What is a key performance benefit of using decals in Unity compared to adding more geometry?

• A. Decals add detail without extra geometry.
• B. Decals require more CPU than geometry.
• C. Decals replace textures on surfaces.
• D. Decals always reduce memory usage.

Answer: (A)

Decals add detail without extra geometry. They project a texture onto existing surfaces, so you can see things like scratches, wear, or signage without creating additional mesh triangles. That means you keep the same polygon count, but you gain visual richness, which often helps performance because you’re not paying to render more geometry. Decals do use their own textures and shader work, so memory usage isn’t guaranteed to drop and can even rise if many decals or large decal textures are used. They don’t replace the underlying textures on a surface, and they aren’t inherently CPU-heavy—the main cost is usually in how many decals and textures the GPU handles at once.