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Godot’s import system automatically processes external assets and converts them into engine-optimized formats. The system supports various file types and allows you to create custom importers for specialized formats.

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Asset Import Pipeline

When you add files to your project, Godot automatically:
  1. Detects the file type based on extension
  2. Selects an appropriate importer
  3. Processes the file with import settings
  4. Saves the imported resource to .godot/imported/
  5. Creates a .import file to track settings

​
How Imports Work

# When you load a resource, Godot uses the imported version
var texture = load("res://icon.png")  # Actually loads from .godot/imported/

# The original file remains untouched
# All modifications are stored in the .import file

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ResourceImporter Base Class

All importers inherit from ResourceImporter: 
extends ResourceImporter

# Check build dependencies for compilation profiles
func _get_build_dependencies(path):
    var resource = load(path)
    var dependencies = PackedStringArray()
    
    if resource.has_advanced_features:
        dependencies.push_back("module_advanced_enabled")
    
    return dependencies

​
Import Order

Importers run in a specific order to handle dependencies:
  • IMPORT_ORDER_DEFAULT (0) - Most importers
  • IMPORT_ORDER_SCENE (100) - Scene importers (run last)
Scenes import last because they may reference other imported resources like textures and models.

​
Creating Custom Import Plugins

Extend EditorImportPlugin to create custom importers: 
@tool
extends EditorImportPlugin

func _get_importer_name():
    return "my.custom.importer"

func _get_visible_name():
    return "Custom Data"

func _get_recognized_extensions():
    return ["mydata", "dat"]

func _get_save_extension():
    return "res"

func _get_resource_type():
    return "Resource"

func _get_preset_count():
    return 2

func _get_preset_name(preset_index):
    match preset_index:
        0: return "Default"
        1: return "Optimized"
    return "Unknown"

func _get_import_options(path, preset_index):
    match preset_index:
        0:  # Default
            return [
                {"name": "quality", "default_value": 1.0},
                {"name": "compress", "default_value": false}
            ]
        1:  # Optimized
            return [
                {"name": "quality", "default_value": 0.8},
                {"name": "compress", "default_value": true}
            ]
    return []

func _get_priority():
    return 1.0  # Higher priority than default importers

func _get_import_order():
    return ResourceImporter.IMPORT_ORDER_DEFAULT

func _import(source_file, save_path, options, platform_variants, gen_files):
    var file = FileAccess.open(source_file, FileAccess.READ)
    if file == null:
        return FileAccess.get_open_error()
    
    # Read and process file
    var data = file.get_buffer(file.get_length())
    file.close()
    
    # Create resource
    var resource = MyCustomResource.new()
    resource.data = data
    resource.quality = options["quality"]
    
    if options["compress"]:
        resource.compress_data()
    
    # Save imported resource
    var filename = save_path + "." + _get_save_extension()
    return ResourceSaver.save(resource, filename)
Return OK (or @GlobalScope.OK) for successful imports, other error codes for failures.

​
Register the Import Plugin

@tool
extends EditorPlugin

var import_plugin

func _enter_tree():
    import_plugin = preload("res://addons/my_importer/importer.gd").new()
    # Set first_priority to true to run before built-in importers
    add_import_plugin(import_plugin, false)

func _exit_tree():
    remove_import_plugin(import_plugin)

​
Import Presets

Presets provide predefined configurations for different use cases: 
func _get_preset_count():
    return 3

func _get_preset_name(preset_index):
    match preset_index:
        0: return "Low Quality"
        1: return "Medium Quality"
        2: return "High Quality"
    return ""

func _get_import_options(path, preset_index):
    var base_options = [
        {
            "name": "quality",
            "default_value": 0.5,
            "property_hint": PROPERTY_HINT_RANGE,
            "hint_string": "0.0,1.0,0.1"
        },
        {
            "name": "format",
            "default_value": 0,
            "property_hint": PROPERTY_HINT_ENUM,
            "hint_string": "Compressed,Uncompressed,Lossy"
        }
    ]
    
    match preset_index:
        0:  # Low Quality
            base_options[0]["default_value"] = 0.3
            base_options[1]["default_value"] = 2  # Lossy
        1:  # Medium Quality
            base_options[0]["default_value"] = 0.7
            base_options[1]["default_value"] = 0  # Compressed
        2:  # High Quality
            base_options[0]["default_value"] = 1.0
            base_options[1]["default_value"] = 1  # Uncompressed
    
    return base_options

​
Conditional Options

Show or hide options based on other settings: 
func _get_option_visibility(path, option_name, options):
    # Only show quality if format is "Lossy"
    if option_name == "quality":
        return options.get("format", 0) == 2
    
