Vulkan-Docs/chapters/pipelines.txt

// Copyright (c) 2015-2019 Khronos Group. This work is licensed under a
// Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License; see
// http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

[[pipelines]]
= Pipelines

The following <<pipelines-block-diagram,figure>> shows a block diagram of
the Vulkan pipelines.
Some Vulkan commands specify geometric objects to be drawn or computational
work to be performed, while others specify state controlling how objects are
handled by the various pipeline stages, or control data transfer between
memory organized as images and buffers.
ifndef::VK_NV_raytracing[]
Commands are effectively sent through a processing pipeline, either a
_graphics pipeline_ or a _compute pipeline_.
endif::VK_NV_raytracing[]
ifdef::VK_NV_raytracing[]
Commands are effectively sent through a processing pipeline, either a
_graphics pipeline_, a _compute pipeline_, or a _ray tracing pipeline_.
endif::VK_NV_raytracing[]

ifdef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
The graphics pipeline can be operated in two modes, as either _primitive
shading_ or _mesh shading_ pipeline.

*Primitive Shading*

endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]

The first stage of the <<pipelines-graphics,graphics pipeline>>
(<<drawing,Input Assembler>>) assembles vertices to form geometric
primitives such as points, lines, and triangles, based on a requested
primitive topology.
In the next stage (<<shaders-vertex,Vertex Shader>>) vertices can: be
transformed, computing positions and attributes for each vertex.
If <<tessellation,tessellation>> and/or <<geometry,geometry>> shaders are
supported, they can: then generate multiple primitives from a single input
primitive, possibly changing the primitive topology or generating additional
attribute data in the process.

ifdef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
*Mesh Shading*

When using the <<mesh,_mesh shading_>> pipeline input primitives are not
assembled implicitly, but explicitly through the (<<shaders-mesh,Mesh
Shader>>).
The work on the mesh pipeline is initiated by the application
<<drawing-mesh-shading,drawing>> a set of mesh tasks.

If an optional (<<shaders-task,Task Shader>>) is active, each task triggers
the execution of a task shader workgroup that will generate a new set of
tasks upon completion.
Each of these spawned tasks, or each of the original dispatched tasks if no
task shader is present, triggers the execution of a mesh shader workgroup
that produces an output mesh with a variable-sized number of primitives
assembled from vertices stored in the output mesh.

*Common*
endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]

The final resulting primitives are <<vertexpostproc-clipping,clipped>> to a
clip volume in preparation for the next stage, <<primsrast,Rasterization>>.
The rasterizer produces a series of framebuffer addresses and values using a
two-dimensional description of a point, line segment, or triangle.
Each _fragment_ so produced is fed to the next stage
(<<shaders-fragment,Fragment Shader>>) that performs operations on
individual fragments before they finally alter the framebuffer.
These operations include conditional updates into the framebuffer based on
incoming and previously stored depth values (to effect <<fragops-depth,depth
buffering>>), <<framebuffer-blending,blending>> of incoming fragment colors
with stored colors, as well as <<framebuffer-blendoperations,masking>>,
<<fragops-stencil,stenciling>>, and other <<framebuffer-logicop,logical
operations>> on fragment values.

Framebuffer operations read and write the color and depth/stencil
attachments of the framebuffer for a given subpass of a <<renderpass,render
pass instance>>.
The attachments can: be used as input attachments in the fragment shader in
a later subpass of the same render pass.

The <<pipelines-compute,compute pipeline>> is a separate pipeline from the
graphics pipeline, which operates on one-, two-, or three-dimensional
workgroups which can: read from and write to buffer and image memory.

This ordering is meant only as a tool for describing Vulkan, not as a strict
rule of how Vulkan is implemented, and we present it only as a means to
organize the various operations of the pipelines.
Actual ordering guarantees between pipeline stages are explained in detail
in the <<synchronization-pipeline-stages-order, synchronization chapter>>.

[[pipelines-block-diagram]]
ifndef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
image::images/pipeline.svg[title="Block diagram of the Vulkan pipeline",align="center",opts="{imageopts}"]
endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
ifdef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
image::images/pipelinemesh.svg[title="Block diagram of the Vulkan pipeline",align="center",opts="{imageopts}"]
endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]

Each pipeline is controlled by a monolithic object created from a
description of all of the shader stages and any relevant fixed-function
stages.
<<interfaces,Linking>> the whole pipeline together allows the optimization
of shaders based on their input/outputs and eliminates expensive draw time
state validation.

A pipeline object is bound to the current state using
flink:vkCmdBindPipeline.
Any pipeline object state that is specified as <<pipelines-dynamic-state,
dynamic>> is not applied to the current state when the pipeline object is
bound, but is instead set by dynamic state setting commands.

No state, including dynamic state, is inherited from one command buffer to
another.


[open,refpage='VkPipeline',desc='Opaque handle to a pipeline object',type='handles']
--

ifndef::VK_NV_raytracing[]
Compute and graphics pipelines are each represented by sname:VkPipeline
handles:
endif::VK_NV_raytracing[]
ifdef::VK_NV_raytracing[]
Compute, graphics, and ray tracing pipelines are each represented by
sname:VkPipeline handles:
endif::VK_NV_raytracing[]

include::../api/handles/VkPipeline.txt[]

--


[[pipelines-compute]]
== Compute Pipelines

Compute pipelines consist of a single static compute shader stage and the
pipeline layout.

The compute pipeline represents a compute shader and is created by calling
fname:vkCreateComputePipelines with pname:module and pname:pName selecting
an entry point from a shader module, where that entry point defines a valid
compute shader, in the sname:VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo structure
contained within the sname:VkComputePipelineCreateInfo structure.

[open,refpage='vkCreateComputePipelines',desc='Creates a new compute pipeline object',type='protos']
--

To create compute pipelines, call:

include::../api/protos/vkCreateComputePipelines.txt[]

  * pname:device is the logical device that creates the compute pipelines.
  * pname:pipelineCache is either dlink:VK_NULL_HANDLE, indicating that
    pipeline caching is disabled; or the handle of a valid
    <<pipelines-cache,pipeline cache>> object, in which case use of that
    cache is enabled for the duration of the command.
  * pname:createInfoCount is the length of the pname:pCreateInfos and
    pname:pPipelines arrays.
  * pname:pCreateInfos is an array of slink:VkComputePipelineCreateInfo
    structures.
  * pname:pAllocator controls host memory allocation as described in the
    <<memory-allocation, Memory Allocation>> chapter.
  * pname:pPipelines is a pointer to an array in which the resulting compute
    pipeline objects are returned.
ifdef::editing-notes[]
+
[NOTE]
.editing-note
====
TODO (Jon) - Should we say something like "`the i'th element of the
pname:pPipelines array is created based on the corresponding element of the
pname:pCreateInfos array`"? Also for flink:vkCreateGraphicsPipelines below.
====
endif::editing-notes[]

.Valid Usage
****
  * [[VUID-vkCreateComputePipelines-flags-00695]]
    If the pname:flags member of any element of pname:pCreateInfos contains
    the ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT flag, and the
    pname:basePipelineIndex member of that same element is not `-1`,
    pname:basePipelineIndex must: be less than the index into
    pname:pCreateInfos that corresponds to that element
  * [[VUID-vkCreateComputePipelines-flags-00696]]
    If the pname:flags member of any element of pname:pCreateInfos contains
    the ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT flag, the base pipeline
    must: have been created with the
    ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_ALLOW_DERIVATIVES_BIT flag set
****

include::../validity/protos/vkCreateComputePipelines.txt[]
--

[open,refpage='VkComputePipelineCreateInfo',desc='Structure specifying parameters of a newly created compute pipeline',type='structs']
--

The sname:VkComputePipelineCreateInfo structure is defined as:

include::../api/structs/VkComputePipelineCreateInfo.txt[]

  * pname:sType is the type of this structure.
  * pname:pNext is `NULL` or a pointer to an extension-specific structure.
  * pname:flags is a bitmask of elink:VkPipelineCreateFlagBits specifying
    how the pipeline will be generated.
  * pname:stage is a slink:VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo describing the
    compute shader.
  * pname:layout is the description of binding locations used by both the
    pipeline and descriptor sets used with the pipeline.
  * pname:basePipelineHandle is a pipeline to derive from
  * pname:basePipelineIndex is an index into the pname:pCreateInfos
    parameter to use as a pipeline to derive from

The parameters pname:basePipelineHandle and pname:basePipelineIndex are
described in more detail in <<pipelines-pipeline-derivatives,Pipeline
Derivatives>>.

pname:stage points to a structure of type
sname:VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo.

.Valid Usage
****
  * [[VUID-VkComputePipelineCreateInfo-flags-00697]]
    If pname:flags contains the ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT
    flag, and pname:basePipelineIndex is -1, pname:basePipelineHandle must:
    be a valid handle to a compute sname:VkPipeline
  * [[VUID-VkComputePipelineCreateInfo-flags-00698]]
    If pname:flags contains the ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT
    flag, and pname:basePipelineHandle is dlink:VK_NULL_HANDLE,
    pname:basePipelineIndex must: be a valid index into the calling
    command's pname:pCreateInfos parameter
  * [[VUID-VkComputePipelineCreateInfo-flags-00699]]
    If pname:flags contains the ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT
    flag, and pname:basePipelineIndex is not -1, pname:basePipelineHandle
    must: be dlink:VK_NULL_HANDLE
  * [[VUID-VkComputePipelineCreateInfo-flags-00700]]
    If pname:flags contains the ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT
    flag, and pname:basePipelineHandle is not dlink:VK_NULL_HANDLE,
    pname:basePipelineIndex must: be -1
  * [[VUID-VkComputePipelineCreateInfo-stage-00701]]
    The pname:stage member of pname:stage must: be
    ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_COMPUTE_BIT
  * [[VUID-VkComputePipelineCreateInfo-stage-00702]]
    The shader code for the entry point identified by pname:stage and the
    rest of the state identified by this structure must: adhere to the
    pipeline linking rules described in the <<interfaces,Shader Interfaces>>
    chapter
  * [[VUID-VkComputePipelineCreateInfo-layout-00703]]
    pname:layout must: be
    <<descriptorsets-pipelinelayout-consistency,consistent>> with the layout
    of the compute shader specified in pname:stage
  * [[VUID-VkComputePipelineCreateInfo-layout-01687]]
    The number of resources in pname:layout accessible to the compute shader
    stage must: be less than or equal to
    sname:VkPhysicalDeviceLimits::pname:maxPerStageResources
****

include::../validity/structs/VkComputePipelineCreateInfo.txt[]
--

[open,refpage='VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo',desc='Structure specifying parameters of a newly created pipeline shader stage',type='structs']
--

The sname:VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo structure is defined as:

include::../api/structs/VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo.txt[]

  * pname:sType is the type of this structure.
  * pname:pNext is `NULL` or a pointer to an extension-specific structure.
  * pname:flags is reserved for future use.
  * pname:stage is a elink:VkShaderStageFlagBits value specifying a single
    pipeline stage.
  * pname:module is a slink:VkShaderModule object that contains the shader
    for this stage.
  * pname:pName is a pointer to a null-terminated UTF-8 string specifying
    the entry point name of the shader for this stage.
  * pname:pSpecializationInfo is a pointer to slink:VkSpecializationInfo, as
    described in <<pipelines-specialization-constants,Specialization
    Constants>>, and can: be `NULL`.

