Magic Variables

Magic variables are engine-maintained variables that serve a specific purpose within a given scope and are often used by the engine to push data to a given script or code fragment.
They are usually no longer present after leaving the scope (e.g. after code execution or after a forEach statement).

_this

Is used to make arguments of a script call (call, exec, execVM, spawn) visible and accessible to the script.

_x

Represents the current element during a loop with: apply, count, configClasses, configProperties, findIf, forEach, select.

2.02

4

Iterating over a HashMap with forEach will return the key as _x and the value as _y.

1.00

4

Exception handling using a try-catch statement declares this variable which contains details about the thrown exception in the try block.

_forEachIndex

Represents the (zero-based) index of a forEach _x element.

1.54

4

The index for Event Handlers added with addEventHandler, addMPEventHandler or addMissionEventHandler.

2.04

4

Additional Event Handler arguments available with addMissionEventHandler

1.54

4

The FSM id for FSMs executed with execFSM.

1.54

4

The called or spawned script handle from within itself.

_time

SQS ONLY. The time elapsed since the script started running.

1.00

4

ⓘ

not engine-maintained, but added by functions_f/initFunctions.sqf script – see scriptName

From within a Function, the TAG_fnc_functionName function name as string (e.g. "myTag_fnc_myFunction")

1.00

4

ⓘ

not engine-maintained, but added by functions_f/initFunctions.sqf script – see scriptName

From within a Function, name of the function that called the current one (_fnc_scriptName used when not defined)

this

• In Addons' config files (e.g. UserActions, onInit, etc.): The object the entry belongs to
• In Dialogs: The player unit that activated control (e.g. via mouseEnter). false if non-activated
• In Object's "Init" line: The object the init line belongs to
• In Triggers
  • "Condition" line: The Boolean return value of the trigger's conditions (e.g. "East Not Present" etc)
  • "On Activation/Deactivation" line: Seems to always return false
• In Waypoints
  • "Condition" or "On Activation/Deactivation" line: The group leader that completed the respective waypoint (or driver, if waypoint is assigned to a vehicle)

thisList

Variable defined by Triggers and Waypoints:

• Triggers:
  • accessible within the Condition, On Activation or On Deactivation script
  • defines an array of objects that have been detected by the trigger (same as what is returned by the list command)
  • thisList in a trigger's On Deactivation field seems to be undefined, and should not be used. It will either return an empty array, or possibly the contents of a different trigger.
• Waypoints:
  • accessible within the Condition or On Activation script
  • defines an array containing all group members that completed the respective waypoint

thisTrigger

Refers to the trigger object itself - accessible within the Condition, On Activation or On Deactivation script.