---
vocab: developer-facing
---

(context-browser)=

# Context Browser

The property you want to use, or the current state you need for a condition, may be hard to find in Blender's interface. **Context Browser (CB)** lets you explore context and data to inspect property values, Python paths, and methods.

You can edit properties as you find them and copy their paths or values. With PME, you can send a property to the Capture Menu and add it to your own menu. CB can also be used on its own.

If you have purchased PME-F, [set up the PME Repository](../getting_started/installation.md), then search for **Context Browser** in Blender's Preferences → Get Extensions and install and enable it.

## Interface Overview

```{raw} html
:file: common/_context_browser_overview_map.html
```

1. {ref}`Paths and Bookmarks <cb-navigation>`
2. {ref}`Objects and Collections <cb-objects>`
3. {ref}`Properties and Methods <cb-members>`
4. {ref}`Search and Display Filters <cb-filters>`
5. {ref}`Pins <cb-pins>`

(cb-open)=

## Opening Context Browser

Use the CB button in an area's header to open that area's context. From **F3 → Context Browser** or the **Blender menu → Context Browser...** in the top-left corner, use the picker to choose the area and region you want to inspect. Check the highlight and click to open CB. Press Esc or right-click to cancel.

For example, choosing a 3D Viewport lets you explore its active object and view settings. Other areas, such as the Outliner, provide different context information.

You can also configure a shortcut in the add-on's Preferences.

(cb-navigation)=

## Paths and Bookmarks

```{raw} html
<figure class="pme-overview pme-overview--editor" style="--editor-width:1622px">
<div class="pme-overview__crop" style="--crop-ratio:1622 / 64;--crop-offset:-11.27572016%">
<img src="../_static/images/editors/overview/context-browser.png" width="1622" height="1215" alt="The top menu, the C and area path segments, and the Copy Path button.">
</div>
</figure>
```

The current path appears at the top. **C → area** in the screenshot represents `C.area`: the area where CB was opened. Click a path segment to return to that level.

**C** stands for `bpy.context`, and **D** for `bpy.data`. Use the ▼ menu on the left to switch between **Context** and **Data**. The copy button on the right copies the current path.

**Add Bookmark** saves the current location. Return to it from the same ▼ menu. To keep an individual property at the bottom of the browser, use {ref}`Pins <cb-pins>`.

(cb-objects)=

## Objects and Collections

Use the list on the left to explore objects and collections belonging to the current target. `[..]` takes you up one level.

The screenshot shows `regions` and `spaces` under `C.area`. Open `regions` to inspect the regions that make up that area. Adjust **Width** below the list to change the proportion of space given to the left and right lists.

(cb-members)=

## Properties and Methods

```{raw} html
<figure class="pme-overview pme-overview--editor" style="--editor-width:1622px">
<div class="pme-overview__crop" style="--crop-ratio:1622 / 521;--crop-offset:-17.36625514%">
<img src="../_static/images/editors/overview/context-browser.png" width="1622" height="1215" alt="Properties including Height, Show Menus, and Editor Type, followed by the functions header_text_set(text) and tag_redraw().">
</div>
</figure>
```

**Properties** on the right shows the values. Editable properties have checkboxes, input fields, or other controls. Use **Edit...** for arrays and similar values. Read-only values, such as Height and Width in the screenshot, can be inspected but not changed.

**Functions** shows method names and arguments. Methods known to take no arguments appear as `tag_redraw()`. When argument information is unavailable, CB shows `(...)`. Displaying the list does not call the methods.

Each row has a Pin button on the left, a type icon next to it, and **Target Actions** on the right.

(cb-target-actions)=

### Target Actions

Use the button on the right of a row to choose what to do with its path or value. Available actions depend on the target and whether a compatible PME is enabled.

Copy Path
: Copy the property's Python path, such as `C.object.display_type`.

Copy Value
: Copy the current value as a Python value. For enums, this copies an identifier such as `'WIRE'`, rather than the label shown in the interface.

Copy Enum Identifiers
: Copy the list of identifiers declared for an enum. To copy only the currently selected value, use **Copy Value**.

Copy Method Path
: Copy the path to a method, such as `C.area.tag_redraw`.

Copy Call Template
: Copy a call template with arguments, such as `C.area.tag_redraw()`. This does not call the method. If the template contains arguments, adjust them before running it.