.Valid Usage
****
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-00704]]
    If the <<features-features-geometryShader,geometry shaders>> feature is
    not enabled, pname:stage must: not be ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_GEOMETRY_BIT
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-00705]]
    If the <<features-features-tessellationShader,tessellation shaders>>
    feature is not enabled, pname:stage must: not be
    ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_TESSELLATION_CONTROL_BIT or
    ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_TESSELLATION_EVALUATION_BIT
ifdef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-02091]]
    If the <<features-features-meshShader,mesh shader>> feature is not
    enabled, pname:stage must: not be ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_MESH_BIT_NV
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-02092]]
    If the <<features-features-taskShader,task shader>> feature is not
    enabled, pname:stage must: not be ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_TASK_BIT_NV
endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-00706]]
    pname:stage must: not be ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_ALL_GRAPHICS, or
    ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_ALL
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-pName-00707]]
    pname:pName must: be the name of an code:OpEntryPoint in pname:module
    with an execution model that matches pname:stage
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-maxClipDistances-00708]]
    If the identified entry point includes any variable in its interface
    that is declared with the code:ClipDistance code:BuiltIn decoration,
    that variable must: not have an array size greater than
    sname:VkPhysicalDeviceLimits::pname:maxClipDistances
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-maxCullDistances-00709]]
    If the identified entry point includes any variable in its interface
    that is declared with the code:CullDistance code:BuiltIn decoration,
    that variable must: not have an array size greater than
    sname:VkPhysicalDeviceLimits::pname:maxCullDistances
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-maxCombinedClipAndCullDistances-00710]]
    If the identified entry point includes any variables in its interface
    that are declared with the code:ClipDistance or code:CullDistance
    code:BuiltIn decoration, those variables must: not have array sizes
    which sum to more than
    sname:VkPhysicalDeviceLimits::pname:maxCombinedClipAndCullDistances
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-maxSampleMaskWords-00711]]
    If the identified entry point includes any variable in its interface
    that is declared with the code:SampleMask code:BuiltIn decoration, that
    variable must: not have an array size greater than
    sname:VkPhysicalDeviceLimits::pname:maxSampleMaskWords
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-00712]]
    If pname:stage is ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_VERTEX_BIT, the identified entry
    point must: not include any input variable in its interface that is
    decorated with code:CullDistance
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-00713]]
    If pname:stage is ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_TESSELLATION_CONTROL_BIT or
    ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_TESSELLATION_EVALUATION_BIT, and the identified
    entry point has an code:OpExecutionMode instruction that specifies a
    patch size with code:OutputVertices, the patch size must: be greater
    than `0` and less than or equal to
    sname:VkPhysicalDeviceLimits::pname:maxTessellationPatchSize
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-00714]]
    If pname:stage is ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_GEOMETRY_BIT, the identified
    entry point must: have an code:OpExecutionMode instruction that
    specifies a maximum output vertex count that is greater than `0` and
    less than or equal to
    sname:VkPhysicalDeviceLimits::pname:maxGeometryOutputVertices
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-00715]]
    If pname:stage is ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_GEOMETRY_BIT, the identified
    entry point must: have an code:OpExecutionMode instruction that
    specifies an invocation count that is greater than `0` and less than or
    equal to
    sname:VkPhysicalDeviceLimits::pname:maxGeometryShaderInvocations
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-02596]]
    If pname:stage is a vertex processing stage, and the identified entry
    point writes to code:Layer for any primitive, it must: write the same
    value to code:Layer for all vertices of a given primitive
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-02597]]
    If pname:stage is a vertex processing stage, and the identified entry
    point writes to code:ViewportIndex for any primitive, it must: write the
    same value to code:ViewportIndex for all vertices of a given primitive
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-00718]]
    If pname:stage is ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_FRAGMENT_BIT, the identified
    entry point must: not include any output variables in its interface
    decorated with code:CullDistance
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-00719]]
    If pname:stage is ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_FRAGMENT_BIT, and the identified
    entry point writes to code:FragDepth in any execution path, it must:
    write to code:FragDepth in all execution paths
ifdef::VK_EXT_shader_stencil_export[]
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-01511]]
    If pname:stage is ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_FRAGMENT_BIT, and the identified
    entry point writes to code:FragStencilRefEXT in any execution path, it
    must: write to code:FragStencilRefEXT in all execution paths
endif::VK_EXT_shader_stencil_export[]
ifdef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-02093]]
    If pname:stage is ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_MESH_BIT_NV, the identified
    entry point must: have an code:OpExecutionMode instruction that
    specifies a maximum output vertex count, code:OutputVertices, that is
    greater than `0` and less than or equal to
    sname:VkPhysicalDeviceMeshShaderPropertiesNV::pname:maxMeshOutputVertices.
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo-stage-02094]]
    If pname:stage is ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_MESH_BIT_NV, the identified
    entry point must: have an code:OpExecutionMode instruction that
    specifies a maximum output primitive count, code:OutputPrimitivesNV,
    that is greater than `0` and less than or equal to
    sname:VkPhysicalDeviceMeshShaderPropertiesNV::pname:maxMeshOutputPrimitives.
endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
****

include::../validity/structs/VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo.txt[]
--

[open,refpage='VkPipelineShaderStageCreateFlags',desc='Reserved for future use',type='flags']
--
include::../api/flags/VkPipelineShaderStageCreateFlags.txt[]

tname:VkPipelineShaderStageCreateFlags is a bitmask type for setting a mask,
but is currently reserved for future use.
--

[open,refpage='VkShaderStageFlagBits',desc='Bitmask specifying a pipeline stage',type='enums']
--

Commands and structures which need to specify one or more shader stages do
so using a bitmask whose bits correspond to stages.
Bits which can: be set to specify shader stages are:

include::../api/enums/VkShaderStageFlagBits.txt[]

  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_VERTEX_BIT specifies the vertex stage.
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_TESSELLATION_CONTROL_BIT specifies the
    tessellation control stage.
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_TESSELLATION_EVALUATION_BIT specifies the
    tessellation evaluation stage.
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_GEOMETRY_BIT specifies the geometry stage.
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_FRAGMENT_BIT specifies the fragment stage.
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_COMPUTE_BIT specifies the compute stage.
ifdef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_TASK_BIT_NV specifies the task stage.
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_MESH_BIT_NV specifies the mesh stage.
endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_ALL_GRAPHICS is a combination of bits used as
    shorthand to specify all graphics stages defined above (excluding the
    compute stage).
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_ALL is a combination of bits used as shorthand to
    specify all shader stages supported by the device, including all
    additional stages which are introduced by extensions.
ifdef::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_RAYGEN_BIT_NV specifies the ray generation stage.
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_ANY_HIT_BIT_NV specifies the any hit stage.
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_CLOSEST_HIT_BIT_NV specifies the closest hit
    stage.
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_MISS_BIT_NV specifies the miss stage.
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_INTERSECTION_BIT_NV specifies the intersection
    stage.
  * ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_CALLABLE_BIT_NV specifies the callable stage.
endif::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]

[NOTE]
.Note
====
ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_ALL_GRAPHICS only includes the original five graphics
stages included in Vulkan 1.0, and not any stages added by extensions.
Thus, it may not have the desired effect in all cases.
====

--

[open,refpage='VkShaderStageFlags',desc='Bitmask of VkShaderStageFlagBits',type='flags']
--
include::../api/flags/VkShaderStageFlags.txt[]

tname:VkShaderStageFlags is a bitmask type for setting a mask of zero or
more elink:VkShaderStageFlagBits.
--


[[pipelines-graphics]]
== Graphics Pipelines

Graphics pipelines consist of multiple shader stages, multiple
fixed-function pipeline stages, and a pipeline layout.

[open,refpage='vkCreateGraphicsPipelines',desc='Create graphics pipelines',type='protos']
--

To create graphics pipelines, call:

include::../api/protos/vkCreateGraphicsPipelines.txt[]

  * pname:device is the logical device that creates the graphics pipelines.
  * pname:pipelineCache is either dlink:VK_NULL_HANDLE, indicating that
    pipeline caching is disabled; or the handle of a valid
    <<pipelines-cache,pipeline cache>> object, in which case use of that
    cache is enabled for the duration of the command.
  * pname:createInfoCount is the length of the pname:pCreateInfos and
    pname:pPipelines arrays.
  * pname:pCreateInfos is an array of slink:VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo
    structures.
  * pname:pAllocator controls host memory allocation as described in the
    <<memory-allocation, Memory Allocation>> chapter.
  * pname:pPipelines is a pointer to an array in which the resulting
    graphics pipeline objects are returned.

The slink:VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo structure includes an array of shader
create info structures containing all the desired active shader stages, as
well as creation info to define all relevant fixed-function stages, and a
pipeline layout.

