What does "make unique" do?

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Reve

Ive got a tres file with a material slot. It has an option to "make unique". What does that do exactly? I have a lot of slots in my .tres file and I'd like to copy and paste the items, but each item is slightly different. I think I need to "make unique" otherwise any slight changes I make to a copy seem to be reverted.
I just want to make sure I understand how the systems works...

AnidemDex

Resources are passed by reference (as any object in Godot).

When you "duplicate" an object (a node for example), all properties are copied to the new instance, but resources are "shared" between those two instances, so, if you modify the resource from Object A, you'll see the same changes on the resource of Object B, because they share the same resource.

Make unique ensures that the selected resource is unique, this means that is not longer shared with the other instances and modifying it will not affect the other objects.

McSamwich

So is it exactly the same as if someone had made a completely new scene even if Identical? They are just no longer connected. Any changes in one will no longer affect the other?

cybereality

Essentially yeah. But it only works on resources, so you can still share some stuff if you want.

Erich_L

The typical place I use “make unique” is on materials/textures. If, for example my shirt and your shirt both use the same texture, then when you spill ketchup on your shirt, mine will also also turn red. I would not like that.