# What Is A Forward/Up/Etc Vector? **URL:** \ **Category:** Blueprint\ **Tags:** forward-vector, unreal-engine, UE4, question, Blueprint, CPP\ **Created:** [June 30, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/what-is-a-forward-up-etc-vector/287120 "2014-06-30T23:19:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AllenGingrich](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@AllenGingrich](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/AllenGingrich)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/what-is-a-forward-up-etc-vector/287120/1 "2014-06-30T23:19:31Z")
I know this sounds stupid, and it’s probably self explanatory, but I just want to confirm I’m right in my insinuations on what these mean. I can’t find anything anywhere about directional vectors. Where exactly is a “forward vector” on a component or actor? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Rama](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/rama/32/882413_2.png) [@Rama](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Rama)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/what-is-a-forward-up-etc-vector/287120/2 "2014-06-30T23:25:39Z")
Hi there! #Forward Vector The direction that is straight in front of the actor, based on its root component. #Right Vector Directly to the right of the facing direction of the root component of the actor #Up Vector I think you got this one So these directions are relative to the rotation of the Actor’s root component, which makes them every useful for things like dodging mechanics! Rama ---
**Author:** ![AllenGingrich](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@AllenGingrich](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/AllenGingrich)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/what-is-a-forward-up-etc-vector/287120/3 "2014-06-30T23:34:48Z")
Thanks! Where exactly is the point on these vectors, just to clarify? Would the forward vector be straight in front, touching the root component, 50% the height and 50% the width? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![AnxGotta](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@AnxGotta](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/AnxGotta)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/what-is-a-forward-up-etc-vector/287120/4 "2014-07-01T01:25:35Z")
Just to add a bit to Ramas answer. You could use these vectors relative to the `Actor` or relative to a particular `Component` of the `Actor`. As Rama said, the functions: **GetActorUpVector ([LINK](https://docs.unrealengine.com/latest/INT/API/Runtime/Engine/GameFramework/AActor/GetActorUpVector/index.html)), GetActorForwardVector ([LINK](https://docs.unrealengine.com/latest/INT/API/Runtime/Engine/GameFramework/AActor/GetActorForwardVector/index.html)), GetActorRightVector ([LINK](https://docs.unrealengine.com/latest/INT/API/Runtime/Engine/GameFramework/AActor/GetActorRightVector/index.html))** get the Actors root component **Z (up), X (forward), and Y (right)** vectors and convert that to a `World Space` vector. Now, **GetUpVector ([LINK](https://docs.unrealengine.com/latest/INT/API/Runtime/Engine/Components/USceneComponent/GetUpVector/index.html)), GetForwardVector ([LINK](https://docs.unrealengine.com/latest/INT/API/Runtime/Engine/Components/USceneComponent/GetForwardVector/index.html)), GetRightVector ([LINK](https://docs.unrealengine.com/latest/INT/API/Runtime/Engine/Components/USceneComponent/GetRightVector/index.html))** get the the component from which you call this methods **Z (up), X (forward), and Y (right)** local vectors and convert that to a `World Space` vector. An example of this is if the `Actor` with a `Capsule Component` as the root component is facing a direction and you have a `Camera Component` attached to your `Capsule Component` as a child. If you look around with the `Camera` (locally rotating the `Camera Component` relative to your root `Capsule Component` rotation) the `GetActorForwardVector` (`Actor` root component) and the `GetForwardVector` of the `Camera Component` will be different. Keep in mind that these are both converted to `World Space` and Normalized (magnitude = 1.0). This allows you to get directional information in `World Space` for actors and individual components attached to that actor easily. **Edit:** Also, you can negate the vectors to get the opposite. Like, -Up (-Z) vector will give you the down vector, -Forward (-X) vector will give you Backward vector. I hope this helps clarify a bit. =) ---
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_482d02a4](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_482d02a4](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_482d02a4)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/what-is-a-forward-up-etc-vector/287120/5 "2014-09-20T17:50:01Z")
i was looking for the RightVector but it is not included… ``` public: /** A zero vector (0,0,0) */ static CORE_API const FVector ZeroVector; /** World up vector (0,0,1) */ static CORE_API const FVector UpVector; /** Local Unreal forward vector (1,0,0) */ static CORE_API const FVector ForwardVector; ``` do you know the reason why its not there? i just want to use it for readability reasons 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dyronix](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Dyronix](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Dyronix)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/what-is-a-forward-up-etc-vector/287120/6 "2015-02-06T16:11:12Z")
Because the crossproduct of Up and Forward vector is equal to the right vector. FVector::CrossProduct(FVector::UpVector, FVector::ForwardVector); ---
**Author:** ![ymars](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@ymars](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/ymars)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 4:59am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/what-is-a-forward-up-etc-vector/287120/7 "2016-07-07T04:59:53Z")
[Digest in Japanese](https://answers.unrealengine.com/questions/447757/forwarduprightleft-vector-%E3%81%A8%E3%81%AF-%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E8%A6%81%E7%B4%84.html) ---
**Author:** ![jwatte](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/jwatte/32/744941_2.png) [@jwatte](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/jwatte)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/what-is-a-forward-up-etc-vector/287120/8 "2017-02-25T00:42:32Z")
This is a late comment, but for others who find this answer: The vectors are not “located” anywhere, they are relative. They always have magnitude one (they are normalized.) Thus, for a new actor that hasn’t moved or turned, “forward” will be +X, and “up” will be +Z. As the actor turns around as part of movement, “forward” will point in different directions. The “forward” and “up” and “right” vectors are much like “compass headings” not like “positions.” ---
**Author:** ![1xu7](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/1xu7/32/88708_2.png) [@1xu7](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/1xu7)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 8:00pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/what-is-a-forward-up-etc-vector/287120/9 "2025-02-10T20:00:25Z")
Hi, thanks for lighting this up… but… according to what you said… what is X and Y ? Forward vector: -------------------------------\> where is X and Y in the representation?. i thought forward vector is the X vector which is forward…