.Valid Usage
****
  * [[VUID-vkCreateGraphicsPipelines-flags-00720]]
    If the pname:flags member of any element of pname:pCreateInfos contains
    the ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT flag, and the
    pname:basePipelineIndex member of that same element is not `-1`,
    pname:basePipelineIndex must: be less than the index into
    pname:pCreateInfos that corresponds to that element
  * [[VUID-vkCreateGraphicsPipelines-flags-00721]]
    If the pname:flags member of any element of pname:pCreateInfos contains
    the ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT flag, the base pipeline
    must: have been created with the
    ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_ALLOW_DERIVATIVES_BIT flag set
****

include::../validity/protos/vkCreateGraphicsPipelines.txt[]
--

[open,refpage='VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo',desc='Structure specifying parameters of a newly created graphics pipeline',type='structs']
--

The sname:VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo structure is defined as:

include::../api/structs/VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo.txt[]

  * pname:sType is the type of this structure.
  * pname:pNext is `NULL` or a pointer to an extension-specific structure.
  * pname:flags is a bitmask of elink:VkPipelineCreateFlagBits specifying
    how the pipeline will be generated.
  * pname:stageCount is the number of entries in the pname:pStages array.
  * pname:pStages is an array of size pname:stageCount structures of type
    slink:VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo describing the set of the shader
    stages to be included in the graphics pipeline.
  * pname:pVertexInputState is a pointer to an instance of the
    slink:VkPipelineVertexInputStateCreateInfo structure.
ifdef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
    It is ignored if the pipeline includes a mesh shader stage.
endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
  * pname:pInputAssemblyState is a pointer to an instance of the
    slink:VkPipelineInputAssemblyStateCreateInfo structure which determines
    input assembly behavior, as described in <<drawing, Drawing Commands>>.
ifdef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
    It is ignored if the pipeline includes a mesh shader stage.
endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
  * pname:pTessellationState is a pointer to an instance of the
    slink:VkPipelineTessellationStateCreateInfo structure, and is ignored if
    the pipeline does not include a tessellation control shader stage and
    tessellation evaluation shader stage.
  * pname:pViewportState is a pointer to an instance of the
    slink:VkPipelineViewportStateCreateInfo structure, and is ignored if the
    pipeline has rasterization disabled.
  * pname:pRasterizationState is a pointer to an instance of the
    slink:VkPipelineRasterizationStateCreateInfo structure.
  * pname:pMultisampleState is a pointer to an instance of the
    slink:VkPipelineMultisampleStateCreateInfo, and is ignored if the
    pipeline has rasterization disabled.
  * pname:pDepthStencilState is a pointer to an instance of the
    slink:VkPipelineDepthStencilStateCreateInfo structure, and is ignored if
    the pipeline has rasterization disabled or if the subpass of the render
    pass the pipeline is created against does not use a depth/stencil
    attachment.
  * pname:pColorBlendState is a pointer to an instance of the
    slink:VkPipelineColorBlendStateCreateInfo structure, and is ignored if
    the pipeline has rasterization disabled or if the subpass of the render
    pass the pipeline is created against does not use any color attachments.
  * pname:pDynamicState is a pointer to
    slink:VkPipelineDynamicStateCreateInfo and is used to indicate which
    properties of the pipeline state object are dynamic and can: be changed
    independently of the pipeline state.
    This can: be `NULL`, which means no state in the pipeline is considered
    dynamic.
  * pname:layout is the description of binding locations used by both the
    pipeline and descriptor sets used with the pipeline.
  * pname:renderPass is a handle to a render pass object describing the
    environment in which the pipeline will be used; the pipeline must: only
    be used with an instance of any render pass compatible with the one
    provided.
    See <<renderpass-compatibility,Render Pass Compatibility>> for more
    information.
  * pname:subpass is the index of the subpass in the render pass where this
    pipeline will be used.
  * pname:basePipelineHandle is a pipeline to derive from.
  * pname:basePipelineIndex is an index into the pname:pCreateInfos
    parameter to use as a pipeline to derive from.

The parameters pname:basePipelineHandle and pname:basePipelineIndex are
described in more detail in <<pipelines-pipeline-derivatives,Pipeline
Derivatives>>.

pname:pStages points to an array of slink:VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo
structures, which were previously described in <<pipelines-compute,Compute
Pipelines>>.

pname:pDynamicState points to a structure of type
slink:VkPipelineDynamicStateCreateInfo.

ifdef::VK_NV_glsl_shader[]
If any shader stage fails to compile,
ifdef::VK_EXT_debug_report[]
the compile log will be reported back to the application, and
endif::VK_EXT_debug_report[]
ename:VK_ERROR_INVALID_SHADER_NV will be generated.
endif::VK_NV_glsl_shader[]