    # Show all other options
    return true

​
Importing 3D Models

For 3D formats like GLTF and FBX, use EditorSceneFormatImporter: 
@tool
extends EditorSceneFormatImporter

func _get_extensions():
    return ["custom3d"]

func _get_import_options(path):
    # Only add options when path matches this importer
    if path.is_empty() or path.get_extension() == "custom3d":
        add_import_option("scale", 1.0)
        add_import_option("generate_tangents", true)
        add_import_option_advanced(
            TYPE_INT,
            "mesh_compression",
            0,
            PROPERTY_HINT_ENUM,
            "Disabled,Low,High"
        )

func _get_option_visibility(path, for_animation, option):
    # Hide mesh options when importing animations
    if for_animation and option.begins_with("mesh_"):
        return false
    return true

func _import_scene(path, flags, options):
    var file = FileAccess.open(path, FileAccess.READ)
    if file == null:
        return null
    
    # Parse custom 3D format
    var scene_data = _parse_custom_format(file)
    file.close()
    
    # Build scene tree
    var root = Node3D.new()
    root.name = path.get_file().get_basename()
    
    for mesh_data in scene_data.meshes:
        var mesh_instance = MeshInstance3D.new()
        mesh_instance.mesh = _create_mesh(mesh_data)
        
        if options.get("generate_tangents", true):
            mesh_instance.mesh = _generate_tangents(mesh_instance.mesh)
        
        root.add_child(mesh_instance)
        mesh_instance.owner = root
    
    return root

​
Import Flags

Scene importers can check flags to determine what to import:
  • IMPORT_SCENE - Import as scene
  • IMPORT_ANIMATION - Import animations
  • IMPORT_FAIL_ON_MISSING_DEPENDENCIES - Fail if dependencies missing
  • IMPORT_GENERATE_TANGENT_ARRAYS - Generate tangent arrays
  • IMPORT_USE_NAMED_SKIN_BINDS - Use named skin bindings
  • IMPORT_DISCARD_MESHES_AND_MATERIALS - Import only structure
  • IMPORT_FORCE_DISABLE_MESH_COMPRESSION - Disable compression
func _import_scene(path, flags, options):
    var import_meshes = flags & EditorSceneFormatImporter.IMPORT_SCENE
    var import_animations = flags & EditorSceneFormatImporter.IMPORT_ANIMATION
    
    if not import_meshes:
        # Skip mesh data
        pass

​
Importing Textures

For custom texture formats: 
@tool
extends EditorImportPlugin

func _get_importer_name():
    return "custom.texture.importer"

func _get_visible_name():
    return "Custom Texture"

func _get_recognized_extensions():
    return ["ctex"]

func _get_save_extension():
    return "ctex"

func _get_resource_type():
    return "CompressedTexture2D"

func _get_import_options(path, preset_index):
    return [
        {"name": "mipmaps", "default_value": true},
        {"name": "filter", "default_value": true},
        {
            "name": "compression_mode",
            "default_value": 0,
            "property_hint": PROPERTY_HINT_ENUM,
            "hint_string": "Lossless,Lossy,VRAM,Uncompressed"
        },
        {
            "name": "lossy_quality",
            "default_value": 0.7,
            "property_hint": PROPERTY_HINT_RANGE,
            "hint_string": "0.0,1.0,0.01"
        }
    ]

func _get_option_visibility(path, option_name, options):
    if option_name == "lossy_quality":
        return options.get("compression_mode", 0) == 1  # Only for Lossy
    return true

func _import(source_file, save_path, options, platform_variants, gen_files):
    # Load and decode custom texture format
    var image = _load_custom_texture(source_file)
    
    if options["mipmaps"]:
        image.generate_mipmaps()
    
    # Create and save compressed texture
    var texture = ImageTexture.create_from_image(image)
    
    # Save for different platforms if needed
    if platform_variants.size() > 0:
        for tag in platform_variants:
            var variant_path = save_path + "." + tag + "." + _get_save_extension()
            ResourceSaver.save(texture, variant_path)
    
    return ResourceSaver.save(texture, save_path + "." + _get_save_extension())