Open API Reference
: Open Blender's official API documentation. If CB cannot identify a specific documentation entry, it opens a search in the official documentation.

Capture in PME...
: Send the property to PME's Capture Menu. Choose where to add it to create a menu item. Available when a compatible PME is enabled.

If the target disappears or changes before a copy or capture action, check the error and reopen CB.

(cb-filters)=

## Search and Display Filters

```{raw} html
<figure class="pme-overview pme-overview--editor" style="--editor-width:1622px">
<div class="pme-overview__crop" style="--crop-ratio:1622 / 107;--crop-offset:-62.30452675%">
<img src="../_static/images/editors/overview/context-browser.png" width="1622" height="1215" alt="Search fields for both lists, Width on the left, and property name display and type filters on the right.">
</div>
</figure>
```

Each search field filters its own list. You can search for properties by either their display names or their identifiers.

**Show Property Identifiers** at the bottom right switches property names between UI labels and Python identifiers. In the screenshot, **Height** corresponds to `height`, and **Show Menus** to `show_menus`.

The adjacent type filters control the display of booleans, integers, floating-point numbers, strings, enums, and arrays. If you cannot find a member, check the search text and type filters.

(cb-pins)=

## Pins

```{raw} html
<figure class="pme-overview pme-overview--editor" style="--editor-width:1622px">
<div class="pme-overview__crop" style="--crop-ratio:1622 / 232;--crop-offset:-71.68724280%">
<img src="../_static/images/editors/overview/context-browser.png" width="1622" height="1215" alt="Pinned object color and vertex size, with Copy All Paths, Copy Snapshot, and Remove All Pins below.">
</div>
</figure>
```

Click the Pin button on the left of a row to add the target to the bottom list. Click it again to unpin. The list is hidden when there are no Pins.

Properties can be inspected and edited just like in the regular list. Methods show their names and arguments. Each row also provides Target Actions.

A Pin keeps a path. For example, `C.active_object.color` refers to whichever object is active at the time; it does not keep the object that was active when you pinned it. If the path cannot be resolved, such as when there is no active object, the row shows the problem.

**Copy All Paths** copies all pinned paths together. **Copy Snapshot** copies the paths and their current values or other details, for use in investigation notes or a question to an AI assistant. The trash button on the right removes all Pins.

The add-on's Preferences also has a **Pinned Paths** list, where you can review, copy, or remove saved paths.

(cb-console-picker)=

## Console Area Picker

The **Area Picker** button with the eyedropper icon in the Python Console header wraps your current input in a statement that runs it in the chosen editor.

1. Type code into the Console without running it yet.
2. Click **Area Picker**, then click the target area.
3. Review the input with its added `with C.temp_override(...):` statement, then run it.

For example, enter the command that frames the selection in a 3D View:

```python
bpy.ops.view3d.view_selected()
```

Choose a 3D View to produce `with C.temp_override(...): bpy.ops.view3d.view_selected()`, with the chosen area and its WINDOW region specified. The picker inserts code; it does not run it automatically.

The adjacent copy icon copies the chosen area's path to the clipboard. Area indices can change when you split or join areas, so pick again after changing the layout.

Choosing an execution area does not change the mode or selection. For example, growing a mesh selection in Edit Mode uses `bpy.ops.mesh.select_more()`, while extending an object selection through parent/child relationships in Object Mode uses `bpy.ops.object.select_more()`. An operator still needs the appropriate state, even when its execution area has been specified.

(cb-settings)=

## Display Settings

Open **Settings...** at the bottom of CB's top-left ▼ menu, or use the add-on's Preferences.

Show Header Button
: Show a button for opening CB in each area's header.

Show Console Area Picker
: Show the Area Picker and Copy Path buttons in the Python Console header.

Width
: Set the CB popup width. The change takes effect the next time you open CB.

Number of Rows
: Set the number of rows shown in the object and property lists.

## Related Pages

```{admonition} Related Pages
:class: seealso

- {doc}`context_menu` — PME's Capture Menu
- {doc}`property_stack_editor` — Build actions for properties
- {doc}`context_router_editor` — Choose what to invoke based on the current context
- {doc}`../reference/command_text` — Edit commands
```