.Valid Usage
****
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-flags-00722]]
    If pname:flags contains the ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT
    flag, and pname:basePipelineIndex is -1, pname:basePipelineHandle must:
    be a valid handle to a graphics sname:VkPipeline
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-flags-00723]]
    If pname:flags contains the ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT
    flag, and pname:basePipelineHandle is dlink:VK_NULL_HANDLE,
    pname:basePipelineIndex must: be a valid index into the calling
    command's pname:pCreateInfos parameter
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-flags-00724]]
    If pname:flags contains the ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT
    flag, and pname:basePipelineIndex is not -1, pname:basePipelineHandle
    must: be dlink:VK_NULL_HANDLE
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-flags-00725]]
    If pname:flags contains the ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT
    flag, and pname:basePipelineHandle is not dlink:VK_NULL_HANDLE,
    pname:basePipelineIndex must: be -1
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-stage-00726]]
    The pname:stage member of each element of pname:pStages must: be unique
ifndef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-stage-00727]]
    The pname:stage member of one element of pname:pStages must: be
    ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_VERTEX_BIT
endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
ifdef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-02095]]
    The geometric shader stages provided in pname:pStages must: be either
    from the mesh shading pipeline (pname:stage is
    ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_TASK_BIT_NV or ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_MESH_BIT_NV)
    or from the primitive shading pipeline (pname:stage is
    ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_VERTEX_BIT,
    ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_TESSELLATION_CONTROL_BIT,
    ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_TESSELLATION_EVALUATION_BIT, or
    ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_GEOMETRY_BIT).
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-stage-02096]]
    The pname:stage member of one element of pname:pStages must: be either
    ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_VERTEX_BIT or ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_MESH_BIT_NV.
endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-stage-00728]]
    The pname:stage member of each element of pname:pStages must: not be
    ename:VK_SHADER_STAGE_COMPUTE_BIT
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-00729]]
    If pname:pStages includes a tessellation control shader stage, it must:
    include a tessellation evaluation shader stage
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-00730]]
    If pname:pStages includes a tessellation evaluation shader stage, it
    must: include a tessellation control shader stage
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-00731]]
    If pname:pStages includes a tessellation control shader stage and a
    tessellation evaluation shader stage, pname:pTessellationState must: be
    a valid pointer to a valid sname:VkPipelineTessellationStateCreateInfo
    structure
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-00732]]
    If pname:pStages includes tessellation shader stages, the shader code of
    at least one stage must: contain an code:OpExecutionMode instruction
    that specifies the type of subdivision in the pipeline
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-00733]]
    If pname:pStages includes tessellation shader stages, and the shader
    code of both stages contain an code:OpExecutionMode instruction that
    specifies the type of subdivision in the pipeline, they must: both
    specify the same subdivision mode
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-00734]]
    If pname:pStages includes tessellation shader stages, the shader code of
    at least one stage must: contain an code:OpExecutionMode instruction
    that specifies the output patch size in the pipeline
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-00735]]
    If pname:pStages includes tessellation shader stages, and the shader
    code of both contain an code:OpExecutionMode instruction that specifies
    the out patch size in the pipeline, they must: both specify the same
    patch size
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-00736]]
    If pname:pStages includes tessellation shader stages, the pname:topology
    member of pname:pInputAssembly must: be
    ename:VK_PRIMITIVE_TOPOLOGY_PATCH_LIST
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-topology-00737]]
    If the pname:topology member of pname:pInputAssembly is
    ename:VK_PRIMITIVE_TOPOLOGY_PATCH_LIST, pname:pStages must: include
    tessellation shader stages
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-00738]]
    If pname:pStages includes a geometry shader stage, and does not include
    any tessellation shader stages, its shader code must: contain an
    code:OpExecutionMode instruction that specifies an input primitive type
    that is <<shaders-geometry-execution, compatible>> with the primitive
    topology specified in pname:pInputAssembly
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-00739]]
    If pname:pStages includes a geometry shader stage, and also includes
    tessellation shader stages, its shader code must: contain an
    code:OpExecutionMode instruction that specifies an input primitive type
    that is <<shaders-geometry-execution, compatible>> with the primitive
    topology that is output by the tessellation stages
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-00740]]
    If pname:pStages includes a fragment shader stage and a geometry shader
    stage, and the fragment shader code reads from an input variable that is
    decorated with code:PrimitiveID, then the geometry shader code must:
    write to a matching output variable, decorated with code:PrimitiveID, in
    all execution paths
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-00741]]
    If pname:pStages includes a fragment shader stage, its shader code must:
    not read from any input attachment that is defined as
    ename:VK_ATTACHMENT_UNUSED in pname:subpass
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-00742]]
    The shader code for the entry points identified by pname:pStages, and
    the rest of the state identified by this structure must: adhere to the
    pipeline linking rules described in the <<interfaces,Shader Interfaces>>
    chapter
// The block of VU below come in alternate versions when the extension is
// enabled.
ifndef::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_maintenance2[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-subpass-00743]]
    If rasterization is not disabled and pname:subpass uses a depth/stencil
    attachment in pname:renderPass that has a layout of
    ename:VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_DEPTH_STENCIL_READ_ONLY_OPTIMAL in the
    sname:VkAttachmentReference defined by pname:subpass, the
    pname:depthWriteEnable member of pname:pDepthStencilState must: be
    ename:VK_FALSE
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-subpass-00744]]
    If rasterization is not disabled and pname:subpass uses a depth/stencil
    attachment in pname:renderPass that has a layout of
    ename:VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_DEPTH_STENCIL_READ_ONLY_OPTIMAL in the
    sname:VkAttachmentReference defined by pname:subpass, the pname:failOp,
    pname:passOp and pname:depthFailOp members of each of the pname:front
    and pname:back members of pname:pDepthStencilState must: be
    ename:VK_STENCIL_OP_KEEP
endif::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_maintenance2[]
// The nested ifdefs are there in anticipation of the hoped-for day when the
// VU extractor and validation layers can handle VU with imbedded
// conditionals. They are commented out until then.
ifdef::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_maintenance2[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-subpass-01756]]
    If rasterization is not disabled and pname:subpass uses a depth/stencil
    attachment in pname:renderPass that has a layout of
    ename:VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_DEPTH_STENCIL_READ_ONLY_OPTIMAL
// ifdef::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_maintenance2[]
    or ename:VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_DEPTH_READ_ONLY_STENCIL_ATTACHMENT_OPTIMAL
// endif::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_maintenance2[]
    in the sname:VkAttachmentReference defined by pname:subpass, the
    pname:depthWriteEnable member of pname:pDepthStencilState must: be
    ename:VK_FALSE
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-subpass-01757]]
    If rasterization is not disabled and pname:subpass uses a depth/stencil
    attachment in pname:renderPass that has a layout of
    ename:VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_DEPTH_STENCIL_READ_ONLY_OPTIMAL
// ifdef::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_maintenance2[]
    or ename:VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_DEPTH_ATTACHMENT_STENCIL_READ_ONLY_OPTIMAL
// endif::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_maintenance2[]
    in the sname:VkAttachmentReference defined by pname:subpass, the
    pname:failOp, pname:passOp and pname:depthFailOp members of each of the
    pname:front and pname:back members of pname:pDepthStencilState must: be
    ename:VK_STENCIL_OP_KEEP
endif::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_maintenance2[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-blendEnable-02023]]
    If rasterization is not disabled and the subpass uses color attachments,
    then for each color attachment in the subpass the pname:blendEnable
    member of the corresponding element of the pname:pAttachment member of
    pname:pColorBlendState must: be ename:VK_FALSE if the attached image's
    <<resources-image-format-features,format features>> does not contain the
    ename:VK_FORMAT_FEATURE_COLOR_ATTACHMENT_BLEND_BIT.
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-attachmentCount-00746]]
    If rasterization is not disabled and the subpass uses color attachments,
    the pname:attachmentCount member of pname:pColorBlendState must: be
    equal to the pname:colorAttachmentCount used to create pname:subpass
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pDynamicStates-00747]]
    If no element of the pname:pDynamicStates member of pname:pDynamicState
    is ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_VIEWPORT, the pname:pViewports member of
    pname:pViewportState must: be a valid pointer to an array of
    pname:pViewportState::pname:viewportCount valid sname:VkViewport
    structures
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pDynamicStates-00748]]
    If no element of the pname:pDynamicStates member of pname:pDynamicState
    is ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_SCISSOR, the pname:pScissors member of
    pname:pViewportState must: be a valid pointer to an array of
    pname:pViewportState::pname:scissorCount sname:VkRect2D structures
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pDynamicStates-00749]]
    If the wide lines feature is not enabled, and no element of the
    pname:pDynamicStates member of pname:pDynamicState is
    ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_LINE_WIDTH, the pname:lineWidth member of
    pname:pRasterizationState must: be `1.0`
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-rasterizerDiscardEnable-00750]]
    If the pname:rasterizerDiscardEnable member of pname:pRasterizationState
    is ename:VK_FALSE, pname:pViewportState must: be a valid pointer to a
    valid sname:VkPipelineViewportStateCreateInfo structure
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-rasterizerDiscardEnable-00751]]
    If the pname:rasterizerDiscardEnable member of pname:pRasterizationState
    is ename:VK_FALSE, pname:pMultisampleState must: be a valid pointer to a
    valid sname:VkPipelineMultisampleStateCreateInfo structure
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-rasterizerDiscardEnable-00752]]
    If the pname:rasterizerDiscardEnable member of pname:pRasterizationState
    is ename:VK_FALSE, and pname:subpass uses a depth/stencil attachment,
    pname:pDepthStencilState must: be a valid pointer to a valid
    sname:VkPipelineDepthStencilStateCreateInfo structure
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-rasterizerDiscardEnable-00753]]
    If the pname:rasterizerDiscardEnable member of pname:pRasterizationState
    is ename:VK_FALSE, and pname:subpass uses color attachments,
    pname:pColorBlendState must: be a valid pointer to a valid
    sname:VkPipelineColorBlendStateCreateInfo structure
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pDynamicStates-00754]]
    If the depth bias clamping feature is not enabled, no element of the
    pname:pDynamicStates member of pname:pDynamicState is
    ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_DEPTH_BIAS, and the pname:depthBiasEnable member
    of pname:pRasterizationState is ename:VK_TRUE, the pname:depthBiasClamp
    member of pname:pRasterizationState must: be `0.0`
ifndef::VK_EXT_depth_range_unrestricted[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pDynamicStates-00755]]
    If no element of the pname:pDynamicStates member of pname:pDynamicState
    is ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_DEPTH_BOUNDS, and the
    pname:depthBoundsTestEnable member of pname:pDepthStencilState is
    ename:VK_TRUE, the pname:minDepthBounds and pname:maxDepthBounds members
    of pname:pDepthStencilState must: be between `0.0` and `1.0`, inclusive
endif::VK_EXT_depth_range_unrestricted[]
ifdef::VK_EXT_depth_range_unrestricted[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pDynamicStates-02510]]
    If the `<<VK_EXT_depth_range_unrestricted>>` extension is not enabled
    and no element of the pname:pDynamicStates member of pname:pDynamicState
    is ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_DEPTH_BOUNDS, and the
    pname:depthBoundsTestEnable member of pname:pDepthStencilState is
    ename:VK_TRUE, the pname:minDepthBounds and pname:maxDepthBounds members
    of pname:pDepthStencilState must: be between `0.0` and `1.0`, inclusive
endif::VK_EXT_depth_range_unrestricted[]
ifdef::VK_EXT_sample_locations[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pDynamicStates-01521]]
    If no element of the pname:pDynamicStates member of pname:pDynamicState
    is ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_SAMPLE_LOCATIONS_EXT, and the
    pname:sampleLocationsEnable member of a
    slink:VkPipelineSampleLocationsStateCreateInfoEXT structure chained to
    the pname:pNext chain of pname:pMultisampleState is ename:VK_TRUE,
    pname:sampleLocationsInfo.sampleLocationGridSize.width must: evenly
    divide
    slink:VkMultisamplePropertiesEXT::pname:sampleLocationGridSize.width as
    returned by flink:vkGetPhysicalDeviceMultisamplePropertiesEXT with a
    pname:samples parameter equaling pname:rasterizationSamples
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pDynamicStates-01522]]
    If no element of the pname:pDynamicStates member of pname:pDynamicState
    is ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_SAMPLE_LOCATIONS_EXT, and the
    pname:sampleLocationsEnable member of a
    slink:VkPipelineSampleLocationsStateCreateInfoEXT structure chained to
    the pname:pNext chain of pname:pMultisampleState is ename:VK_TRUE,
    pname:sampleLocationsInfo.sampleLocationGridSize.height must: evenly
    divide
    slink:VkMultisamplePropertiesEXT::pname:sampleLocationGridSize.height as
    returned by flink:vkGetPhysicalDeviceMultisamplePropertiesEXT with a
    pname:samples parameter equaling pname:rasterizationSamples
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pDynamicStates-01523]]
    If no element of the pname:pDynamicStates member of pname:pDynamicState
    is ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_SAMPLE_LOCATIONS_EXT, and the
    pname:sampleLocationsEnable member of a
    slink:VkPipelineSampleLocationsStateCreateInfoEXT structure chained to
    the pname:pNext chain of pname:pMultisampleState is ename:VK_TRUE,
    pname:sampleLocationsInfo.sampleLocationsPerPixel must: equal
    pname:rasterizationSamples
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-sampleLocationsEnable-01524]]
    If the pname:sampleLocationsEnable member of a
    slink:VkPipelineSampleLocationsStateCreateInfoEXT structure chained to
    the pname:pNext chain of pname:pMultisampleState is ename:VK_TRUE, the
    fragment shader code must: not statically use the extended instruction
    code:InterpolateAtSample
endif::VK_EXT_sample_locations[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-layout-00756]]
    pname:layout must: be
    <<descriptorsets-pipelinelayout-consistency,consistent>> with all
    shaders specified in pname:pStages
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-subpass-00757]]
    If neither the `VK_AMD_mixed_attachment_samples` nor the
    `VK_NV_framebuffer_mixed_samples` extensions are enabled, and if
    pname:subpass uses color and/or depth/stencil attachments, then the
    pname:rasterizationSamples member of pname:pMultisampleState must: be
    the same as the sample count for those subpass attachments
ifdef::VK_AMD_mixed_attachment_samples[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-subpass-01505]]
    If the `VK_AMD_mixed_attachment_samples` extension is enabled, and if
    pname:subpass uses color and/or depth/stencil attachments, then the
    pname:rasterizationSamples member of pname:pMultisampleState must: equal
    the maximum of the sample counts of those subpass attachments
endif::VK_AMD_mixed_attachment_samples[]
ifdef::VK_NV_framebuffer_mixed_samples[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-subpass-01411]]
    If the `VK_NV_framebuffer_mixed_samples` extension is enabled, and if
    pname:subpass has a depth/stencil attachment and depth test, stencil
    test, or depth bounds test are enabled, then the
    pname:rasterizationSamples member of pname:pMultisampleState must: be
    the same as the sample count of the depth/stencil attachment
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-subpass-01412]]
    If the `VK_NV_framebuffer_mixed_samples` extension is enabled, and if
    pname:subpass has any color attachments, then the
    pname:rasterizationSamples member of pname:pMultisampleState must: be
    greater than or equal to the sample count for those subpass attachments
endif::VK_NV_framebuffer_mixed_samples[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-subpass-00758]]
    If pname:subpass does not use any color and/or depth/stencil
    attachments, then the pname:rasterizationSamples member of
    pname:pMultisampleState must: follow the rules for a
    <<renderpass-noattachments, zero-attachment subpass>>
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-subpass-00759]]
    pname:subpass must: be a valid subpass within pname:renderPass
ifdef::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_multiview[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-renderPass-00760]]
    If the pname:renderPass has multiview enabled and pname:subpass has more
    than one bit set in the view mask and pname:multiviewTessellationShader
    is not enabled, then pname:pStages must: not include tessellation
    shaders.
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-renderPass-00761]]
    If the pname:renderPass has multiview enabled and pname:subpass has more
    than one bit set in the view mask and pname:multiviewGeometryShader is
    not enabled, then pname:pStages must: not include a geometry shader.
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-renderPass-00762]]
    If the pname:renderPass has multiview enabled and pname:subpass has more
    than one bit set in the view mask, shaders in the pipeline must: not
    write to the code:Layer built-in output
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-renderPass-00763]]
    If the pname:renderPass has multiview enabled, then all shaders must:
    not include variables decorated with the code:Layer built-in decoration
    in their interfaces.
endif::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_multiview[]
ifdef::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_device_group[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-flags-00764]]
    pname:flags must: not contain the ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DISPATCH_BASE
    flag.
endif::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_device_group[]
ifdef::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_maintenance2[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-01565]]
    If pname:pStages includes a fragment shader stage and an input
    attachment was referenced by the
    slink:VkRenderPassInputAttachmentAspectCreateInfo at pname:renderPass
    create time, its shader code must: not read from any aspect that was not
    specified in the pname:aspectMask of the corresponding
    slink:VkInputAttachmentAspectReference structure.
endif::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_maintenance2[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-layout-01688]]
    The number of resources in pname:layout accessible to each shader stage
    that is used by the pipeline must: be less than or equal to
    sname:VkPhysicalDeviceLimits::pname:maxPerStageResources
ifdef::VK_NV_clip_space_w_scaling[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pDynamicStates-01715]]
    If no element of the pname:pDynamicStates member of pname:pDynamicState
    is ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_VIEWPORT_W_SCALING_NV, and the
    pname:viewportWScalingEnable member of a
    slink:VkPipelineViewportWScalingStateCreateInfoNV structure, chained to
    the pname:pNext chain of pname:pViewportState, is ename:VK_TRUE, the
    pname:pViewportWScalings member of the
    slink:VkPipelineViewportWScalingStateCreateInfoNV must: be a pointer to
    an array of
    slink:VkPipelineViewportWScalingStateCreateInfoNV::pname:viewportCount
    valid slink:VkViewportWScalingNV structures
endif::VK_NV_clip_space_w_scaling[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-02097]]
    If pname:pStages includes a vertex shader stage, pname:pVertexInputState
    must: be a valid pointer to a valid
    slink:VkPipelineVertexInputStateCreateInfo structure
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-02098]]
    If pname:pStages includes a vertex shader stage,
    pname:pInputAssemblyState must: be a valid pointer to a valid
    slink:VkPipelineInputAssemblyStateCreateInfo structure
ifdef::VK_EXT_transform_feedback[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-02317]]
    The code:Xfb execution mode can: be specified by only one shader stage
    in pname:pStages
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-pStages-02318]]
    If any shader stage in pname:pStages specifies code:Xfb execution mode
    it must: be the last vertex processing stage
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-rasterizationStream-02319]]
    If a
    sname:VkPipelineRasterizationStateStreamCreateInfoEXT::pname:rasterizationStream
    value other than zero is specified, all variables in the output
    interface of the entry point being compiled decorated with
    code:Position, code:PointSize, code:ClipDistance, or code:CullDistance
    must: all be decorated with identical code:Stream values that match the
    pname:rasterizationStream
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-rasterizationStream-02320]]
    If
    sname:VkPipelineRasterizationStateStreamCreateInfoEXT::pname:rasterizationStream
    is zero, or not specified, all variables in the output interface of the
    entry point being compiled decorated with code:Position, code:PointSize,
    code:ClipDistance, or code:CullDistance must: all be decorated with a
    code:Stream value of zero, or must: not specify the code:Stream
    decoration
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-geometryStreams-02321]]
    If the last vertex processing stage is a geometry shader, and that
    geometry shader uses the code:GeometryStreams capability, then
    sname:VkPhysicalDeviceTransformFeedbackFeaturesEXT::pname:geometryStreams
    feature must: be enabled
ifdef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
  * [[VUID-VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo-None-02322]]
    If there are any mesh shader stages in the pipeline there must: not be
    any shader stage in the pipeline with a code:Xfb execution mode.
endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
endif::VK_EXT_transform_feedback[]
****

