groups-and-containers

# Groups and Containers > Logical grouping (Group), visual grouping with transform inheritance (Container), render-layer grouping (Layer), object pooling, and when to use each in Phaser 4. **Key source paths:** `src/gameobjects/group/`, `src/gameobjects/container/`, `src/gameobjects/layer/` **Related skills:** ../sprites-and-images/SKILL.md, ../physics-arcade/SKILL.md ## Quick Start ```js // In a Scene's create() method: // --- Group: logical collection, no transform, great for pooling --- const enemies = this.add.group(); enemies.create(100, 200, 'enemy'); // creates Sprite at (100,200) enemies.create(300, 200, 'enemy'); // --- Container: visual parent with inherited transform --- const hud = this.add.container(10, 10); const icon = this.add.image(0, 0, 'heart'); const label = this.add.text(20, 0, 'x3'); hud.add([icon, label]); // children move/scale/rotate with hud // --- Layer: render-ordering bucket, no position/scale --- const bgLayer = this.add.layer(); const fgLayer = this.add.layer(); bgLayer.add(this.add.image(400, 300, 'sky')); fgLayer.add(this.add.sprite(400, 300, 'player')); ``` ## Core Concepts ### Group vs Container vs Layer | Feature | Group | Container | Layer | |---|---|---|---| | **Purpose** | Logical collection / pool | Visual parent with transform | Render-order bucket | | **On display list** | No (children are) | Yes (renders children) | Yes (renders children) | | **Position/rotation/scale** | No | Yes (children inherit) | ...