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File Management

Loading Resources

`load()` vs `preload()`

Function	When to use
`preload("res://path")`	Path is known at compile time; fast and safe
`load("res://path")`	Path is dynamic; loaded when called

# Compile time
const ICON = preload("res://icon.png")

# Runtime
var path = "res://data/items/" + item_name + ".tres"
var item = load(path) as ItemData

Loading and Instantiating Scenes

var scene = load("res://scenes/enemy.tscn") as PackedScene
var enemy = scene.instantiate()
add_child(enemy)

# Shorthand
var player = load("res://scenes/player.tscn").instantiate()
get_tree().current_scene.add_child(player)

Loading JSON and Text Data

var file = FileAccess.open("res://data/config.json", FileAccess.READ)
if not file:
    return

var json = JSON.new()
var err = json.parse(file.get_as_text())
file.close()

if err == OK:
    var data = json.data
    print(data["title"])

Saving and Loading Resources

# Create and save a resource
var weapon = WeaponData.new()
weapon.weapon_name = "Iron Axe"
weapon.damage = 15

DirAccess.make_dir_recursive_absolute("user://weapons")
ResourceSaver.save(weapon, "user://weapons/iron_axe.tres")

# Load it back
var loaded = load("user://weapons/iron_axe.tres") as WeaponData

ConfigFile for settings

var config = ConfigFile.new()
config.set_value("audio", "volume", 0.8)
config.save("user://settings.cfg")

Threaded Loading

var path := "res://scenes/big_level.tscn"
ResourceLoader.load_threaded_request(path)

while ResourceLoader.load_threaded_get_status(path) == ResourceLoader.THREAD_LOAD_IN_PROGRESS:
    await get_tree().process_frame

var scene = ResourceLoader.load_threaded_get(path) as PackedScene

Hidden / Useful Directories

Path	Purpose
`res://`	Project files (read-only in exported games)
`user://`	User data, saves, and settings
`OS.get_user_data_dir()`	Absolute OS path that `user://` maps to
`.godot/`	Imported assets, shader cache, and editor state (do not commit)
`.godot/imported/`	Cached imported resources
`.godot/editor/`	Editor layout and state

Find your user data path

OS.get_user_data_dir() is great for debugging. It returns the absolute OS path that user:// maps to.

Tips and Pitfalls

# load() returns a Resource. Cast it for typed access.
var weapon = load("res://sword.tres") as WeaponData

# Instantiating a PackedScene is not the same as loading it
var scene = load("res://enemy.tscn")      # PackedScene
var enemy = scene.instantiate()            # Node instance

# ResourceSaver overwrites existing files
# Make sure the directory exists first
DirAccess.make_dir_recursive_absolute("user://weapons")
ResourceSaver.save(weapon, "user://weapons/iron_axe.tres")

Quick Summary:

load() and preload() bring assets into memory.
Loaded PackedScenes must be instantiate()-d to become nodes.
ResourceSaver.save() persists Resource objects.
user:// is for writable runtime data; res:// is for shipped files.