include::../validity/structs/VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo.txt[]
--

[open,refpage='VkPipelineCreateFlagBits',desc='Bitmask controlling how a pipeline is created',type='enums']
--

Possible values of the pname:flags member of
ifndef::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]
slink:VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo and slink:VkComputePipelineCreateInfo,
endif::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]
ifdef::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]
slink:VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo, slink:VkComputePipelineCreateInfo, and
slink:VkRayTracingPipelineCreateInfoNV,
endif::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]
specifying how a pipeline is created, are:

include::../api/enums/VkPipelineCreateFlagBits.txt[]

  * ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DISABLE_OPTIMIZATION_BIT specifies that the
    created pipeline will not be optimized.
    Using this flag may: reduce the time taken to create the pipeline.
  * ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_ALLOW_DERIVATIVES_BIT specifies that the
    pipeline to be created is allowed to be the parent of a pipeline that
    will be created in a subsequent call to flink:vkCreateGraphicsPipelines
    or flink:vkCreateComputePipelines.
  * ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT specifies that the pipeline to
    be created will be a child of a previously created parent pipeline.
ifdef::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_device_group[]
ifdef::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_multiview[]
  * ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_VIEW_INDEX_FROM_DEVICE_INDEX_BIT specifies that
    any shader input variables decorated as code:ViewIndex will be assigned
    values as if they were decorated as code:DeviceIndex.
endif::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_multiview[]
  * ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DISPATCH_BASE specifies that a compute pipeline
    can: be used with flink:vkCmdDispatchBase with a non-zero base
    workgroup.
endif::VK_VERSION_1_1,VK_KHR_device_group[]
ifdef::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]
  * ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DEFER_COMPILE_BIT_NV specifies that a pipeline
    is created with all shaders in the deferred state.
    Before using the pipeline the application must: call
    flink:vkCompileDeferredNV exactly once on each shader in the pipeline
    before using the pipeline.
endif::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]

It is valid to set both ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_ALLOW_DERIVATIVES_BIT and
ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT.
This allows a pipeline to be both a parent and possibly a child in a
pipeline hierarchy.
See <<pipelines-pipeline-derivatives,Pipeline Derivatives>> for more
information.

--

[open,refpage='VkPipelineCreateFlags',desc='Bitmask of VkPipelineCreateFlagBits',type='flags']
--
include::../api/flags/VkPipelineCreateFlags.txt[]

tname:VkPipelineCreateFlags is a bitmask type for setting a mask of zero or
more elink:VkPipelineCreateFlagBits.
--

[open,refpage='VkPipelineDynamicStateCreateInfo',desc='Structure specifying parameters of a newly created pipeline dynamic state',type='structs']
--

The sname:VkPipelineDynamicStateCreateInfo structure is defined as:

include::../api/structs/VkPipelineDynamicStateCreateInfo.txt[]

  * pname:sType is the type of this structure.
  * pname:pNext is `NULL` or a pointer to an extension-specific structure.
  * pname:flags is reserved for future use.
  * pname:dynamicStateCount is the number of elements in the
    pname:pDynamicStates array.
  * pname:pDynamicStates is an array of elink:VkDynamicState values
    specifying which pieces of pipeline state will use the values from
    dynamic state commands rather than from pipeline state creation info.

.Valid Usage
****
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineDynamicStateCreateInfo-pDynamicStates-01442]]
    Each element of pname:pDynamicStates must: be unique
****

include::../validity/structs/VkPipelineDynamicStateCreateInfo.txt[]
--

[open,refpage='VkPipelineDynamicStateCreateFlags',desc='Reserved for future use',type='flags']
--
include::../api/flags/VkPipelineDynamicStateCreateFlags.txt[]

tname:VkPipelineDynamicStateCreateFlags is a bitmask type for setting a
mask, but is currently reserved for future use.
--

[open,refpage='VkDynamicState',desc='Indicate which dynamic state is taken from dynamic state commands',type='enums']
--

The source of different pieces of dynamic state is specified by the
slink:VkPipelineDynamicStateCreateInfo::pname:pDynamicStates property of the
currently active pipeline, each of whose elements must: be one of the
values:

include::../api/enums/VkDynamicState.txt[]

  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_VIEWPORT specifies that the pname:pViewports
    state in sname:VkPipelineViewportStateCreateInfo will be ignored and
    must: be set dynamically with flink:vkCmdSetViewport before any draw
    commands.
    The number of viewports used by a pipeline is still specified by the
    pname:viewportCount member of sname:VkPipelineViewportStateCreateInfo.
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_SCISSOR specifies that the pname:pScissors state
    in sname:VkPipelineViewportStateCreateInfo will be ignored and must: be
    set dynamically with flink:vkCmdSetScissor before any draw commands.
    The number of scissor rectangles used by a pipeline is still specified
    by the pname:scissorCount member of
    sname:VkPipelineViewportStateCreateInfo.
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_LINE_WIDTH specifies that the pname:lineWidth
    state in sname:VkPipelineRasterizationStateCreateInfo will be ignored
    and must: be set dynamically with flink:vkCmdSetLineWidth before any
    draw commands that generate line primitives for the rasterizer.
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_DEPTH_BIAS specifies that the
    pname:depthBiasConstantFactor, pname:depthBiasClamp and
    pname:depthBiasSlopeFactor states in
    sname:VkPipelineRasterizationStateCreateInfo will be ignored and must:
    be set dynamically with flink:vkCmdSetDepthBias before any draws are
    performed with pname:depthBiasEnable in
    sname:VkPipelineRasterizationStateCreateInfo set to ename:VK_TRUE.
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_BLEND_CONSTANTS specifies that the
    pname:blendConstants state in sname:VkPipelineColorBlendStateCreateInfo
    will be ignored and must: be set dynamically with
    flink:vkCmdSetBlendConstants before any draws are performed with a
    pipeline state with sname:VkPipelineColorBlendAttachmentState member
    pname:blendEnable set to ename:VK_TRUE and any of the blend functions
    using a constant blend color.
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_DEPTH_BOUNDS specifies that the
    pname:minDepthBounds and pname:maxDepthBounds states of
    slink:VkPipelineDepthStencilStateCreateInfo will be ignored and must: be
    set dynamically with flink:vkCmdSetDepthBounds before any draws are
    performed with a pipeline state with
    sname:VkPipelineDepthStencilStateCreateInfo member
    pname:depthBoundsTestEnable set to ename:VK_TRUE.
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_STENCIL_COMPARE_MASK specifies that the
    pname:compareMask state in sname:VkPipelineDepthStencilStateCreateInfo
    for both pname:front and pname:back will be ignored and must: be set
    dynamically with flink:vkCmdSetStencilCompareMask before any draws are
    performed with a pipeline state with
    sname:VkPipelineDepthStencilStateCreateInfo member
    pname:stencilTestEnable set to ename:VK_TRUE
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_STENCIL_WRITE_MASK specifies that the
    pname:writeMask state in sname:VkPipelineDepthStencilStateCreateInfo for
    both pname:front and pname:back will be ignored and must: be set
    dynamically with flink:vkCmdSetStencilWriteMask before any draws are
    performed with a pipeline state with
    sname:VkPipelineDepthStencilStateCreateInfo member
    pname:stencilTestEnable set to ename:VK_TRUE
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_STENCIL_REFERENCE specifies that the
    pname:reference state in sname:VkPipelineDepthStencilStateCreateInfo for
    both pname:front and pname:back will be ignored and must: be set
    dynamically with flink:vkCmdSetStencilReference before any draws are
    performed with a pipeline state with
    sname:VkPipelineDepthStencilStateCreateInfo member
    pname:stencilTestEnable set to ename:VK_TRUE
ifdef::VK_NV_clip_space_w_scaling[]
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_VIEWPORT_W_SCALING_NV specifies that the
    pname:pViewportScalings state in
    slink:VkPipelineViewportWScalingStateCreateInfoNV will be ignored and
    must: be set dynamically with flink:vkCmdSetViewportWScalingNV before
    any draws are performed with a pipeline state with
    slink:VkPipelineViewportWScalingStateCreateInfoNV member
    pname:viewportScalingEnable set to ename:VK_TRUE
endif::VK_NV_clip_space_w_scaling[]
ifdef::VK_EXT_discard_rectangles[]
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_DISCARD_RECTANGLE_EXT specifies that the
    pname:pDiscardRectangles state in
    slink:VkPipelineDiscardRectangleStateCreateInfoEXT will be ignored and
    must: be set dynamically with flink:vkCmdSetDiscardRectangleEXT before
    any draw or clear commands.
    The elink:VkDiscardRectangleModeEXT and the number of active discard
    rectangles is still specified by the pname:discardRectangleMode and
    pname:discardRectangleCount members of
    sname:VkPipelineDiscardRectangleStateCreateInfoEXT.
endif::VK_EXT_discard_rectangles[]
ifdef::VK_EXT_sample_locations[]
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_SAMPLE_LOCATIONS_EXT specifies that the
    pname:sampleLocationsInfo state in
    slink:VkPipelineSampleLocationsStateCreateInfoEXT will be ignored and
    must: be set dynamically with flink:vkCmdSetSampleLocationsEXT before
    any draw or clear commands.
    Enabling custom sample locations is still indicated by the
    pname:sampleLocationsEnable member of
    sname:VkPipelineSampleLocationsStateCreateInfoEXT.
endif::VK_EXT_sample_locations[]
ifdef::VK_NV_scissor_exclusive[]
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_EXCLUSIVE_SCISSOR_NV specifies that the
    pname:pExclusiveScissors state in
    sname:VkPipelineViewportExclusiveScissorStateCreateInfoNV will be
    ignored and must: be set dynamically with
    flink:vkCmdSetExclusiveScissorNV before any draw commands.
    The number of exclusive scissor rectangles used by a pipeline is still
    specified by the pname:exclusiveScissorCount member of
    sname:VkPipelineViewportExclusiveScissorStateCreateInfoNV.
endif::VK_NV_scissor_exclusive[]
ifdef::VK_NV_shading_rate_image[]
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_VIEWPORT_SHADING_RATE_PALETTE_NV specifies that
    the pname:pShadingRatePalettes state in
    slink:VkPipelineViewportShadingRateImageStateCreateInfoNV will be
    ignored and must: be set dynamically with
    flink:vkCmdSetViewportShadingRatePaletteNV before any draw commands.
  * ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_VIEWPORT_COARSE_SAMPLE_ORDER_NV specifies that
    the coarse sample order state in
    slink:VkPipelineViewportCoarseSampleOrderStateCreateInfoNV will be
    ignored and must: be set dynamically with
    flink:vkCmdSetCoarseSampleOrderNV before any draw commands.
endif::VK_NV_shading_rate_image[]

