VKERRORTOOMANYOBJECTS

VKERRORTOOMANYOBJECTS is the stylized name used to refer to the Vulkan error VK_ERROR_TOO_MANY_OBJECTS. This error is returned by Vulkan functions when an operation would cause the total number of Vulkan objects existing for a given device or pool to exceed an implementation-defined limit. In practice, it signals that the application is attempting to create more objects than the driver or hardware allows at that time.

Causes and context

The error can arise from creating new Vulkan objects such as buffers, images, descriptor pools, pipelines, shader modules, command buffers, or other resource handles, especially when object lifetimes are not managed carefully. Common scenarios include rapid per-frame object creation without timely destruction, oversized descriptor pools or layouts, and resource leaks that accumulate across frames or stages of execution. The exact limit is implementation-specific and may vary by device, driver, and API version.

Diagnosis and debugging

Enabling validation layers (the Khronos VK_LAYER_KHRONOS_validation suite) helps identify which creation attempt triggers the error and which object type is involved. Developers should inspect per-type object counts and consult device properties (via vkGetPhysicalDeviceProperties and related queries) to understand relevant limits. Tooling that tracks allocations and lifetimes can reveal leaks or excessive allocations.

Resolution and best practices

Typical fixes include restructuring lifetimes so objects are created only as needed and destroyed promptly, reusing descriptor pools and other resources, and ensuring allocations stay within per-type and per-pool limits. Design improvements may involve pooling strategies, incremental allocations, and more cautious resource creation per frame. If higher limits are required, review driver and device capabilities; some limits are fixed, while others may be adjustable with different device configurations or queues.

See also

VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_MEMORY and other VkResult error codes. Validation layers are recommended to diagnose and pinpoint the exact source of VK_ERROR_TOO_MANY_OBJECTS.