "" (empty string)

C null

D "Start"

💡 Hint

Check the 'Component State' column at Step 1 in the execution_table

At which step does the text appear on the screen?

A Step 2

B Step 1

C Step 3

D Never

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Output on Screen' column in the execution_table

If tmpText is not assigned in the inspector, what happens when Start() runs?

A Text shows as empty

B Text shows 'Hello, Unity!'

C NullReferenceException error

D No text appears and no error

💡 Hint

Consider what happens if tmpText is null when setting tmpText.text in the code

Concept Snapshot

Unity Text and TextMeshPro:
- Add Text or TextMeshProUGUI component to Canvas
- Assign component to script variable
- Set .text property to change displayed text
- TextMeshPro offers better quality and features
- Text updates appear immediately in UI

Full Transcript

This lesson shows how to display text in Unity using Text and TextMeshPro components. First, you create a Canvas and add a Text or TextMeshProUGUI component. Then, you assign that component to a script variable. In the script's Start method, you set the .text property to the message you want to show. When the scene runs, the text appears on the screen. If the component is not assigned, setting .text causes an error. TextMeshPro is recommended for better text quality and options.