--


=== Valid Combinations of Stages for Graphics Pipelines

ifdef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
The geometric primitive processing can either be handled on a per primitive
basis by the vertex, tessellation, and geometry shader stages, or on a per
mesh basis using task and mesh shader stages.
If the pipeline includes a mesh shader stage, it uses the mesh pipeline,
otherwise it uses the primitive pipeline.

If a task shader is omitted, the task shading stage is skipped.
endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]

If tessellation shader stages are omitted, the tessellation shading and
fixed-function stages of the pipeline are skipped.

If a geometry shader is omitted, the geometry shading stage is skipped.

If a fragment shader is omitted, fragment color outputs have undefined:
values, and the fragment depth value is unmodified.
This can: be useful for depth-only rendering.

Presence of a shader stage in a pipeline is indicated by including a valid
sname:VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo with pname:module and pname:pName
selecting an entry point from a shader module, where that entry point is
valid for the stage specified by pname:stage.

Presence of some of the fixed-function stages in the pipeline is implicitly
derived from enabled shaders and provided state.
For example, the fixed-function tessellator is always present when the
pipeline has valid Tessellation Control and Tessellation Evaluation shaders.

.For example:
  * Depth/stencil-only rendering in a subpass with no color attachments
  ** Active Pipeline Shader Stages
  *** Vertex Shader
  ** Required: Fixed-Function Pipeline Stages
  *** slink:VkPipelineVertexInputStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineInputAssemblyStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineViewportStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineRasterizationStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineMultisampleStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineDepthStencilStateCreateInfo
  * Color-only rendering in a subpass with no depth/stencil attachment
  ** Active Pipeline Shader Stages
  *** Vertex Shader
  *** Fragment Shader
  ** Required: Fixed-Function Pipeline Stages
  *** slink:VkPipelineVertexInputStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineInputAssemblyStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineViewportStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineRasterizationStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineMultisampleStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineColorBlendStateCreateInfo
  * Rendering pipeline with tessellation and geometry shaders
  ** Active Pipeline Shader Stages
  *** Vertex Shader
  *** Tessellation Control Shader
  *** Tessellation Evaluation Shader
  *** Geometry Shader
  *** Fragment Shader
  ** Required: Fixed-Function Pipeline Stages
  *** slink:VkPipelineVertexInputStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineInputAssemblyStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineTessellationStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineViewportStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineRasterizationStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineMultisampleStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineDepthStencilStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineColorBlendStateCreateInfo
ifdef::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]
  * Rendering pipeline with task and mesh shaders
  ** Active Pipeline Shader Stages
  *** Task Shader
  *** Mesh Shader
  *** Fragment Shader
  ** Required: Fixed-Function Pipeline Stages
  *** slink:VkPipelineViewportStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineRasterizationStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineMultisampleStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineDepthStencilStateCreateInfo
  *** slink:VkPipelineColorBlendStateCreateInfo
endif::VK_NV_mesh_shader[]

[[pipelines-destruction]]
== Pipeline destruction

[open,refpage='vkDestroyPipeline',desc='Destroy a pipeline object',type='protos']
--

To destroy a graphics or compute pipeline, call:

include::../api/protos/vkDestroyPipeline.txt[]

  * pname:device is the logical device that destroys the pipeline.
  * pname:pipeline is the handle of the pipeline to destroy.
  * pname:pAllocator controls host memory allocation as described in the
    <<memory-allocation, Memory Allocation>> chapter.

.Valid Usage
****
  * [[VUID-vkDestroyPipeline-pipeline-00765]]
    All submitted commands that refer to pname:pipeline must: have completed
    execution
  * [[VUID-vkDestroyPipeline-pipeline-00766]]
    If sname:VkAllocationCallbacks were provided when pname:pipeline was
    created, a compatible set of callbacks must: be provided here
  * [[VUID-vkDestroyPipeline-pipeline-00767]]
    If no sname:VkAllocationCallbacks were provided when pname:pipeline was
    created, pname:pAllocator must: be `NULL`
****

include::../validity/protos/vkDestroyPipeline.txt[]
--


[[pipelines-multiple]]
== Multiple Pipeline Creation

Multiple pipelines can: be created simultaneously by passing an array of
sname:VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo or sname:VkComputePipelineCreateInfo
structures into the flink:vkCreateGraphicsPipelines and
flink:vkCreateComputePipelines commands, respectively.
Applications can: group together similar pipelines to be created in a single
call, and implementations are encouraged to look for reuse opportunities
within a group-create.

When an application attempts to create many pipelines in a single command,
it is possible that some subset may: fail creation.
In that case, the corresponding entries in the pname:pPipelines output array
will be filled with dlink:VK_NULL_HANDLE values.
If any pipeline fails creation (for example, due to out of memory errors),
the ftext:vkCreate*Pipelines commands will return an error code.
The implementation will attempt to create all pipelines, and only return
dlink:VK_NULL_HANDLE values for those that actually failed.


[[pipelines-pipeline-derivatives]]
== Pipeline Derivatives

A pipeline derivative is a child pipeline created from a parent pipeline,
where the child and parent are expected to have much commonality.
The goal of derivative pipelines is that they be cheaper to create using the
parent as a starting point, and that it be more efficient (on either host or
device) to switch/bind between children of the same parent.

A derivative pipeline is created by setting the
ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_DERIVATIVE_BIT flag in the
stext:Vk*PipelineCreateInfo structure.
If this is set, then exactly one of pname:basePipelineHandle or
pname:basePipelineIndex members of the structure must: have a valid
handle/index, and specifies the parent pipeline.
If pname:basePipelineHandle is used, the parent pipeline must: have already
been created.
If pname:basePipelineIndex is used, then the parent is being created in the
same command.
dlink:VK_NULL_HANDLE acts as the invalid handle for
pname:basePipelineHandle, and -1 is the invalid index for
pname:basePipelineIndex.
If pname:basePipelineIndex is used, the base pipeline must: appear earlier
in the array.
The base pipeline must: have been created with the
ename:VK_PIPELINE_CREATE_ALLOW_DERIVATIVES_BIT flag set.


[[pipelines-cache]]
== Pipeline Cache

[open,refpage='VkPipelineCache',desc='Opaque handle to a pipeline cache object',type='handles']
--

Pipeline cache objects allow the result of pipeline construction to be
reused between pipelines and between runs of an application.
Reuse between pipelines is achieved by passing the same pipeline cache
object when creating multiple related pipelines.
Reuse across runs of an application is achieved by retrieving pipeline cache
contents in one run of an application, saving the contents, and using them
to preinitialize a pipeline cache on a subsequent run.
The contents of the pipeline cache objects are managed by the
implementation.
Applications can: manage the host memory consumed by a pipeline cache object
and control the amount of data retrieved from a pipeline cache object.

Pipeline cache objects are represented by sname:VkPipelineCache handles:

include::../api/handles/VkPipelineCache.txt[]

--

[open,refpage='vkCreatePipelineCache',desc='Creates a new pipeline cache',type='protos']
--

To create pipeline cache objects, call:

include::../api/protos/vkCreatePipelineCache.txt[]

  * pname:device is the logical device that creates the pipeline cache
    object.
  * pname:pCreateInfo is a pointer to a slink:VkPipelineCacheCreateInfo
    structure that contains the initial parameters for the pipeline cache
    object.
  * pname:pAllocator controls host memory allocation as described in the
    <<memory-allocation, Memory Allocation>> chapter.
  * pname:pPipelineCache is a pointer to a slink:VkPipelineCache handle in
    which the resulting pipeline cache object is returned.

[NOTE]
.Note
====
Applications can: track and manage the total host memory size of a pipeline
cache object using the pname:pAllocator.
Applications can: limit the amount of data retrieved from a pipeline cache
object in fname:vkGetPipelineCacheData.
Implementations should: not internally limit the total number of entries
added to a pipeline cache object or the total host memory consumed.
====

Once created, a pipeline cache can: be passed to the
fname:vkCreateGraphicsPipelines and fname:vkCreateComputePipelines commands.
If the pipeline cache passed into these commands is not
dlink:VK_NULL_HANDLE, the implementation will query it for possible reuse
opportunities and update it with new content.
The use of the pipeline cache object in these commands is internally
synchronized, and the same pipeline cache object can: be used in multiple
threads simultaneously.

