URP

URP, or Universal Render Pipeline, is Unity Technologies' cross‑platform graphics pipeline designed to deliver high performance across a wide range of devices, from mobile and VR to desktops and consoles. It is one of Unity’s Scriptable Render Pipelines, which allow developers to customize rendering through code and project-specific settings.

URP originated as the Lightweight Render Pipeline (LWRP), introduced to provide a lightweight rendering path for lower-end hardware. It was renamed to Universal Render Pipeline in Unity 2019.3 as part of the Scriptable Render Pipeline initiative, with ongoing updates to improve performance and feature parity across platforms. URP aims to balance visual quality with efficiency, making it suitable for many genres and devices.

Key features and architecture include a forward rendering approach with a configurable lighting model, Shader Graph compatibility for authoring shaders without writing code, and built-in support for post-processing via the Volume system. It also includes a dedicated 2D Renderer for 2D projects and supports URP‑specific materials and shaders. Projects switch to URP by installing the Universal RP package, creating a URP Asset, and assigning it in the Graphics settings; assets and materials may require conversion to URP shaders.

URP is positioned as a versatile, performance-oriented alternative to Unity’s HDRP (High Definition Render Pipeline). While it offers many modern effects, it is not intended for the same level of photorealism and advanced rendering features found in HDRP. Limitations relative to HDRP include fewer high-end lighting and rendering options, with emphasis on broad platform compatibility and efficiency.