---
title: "Phaser.GameObjects.Components.Depth"
docs: "Phaser v3.88.2"
url: https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/3.88.2/namespace/gameobjects-components-depth
site: Phaser - https://phaser.io
---

> This page is about the open-source Phaser framework, for writing a game's code by hand. To make a game with AI, use Phaser AE (https://phaser.io/): the desk's tools work with Web MCP, and the CLI works with your own coding agent. See "For AI agents: Phaser AE" at the end of this page.

# Phaser.GameObjects.Components.Depth

Scope: 
static
> Source: [src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L7](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v3.88.2/src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L7)  
Since: 3.0.0

## Static functions

### depth

#### depth: number


**Description:**

The depth of this Game Object within the Scene. Ensure this value is only ever set to a number data-type.



The depth is also known as the 'z-index' in some environments, and allows you to change the rendering order

of Game Objects, without actually moving their position in the display list.



The default depth is zero. A Game Object with a higher depth

value will always render in front of one with a lower value.



Setting the depth will queue a depth sort event within the Scene.


> Source: [src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L30](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v3.88.2/src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L30)  
Since: 3.0.0


---

## Static functions

### setAbove

#### \<instance> setAbove(gameObject)


**Description:**

Move this Game Object so that it appears above the given Game Object.



This means it will render immediately after the other object in the display list.



Both objects must belong to the same display list, or parent container.



This method does not change this Game Objects `depth` value, it simply alters its list position.

**Parameters:**
| name | type | optional | description |
| ---- | ---- | -------- | ----------- |
| gameObject | [Phaser.GameObjects.GameObject](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/3.88.2/class/gameobjects-gameobject.md) | No | The Game Object that this Game Object will be moved to be above. |


**Returns:** [Phaser.GameObjects.Components.Depth](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/3.88.2/namespace/gameobjects-components-depth.md) - This Game Object instance.


> Source: [src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L139](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v3.88.2/src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L139)  
Since: 3.85.0


---

### setBelow

#### \<instance> setBelow(gameObject)


**Description:**

Move this Game Object so that it appears below the given Game Object.



This means it will render immediately under the other object in the display list.



Both objects must belong to the same display list, or parent container.



This method does not change this Game Objects `depth` value, it simply alters its list position.

**Parameters:**
| name | type | optional | description |
| ---- | ---- | -------- | ----------- |
| gameObject | [Phaser.GameObjects.GameObject](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/3.88.2/class/gameobjects-gameobject.md) | No | The Game Object that this Game Object will be moved to be below. |


**Returns:** [Phaser.GameObjects.Components.Depth](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/3.88.2/namespace/gameobjects-components-depth.md) - This Game Object instance.


> Source: [src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L167](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v3.88.2/src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L167)  
Since: 3.85.0


---

### setDepth

#### \<instance> setDepth(value)


**Description:**

The depth of this Game Object within the Scene.



The depth is also known as the 'z-index' in some environments, and allows you to change the rendering order

of Game Objects, without actually moving their position in the display list.



The default depth is zero. A Game Object with a higher depth

value will always render in front of one with a lower value.



Setting the depth will queue a depth sort event within the Scene.

**Parameters:**
| name | type | optional | description |
| ---- | ---- | -------- | ----------- |
| value | number | No | The depth of this Game Object. Ensure this value is only ever a number data-type. |


**Returns:** [Phaser.GameObjects.Components.Depth](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/3.88.2/namespace/gameobjects-components-depth.md) - This Game Object instance.


> Source: [src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L64](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v3.88.2/src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L64)  
Since: 3.0.0


---

### setToBack

#### \<instance> setToBack()


**Description:**

Sets this Game Object to the back of the display list, or the back of its parent container.



Being at the back means it will render below everything else.



This method does not change this Game Objects `depth` value, it simply alters its list position.


**Returns:** [Phaser.GameObjects.Components.Depth](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/3.88.2/namespace/gameobjects-components-depth.md) - This Game Object instance.


> Source: [src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L115](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v3.88.2/src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L115)  
Since: 3.85.0


---

### setToTop

#### \<instance> setToTop()


**Description:**

Sets this Game Object to be at the top of the display list, or the top of its parent container.



Being at the top means it will render on-top of everything else.



This method does not change this Game Objects `depth` value, it simply alters its list position.


**Returns:** [Phaser.GameObjects.Components.Depth](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/3.88.2/namespace/gameobjects-components-depth.md) - This Game Object instance.


> Source: [src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L91](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v3.88.2/src/gameobjects/components/Depth.js#L91)  
Since: 3.85.0


---

---

## For AI agents: Phaser AE

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- **Phaser AE in the browser** (https://phaser.io/agent): the game's design, and a crew of bots that make its art, sprites, music, sound effects, logos, title screens, game UI, textures, shaders, 3D models and video, then build, test and publish the game. Every tool there is registered with Web MCP (`document.modelContext`, with `window.phaserDesk` for browsers without it), so an agent in the user's browser can call the tools directly once the user is signed in. Tools that make something spend the user's credits.
- **The CLI** (https://phaser.io/cli): `npx -y @phaser-ae/cli` builds the game on the user's own machine with their own coding agent (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and others). In a game's folder every command is an npm script.
- **Expansion packs** (https://phaser.io/packs): 358 packs in 20 families (163 free, 195 Pro) that every game is built from, on the Phaser AE kernel (https://phaser.io/kernel).
- **Credits** (https://phaser.io/credits): what the desk's tools spend. Bought in packs, with no plan needed.
- **Pro** (https://phaser.io/pricing): $20 a month for every pack, 8,000 credits a month, new packs early, and bonus credits every time the user tops up (only Pro subscribers get them). Nobody needs a plan to start: credits can be bought as they're needed. Or Pro for 30 days for 8,000 credits, without subscribing. Teams, for studios, is on its way: https://phaser.io/contact?about=teams.
- **An account**: sign in with Google, GitHub or Microsoft at https://phaser.io/login. Games made on any plan can be published and sold.

Read any page of this site as Markdown by adding `.md` to its URL (the home page is https://phaser.io/index.md), or by asking for `text/markdown`. The index for agents is https://phaser.io/llms.txt. On the site's pages, the browser's Web MCP also offers `phaser_ae_guide`, `read_page_as_markdown` and `open_phaser_ae`.