[NOTE]
.Note
====
Implementations should: make every effort to limit any critical sections to
the actual accesses to the cache, which is expected to be significantly
shorter than the duration of the fname:vkCreateGraphicsPipelines and
fname:vkCreateComputePipelines commands.
====

include::../validity/protos/vkCreatePipelineCache.txt[]
--

[open,refpage='VkPipelineCacheCreateInfo',desc='Structure specifying parameters of a newly created pipeline cache',type='structs']
--

The sname:VkPipelineCacheCreateInfo structure is defined as:

include::../api/structs/VkPipelineCacheCreateInfo.txt[]

  * pname:sType is the type of this structure.
  * pname:pNext is `NULL` or a pointer to an extension-specific structure.
  * pname:flags is reserved for future use.
  * pname:initialDataSize is the number of bytes in pname:pInitialData.
    If pname:initialDataSize is zero, the pipeline cache will initially be
    empty.
  * pname:pInitialData is a pointer to previously retrieved pipeline cache
    data.
    If the pipeline cache data is incompatible (as defined below) with the
    device, the pipeline cache will be initially empty.
    If pname:initialDataSize is zero, pname:pInitialData is ignored.

.Valid Usage
****
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineCacheCreateInfo-initialDataSize-00768]]
    If pname:initialDataSize is not `0`, it must: be equal to the size of
    pname:pInitialData, as returned by fname:vkGetPipelineCacheData when
    pname:pInitialData was originally retrieved
  * [[VUID-VkPipelineCacheCreateInfo-initialDataSize-00769]]
    If pname:initialDataSize is not `0`, pname:pInitialData must: have been
    retrieved from a previous call to fname:vkGetPipelineCacheData
****

include::../validity/structs/VkPipelineCacheCreateInfo.txt[]
--

[open,refpage='VkPipelineCacheCreateFlags',desc='Reserved for future use',type='flags']
--
include::../api/flags/VkPipelineCacheCreateFlags.txt[]

tname:VkPipelineCacheCreateFlags is a bitmask type for setting a mask, but
is currently reserved for future use.
--

[open,refpage='vkMergePipelineCaches',desc='Combine the data stores of pipeline caches',type='protos']
--

Pipeline cache objects can: be merged using the command:

include::../api/protos/vkMergePipelineCaches.txt[]

  * pname:device is the logical device that owns the pipeline cache objects.
  * pname:dstCache is the handle of the pipeline cache to merge results
    into.
  * pname:srcCacheCount is the length of the pname:pSrcCaches array.
  * pname:pSrcCaches is an array of pipeline cache handles, which will be
    merged into pname:dstCache.
    The previous contents of pname:dstCache are included after the merge.

[NOTE]
.Note
====
The details of the merge operation are implementation dependent, but
implementations should: merge the contents of the specified pipelines and
prune duplicate entries.
====

.Valid Usage
****
  * [[VUID-vkMergePipelineCaches-dstCache-00770]]
    pname:dstCache must: not appear in the list of source caches
****

include::../validity/protos/vkMergePipelineCaches.txt[]
--

[open,refpage='vkGetPipelineCacheData',desc='Get the data store from a pipeline cache',type='protos']
--

Data can: be retrieved from a pipeline cache object using the command:

include::../api/protos/vkGetPipelineCacheData.txt[]

  * pname:device is the logical device that owns the pipeline cache.
  * pname:pipelineCache is the pipeline cache to retrieve data from.
  * pname:pDataSize is a pointer to a value related to the amount of data in
    the pipeline cache, as described below.
  * pname:pData is either `NULL` or a pointer to a buffer.

If pname:pData is `NULL`, then the maximum size of the data that can: be
retrieved from the pipeline cache, in bytes, is returned in pname:pDataSize.
Otherwise, pname:pDataSize must: point to a variable set by the user to the
size of the buffer, in bytes, pointed to by pname:pData, and on return the
variable is overwritten with the amount of data actually written to
pname:pData.

If pname:pDataSize is less than the maximum size that can: be retrieved by
the pipeline cache, at most pname:pDataSize bytes will be written to
pname:pData, and fname:vkGetPipelineCacheData will return
ename:VK_INCOMPLETE.
Any data written to pname:pData is valid and can: be provided as the
pname:pInitialData member of the sname:VkPipelineCacheCreateInfo structure
passed to fname:vkCreatePipelineCache.

Two calls to fname:vkGetPipelineCacheData with the same parameters must:
retrieve the same data unless a command that modifies the contents of the
cache is called between them.

[[pipelines-cache-header]]
Applications can: store the data retrieved from the pipeline cache, and use
these data, possibly in a future run of the application, to populate new
pipeline cache objects.
The results of pipeline compiles, however, may: depend on the vendor ID,
device ID, driver version, and other details of the device.
To enable applications to detect when previously retrieved data is
incompatible with the device, the initial bytes written to pname:pData must:
be a header consisting of the following members:

.Layout for pipeline cache header version ename:VK_PIPELINE_CACHE_HEADER_VERSION_ONE
[width="85%",cols="8%,21%,71%",options="header"]
|====
| Offset | Size | Meaning
| 0 | 4                    | length in bytes of the entire pipeline cache header
                             written as a stream of bytes, with the least
                             significant byte first
| 4 | 4                    | a elink:VkPipelineCacheHeaderVersion value
                             written as a stream of bytes, with the least
                             significant byte first
| 8 | 4                    | a vendor ID equal to
                             sname:VkPhysicalDeviceProperties::pname:vendorID
                             written as a stream of bytes, with the least
                             significant byte first
| 12 | 4                    | a device ID equal to
                             sname:VkPhysicalDeviceProperties::pname:deviceID
                             written as a stream of bytes, with the least
                             significant byte first
| 16 | ename:VK_UUID_SIZE   | a pipeline cache ID equal to
                             sname:VkPhysicalDeviceProperties::pname:pipelineCacheUUID
|====

The first four bytes encode the length of the entire pipeline cache header,
in bytes.
This value includes all fields in the header including the pipeline cache
version field and the size of the length field.

The next four bytes encode the pipeline cache version, as described for
elink:VkPipelineCacheHeaderVersion.
A consumer of the pipeline cache should: use the cache version to interpret
the remainder of the cache header.

If pname:pDataSize is less than what is necessary to store this header,
nothing will be written to pname:pData and zero will be written to
pname:pDataSize.

include::../validity/protos/vkGetPipelineCacheData.txt[]
--

[open,refpage='VkPipelineCacheHeaderVersion',desc='Encode pipeline cache version',type='enums',xrefs='vkCreatePipelineCache vkGetPipelineCacheData']
--
Possible values of the second group of four bytes in the header returned by
flink:vkGetPipelineCacheData, encoding the pipeline cache version, are:

include::../api/enums/VkPipelineCacheHeaderVersion.txt[]

  * ename:VK_PIPELINE_CACHE_HEADER_VERSION_ONE specifies version one of the
    pipeline cache.
--

[open,refpage='vkDestroyPipelineCache',desc='Destroy a pipeline cache object',type='protos']
--

To destroy a pipeline cache, call:

include::../api/protos/vkDestroyPipelineCache.txt[]

  * pname:device is the logical device that destroys the pipeline cache
    object.
  * pname:pipelineCache is the handle of the pipeline cache to destroy.
  * pname:pAllocator controls host memory allocation as described in the
    <<memory-allocation, Memory Allocation>> chapter.

.Valid Usage
****
  * [[VUID-vkDestroyPipelineCache-pipelineCache-00771]]
    If sname:VkAllocationCallbacks were provided when pname:pipelineCache
    was created, a compatible set of callbacks must: be provided here
  * [[VUID-vkDestroyPipelineCache-pipelineCache-00772]]
    If no sname:VkAllocationCallbacks were provided when pname:pipelineCache
    was created, pname:pAllocator must: be `NULL`
****

include::../validity/protos/vkDestroyPipelineCache.txt[]
--


[[pipelines-specialization-constants]]
== Specialization Constants

Specialization constants are a mechanism whereby constants in a SPIR-V
module can: have their constant value specified at the time the
sname:VkPipeline is created.
This allows a SPIR-V module to have constants that can: be modified while
executing an application that uses the Vulkan API.

[NOTE]
.Note
====
Specialization constants are useful to allow a compute shader to have its
local workgroup size changed at runtime by the user, for example.
====

Each instance of the sname:VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo structure
contains a parameter pname:pSpecializationInfo, which can: be `NULL` to
indicate no specialization constants, or point to a
sname:VkSpecializationInfo structure.

[open,refpage='VkSpecializationInfo',desc='Structure specifying specialization info',type='structs']
--

The sname:VkSpecializationInfo structure is defined as:

include::../api/structs/VkSpecializationInfo.txt[]

  * pname:mapEntryCount is the number of entries in the pname:pMapEntries
    array.
  * pname:pMapEntries is a pointer to an array of
    sname:VkSpecializationMapEntry which maps constant IDs to offsets in
    pname:pData.
  * pname:dataSize is the byte size of the pname:pData buffer.
  * pname:pData contains the actual constant values to specialize with.

pname:pMapEntries points to a structure of type
slink:VkSpecializationMapEntry.

.Valid Usage
****
  * [[VUID-VkSpecializationInfo-offset-00773]]
    The pname:offset member of each element of pname:pMapEntries must: be
    less than pname:dataSize
  * [[VUID-VkSpecializationInfo-pMapEntries-00774]]
    The pname:size member of each element of pname:pMapEntries must: be less
    than or equal to pname:dataSize minus pname:offset
****

include::../validity/structs/VkSpecializationInfo.txt[]
--

[open,refpage='VkSpecializationMapEntry',desc='Structure specifying a specialization map entry',type='structs']
--

The sname:VkSpecializationMapEntry structure is defined as:

include::../api/structs/VkSpecializationMapEntry.txt[]

  * pname:constantID is the ID of the specialization constant in SPIR-V.
  * pname:offset is the byte offset of the specialization constant value
    within the supplied data buffer.
  * pname:size is the byte size of the specialization constant value within
    the supplied data buffer.

If a pname:constantID value is not a specialization constant ID used in the
shader, that map entry does not affect the behavior of the pipeline.