​
Importing Audio Files

@tool
extends EditorImportPlugin

func _get_importer_name():
    return "custom.audio.importer"

func _get_visible_name():
    return "Custom Audio"

func _get_recognized_extensions():
    return ["caud"]

func _get_save_extension():
    return "sample"

func _get_resource_type():
    return "AudioStreamWAV"

func _get_import_options(path, preset_index):
    return [
        {"name": "loop", "default_value": false},
        {"name": "loop_offset", "default_value": 0.0},
        {
            "name": "format",
            "default_value": 0,
            "property_hint": PROPERTY_HINT_ENUM,
            "hint_string": "8-bit,16-bit,IMA ADPCM,QOA"
        }
    ]

func _import(source_file, save_path, options, platform_variants, gen_files):
    var audio_data = _decode_custom_audio(source_file)
    
    var stream = AudioStreamWAV.new()
    stream.data = audio_data
    stream.format = options["format"]
    stream.loop_mode = AudioStreamWAV.LOOP_FORWARD if options["loop"] else AudioStreamWAV.LOOP_DISABLED
    stream.loop_begin = int(options["loop_offset"] * stream.mix_rate)
    
    return ResourceSaver.save(stream, save_path + "." + _get_save_extension())

​
Thread Safety

Indicate if your importer can run in parallel: 
func _can_import_threaded():
    # Return true if your importer is thread-safe
    return true
Only return true if your importer doesn’t use any shared state or makes thread-safe API calls.

​
Versioning Imports

Increment the format version when making breaking changes: 
func _get_format_version():
    return 2  # Increment when format changes

# When version changes, all files will be re-imported

​
Appending External Resources

Import additional dependencies during the import process: 
func _import(source_file, save_path, options, platform_variants, gen_files):
    # Your main import logic
    var main_resource = MyResource.new()
    
    # Import an embedded texture
    var texture_path = "res://.godot/imported/embedded_texture.png"
    var result = append_import_external_resource(
        texture_path,
        {"mipmaps": true},  # Custom import options
        "keep"  # Use "keep" importer or specify custom one
    )
    
    if result == OK:
        main_resource.texture = load(texture_path)
        gen_files.append(texture_path)  # Track generated file
    
    return ResourceSaver.save(main_resource, save_path + "." + _get_save_extension())

​
Common Import Patterns

​
Atlas/Sprite Sheet Importer

func _import(source_file, save_path, options, platform_variants, gen_files):
    var image = Image.load_from_file(source_file)
    var tile_width = options["tile_width"]
    var tile_height = options["tile_height"]
    
    var atlas = SpriteFrames.new()
    var cols = image.get_width() / tile_width
    var rows = image.get_height() / tile_height
    
    for row in range(rows):
        for col in range(cols):
            var tile_image = Image.create(tile_width, tile_height, false, image.get_format())
            tile_image.blit_rect(image, Rect2i(col * tile_width, row * tile_height, tile_width, tile_height), Vector2i.ZERO)
            
            var texture = ImageTexture.create_from_image(tile_image)
            atlas.add_frame("default", texture)
    
    return ResourceSaver.save(atlas, save_path + ".res")

​
CSV Data Importer

func _import(source_file, save_path, options, platform_variants, gen_files):
    var file = FileAccess.open(source_file, FileAccess.READ)
    if file == null:
        return FAILED
    
    var data_resource = GameData.new()
    var delimiter = options.get("delimiter", ",")
    var skip_header = options.get("skip_first_row", true)
    
    if skip_header:
        file.get_line()  # Skip header
    
    while not file.eof_reached():
        var line = file.get_line()
        if line.is_empty():
            continue
        
        var fields = line.split(delimiter)
        data_resource.add_entry(fields)
    
    file.close()
    return ResourceSaver.save(data_resource, save_path + "." + _get_save_extension())

​
Best Practices

Always check file operations and return appropriate error codes. Provide helpful error messages.
Set _get_import_order() correctly so resources import before scenes that use them.
Provide meaningful presets for common use cases (Low/Medium/High quality, etc.).
Use property hints to make options user-friendly with dropdowns, ranges, and clear labels.
Provide clear visible names and descriptions for your import options.

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See Also

Editor Plugins

Learn how to create and register editor plugins

Custom Nodes

Create custom node types with tool scripts

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