> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://malbersanimations.gitbook.io/animal-controller/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://malbersanimations.gitbook.io/animal-controller/main-components/path-constraint.md).
# Path Constraint
## Overview
This component allows the character to travel on a path. It is the connection between a [Path](/animal-controller/main-components/path-constraint/mpath.md) and the Animal Controller — add it to the character and it takes care of finding nearby paths, aligning the character to them, and driving movement while active.
{% hint style="info" %}
**Detection is fully character-driven.** `Path Constraint` polls every active `Path` in the scene at **Search Interval** and tests for proximity. No Collider or trigger setup is required on either component — if you're migrating an older project, any Box Collider you had for this can be removed.
{% endhint %}
## Requirements
It requires a reference to the `Animal` component. If left empty, it is found automatically on `Awake`/`Reset`.
## How it Works
With the component added to your character, when you get close enough to any `Path` the character enters the nearest one automatically and Path Constraint takes over alignment and movement. All the properties that control the animal *while* it's on the path are set on the [Path](/animal-controller/main-components/path-constraint/mpath.md) component itself — Path Constraint only controls how the character searches for and blends into paths.
As a recommendation, set the Path Constraint inside the Animal Controller's internal components, as a child GameObject.
Some paths are not set to `Automatic`. To enter/exit those manually, wire an Input to the method **`TryEnterExitPath()`**.
This also works to exit a path in the middle of it, as long as the Path has `Can Exit on Middle` enabled.
## Parameters
#### Animal
Reference to the Animal Component.
#### Path
Current active Path this constraint is on. Read-only at runtime — you can assign a starting Path here in the Inspector if the character should already be on a path when the scene starts.
#### Auto Move
It will move the character automatically while it's on a path — no movement Input needed. Useful for conveyor belts, zip lines, cutscene rails, and similar always-moving paths.
\[Insert Image - Auto Move driving the character along the path with no input]
### Interactions
#### Forward Offset
Forward point used to calculate the path direction. Keep this value small — it's used to detect hard turns in the path.
#### Radius
Radius of the character's search sphere. When it intersects a Path's own search sphere, the character can enter that path.
#### Offset
Offset of the search sphere relative to the character's position.
#### Search Interval
How often (in seconds) the character scans nearby paths for a possible entry. `0` searches every frame — increase this value to save performance, decrease it for more responsive entries.
| Search Interval = 0.5f | Search Interval = 0f |
| :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------: | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------: |
|  |  |
### Alignment
#### Orient Smoothness
Lerp speed to orient the character to the path. The higher the value, the faster the character orients to the path.
#### Align Smoothness
Lerp speed to position the character onto the path. The higher the value, the faster the character snaps onto the path.
## Events
#### On Enter Path
Invoked when the character enters a Path. Passes the entered Path's GameObject.
#### On Exit Path
Invoked when the character exits a Path. Passes the exited Path's GameObject.