.Valid Usage
****
  * [[VUID-VkSpecializationMapEntry-constantID-00776]]
    For a pname:constantID specialization constant declared in a shader,
    pname:size must: match the byte size of the pname:constantID.
    If the specialization constant is of type code:boolean, pname:size must:
    be the byte size of basetype:VkBool32
****

include::../validity/structs/VkSpecializationMapEntry.txt[]
--

In human readable SPIR-V:

[source,glsl]
---------------------------------------------------
OpDecorate %x SpecId 13 ; decorate .x component of WorkgroupSize with ID 13
OpDecorate %y SpecId 42 ; decorate .y component of WorkgroupSize with ID 42
OpDecorate %z SpecId 3  ; decorate .z component of WorkgroupSize with ID 3
OpDecorate %wgsize BuiltIn WorkgroupSize ; decorate WorkgroupSize onto constant
%i32 = OpTypeInt 32 0 ; declare an unsigned 32-bit type
%uvec3 = OpTypeVector %i32 3 ; declare a 3 element vector type of unsigned 32-bit
%x = OpSpecConstant %i32 1 ; declare the .x component of WorkgroupSize
%y = OpSpecConstant %i32 1 ; declare the .y component of WorkgroupSize
%z = OpSpecConstant %i32 1 ; declare the .z component of WorkgroupSize
%wgsize = OpSpecConstantComposite %uvec3 %x %y %z ; declare WorkgroupSize
---------------------------------------------------

From the above we have three specialization constants, one for each of the
x, y & z elements of the WorkgroupSize vector.

Now to specialize the above via the specialization constants mechanism:

[source,c++]
---------------------------------------------------
const VkSpecializationMapEntry entries[] =
{
    {
        13,                             // constantID
        0 * sizeof(uint32_t),           // offset
        sizeof(uint32_t)                // size
    },
    {
        42,                             // constantID
        1 * sizeof(uint32_t),           // offset
        sizeof(uint32_t)                // size
    },
    {
        3,                              // constantID
        2 * sizeof(uint32_t),           // offset
        sizeof(uint32_t)                // size
    }
};

const uint32_t data[] = { 16, 8, 4 }; // our workgroup size is 16x8x4

const VkSpecializationInfo info =
{
    3,                                  // mapEntryCount
    entries,                            // pMapEntries
    3 * sizeof(uint32_t),               // dataSize
    data,                               // pData
};
---------------------------------------------------

Then when calling flink:vkCreateComputePipelines, and passing the
sname:VkSpecializationInfo we defined as the pname:pSpecializationInfo
parameter of slink:VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo, we will create a compute
pipeline with the runtime specified local workgroup size.

Another example would be that an application has a SPIR-V module that has
some platform-dependent constants they wish to use.

In human readable SPIR-V:

// [source,glsl]
[source,glsl]
---------------------------------------------------
OpDecorate %1 SpecId 0  ; decorate our signed 32-bit integer constant
OpDecorate %2 SpecId 12 ; decorate our 32-bit floating-point constant
%i32 = OpTypeInt 32 1   ; declare a signed 32-bit type
%float = OpTypeFloat 32 ; declare a 32-bit floating-point type
%1 = OpSpecConstant %i32 -1 ; some signed 32-bit integer constant
%2 = OpSpecConstant %float 0.5 ; some 32-bit floating-point constant
---------------------------------------------------

From the above we have two specialization constants, one is a signed 32-bit
integer and the second is a 32-bit floating-point.

Now to specialize the above via the specialization constants mechanism:

[source,c++]
---------------------------------------------------
struct SpecializationData {
    int32_t data0;
    float data1;
};

const VkSpecializationMapEntry entries[] =
{
    {
        0,                                    // constantID
        offsetof(SpecializationData, data0),  // offset
        sizeof(SpecializationData::data0)     // size
    },
    {
        12,                                   // constantID
        offsetof(SpecializationData, data1),  // offset
        sizeof(SpecializationData::data1)     // size
    }
};

SpecializationData data;
data.data0 = -42;    // set the data for the 32-bit integer
data.data1 = 42.0f;  // set the data for the 32-bit floating-point

const VkSpecializationInfo info =
{
    2,                                  // mapEntryCount
    entries,                            // pMapEntries
    sizeof(data),                       // dataSize
    &data,                              // pData
};
---------------------------------------------------

It is legal for a SPIR-V module with specializations to be compiled into a
pipeline where no specialization info was provided.
SPIR-V specialization constants contain default values such that if a
specialization is not provided, the default value will be used.
In the examples above, it would be valid for an application to only
specialize some of the specialization constants within the SPIR-V module,
and let the other constants use their default values encoded within the
OpSpecConstant declarations.


[[pipelines-binding]]
== Pipeline Binding

[open,refpage='vkCmdBindPipeline',desc='Bind a pipeline object to a command buffer',type='protos']
--

Once a pipeline has been created, it can: be bound to the command buffer
using the command:

include::../api/protos/vkCmdBindPipeline.txt[]

  * pname:commandBuffer is the command buffer that the pipeline will be
    bound to.
  * pname:pipelineBindPoint is a elink:VkPipelineBindPoint value specifying
    whether to bind to the compute or graphics bind point.
    Binding one does not disturb the other.
  * pname:pipeline is the pipeline to be bound.

Once bound, a pipeline binding affects subsequent graphics or compute
commands in the command buffer until a different pipeline is bound to the
bind point.
The pipeline bound to ename:VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_COMPUTE controls the
behavior of flink:vkCmdDispatch and flink:vkCmdDispatchIndirect.
The pipeline bound to ename:VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_GRAPHICS controls the
behavior of all <<drawing, drawing commands>>.
ifdef::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]
The pipeline bound to ename:VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_RAY_TRACING_NV controls
the behavior of flink:vkCmdTraceRaysNV.
endif::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]
No other commands are affected by the pipeline state.

.Valid Usage
****
  * [[VUID-vkCmdBindPipeline-pipelineBindPoint-00777]]
    If pname:pipelineBindPoint is ename:VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_COMPUTE, the
    sname:VkCommandPool that pname:commandBuffer was allocated from must:
    support compute operations
  * [[VUID-vkCmdBindPipeline-pipelineBindPoint-00778]]
    If pname:pipelineBindPoint is ename:VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_GRAPHICS, the
    sname:VkCommandPool that pname:commandBuffer was allocated from must:
    support graphics operations
  * [[VUID-vkCmdBindPipeline-pipelineBindPoint-00779]]
    If pname:pipelineBindPoint is ename:VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_COMPUTE,
    pname:pipeline must: be a compute pipeline
  * [[VUID-vkCmdBindPipeline-pipelineBindPoint-00780]]
    If pname:pipelineBindPoint is ename:VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_GRAPHICS,
    pname:pipeline must: be a graphics pipeline
  * [[VUID-vkCmdBindPipeline-pipeline-00781]]
    If the <<features-features-variableMultisampleRate,variable multisample
    rate>> feature is not supported, pname:pipeline is a graphics pipeline,
    the current subpass has no attachments, and this is not the first call
    to this function with a graphics pipeline after transitioning to the
    current subpass, then the sample count specified by this pipeline must:
    match that set in the previous pipeline
ifdef::VK_EXT_sample_locations[]
  * [[VUID-vkCmdBindPipeline-variableSampleLocations-01525]]
    If
    slink:VkPhysicalDeviceSampleLocationsPropertiesEXT::pname:variableSampleLocations
    is ename:VK_FALSE, and pname:pipeline is a graphics pipeline created
    with a slink:VkPipelineSampleLocationsStateCreateInfoEXT structure
    having its pname:sampleLocationsEnable member set to ename:VK_TRUE but
    without ename:VK_DYNAMIC_STATE_SAMPLE_LOCATIONS_EXT enabled then the
    current render pass instance must: have been begun by specifying a
    slink:VkRenderPassSampleLocationsBeginInfoEXT structure whose
    pname:pPostSubpassSampleLocations member contains an element with a
    pname:subpassIndex matching the current subpass index and the
    pname:sampleLocationsInfo member of that element must: match the
    pname:sampleLocationsInfo specified in
    slink:VkPipelineSampleLocationsStateCreateInfoEXT when the pipeline was
    created
endif::VK_EXT_sample_locations[]
ifdef::VK_EXT_transform_feedback[]
  * [[VUID-vkCmdBindPipeline-None-02323]]
    This command must: not be recorded when transform feedback is active
endif::VK_EXT_transform_feedback[]
ifdef::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]
  * [[VUID-vkCmdBindPipeline-pipelineBindPoint-02391]]
    If pname:pipelineBindPoint is
    ename:VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_RAY_TRACING_NV, the sname:VkCommandPool
    that pname:commandBuffer was allocated from must: support compute
    operations
  * [[VUID-vkCmdBindPipeline-pipelineBindPoint-02392]]
    If pname:pipelineBindPoint is
    ename:VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_RAY_TRACING_NV, the pname:pipeline must: be
    a ray tracing pipeline
endif::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]
****

include::../validity/protos/vkCmdBindPipeline.txt[]
--

[open,refpage='VkPipelineBindPoint',desc='Specify the bind point of a pipeline object to a command buffer',type='enums']
--

Possible values of flink:vkCmdBindPipeline::pname:pipelineBindPoint,
specifying the bind point of a pipeline object, are:

include::../api/enums/VkPipelineBindPoint.txt[]

  * ename:VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_COMPUTE specifies binding as a compute
    pipeline.
  * ename:VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_GRAPHICS specifies binding as a graphics
    pipeline.
ifdef::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]
  * ename:VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_RAY_TRACING_NV specifies binding as a ray
    tracing pipeline.
endif::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]
--


[[pipelines-dynamic-state]]
== Dynamic State

When a pipeline object is bound, any pipeline object state that is not
specified as dynamic is applied to the command buffer state.
Pipeline object state that is specified as dynamic is not applied to the
command buffer state at this time.
Instead, dynamic state can: be modified at any time and persists for the
lifetime of the command buffer, or until modified by another dynamic state
setting command or another pipeline bind.

When a pipeline object is bound, the following applies to each state
parameter:

  * If the state is not specified as dynamic in the new pipeline object,
    then that command buffer state is overwritten by the state in the new
    pipeline object.
  * If the state is specified as dynamic in both the new and the previous
    pipeline object, then that command buffer state is not disturbed.
  * If the state is specified as dynamic in the new pipeline object but is
    not specified as dynamic in the previous pipeline object, then that
    command buffer state becomes undefined:.
    If the state is an array, then the entire array becomes undefined:.
  * If the state is an array specified as dynamic in both the new and the
    previous pipeline object, and the array size is not the same in both
    pipeline objects, then that command buffer state becomes undefined:.

Dynamic state setting commands must: not be issued for state that is not
specified as dynamic in the bound pipeline object.

Dynamic state that does not affect the result of operations can: be left
undefined:.

[NOTE]
.Note
====
For example, if blending is disabled by the pipeline object state then the
dynamic color blend constants do not need to be specified in the command
buffer, even if this state is specified as dynamic in the pipeline object.
====

ifdef::VK_AMD_shader_info[]
include::VK_AMD_shader_info.txt[]
endif::VK_AMD_shader_info[]

ifdef::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]
include::VK_NV_ray_tracing/raytracing-pipelines.txt[]
endif::VK_NV_ray_tracing[]