--- name: "Magic Variables" type: topic aliases: ["fnc scriptName", "forEachIndex", "this", "thisActivator", "thisArgs", "thisList", "thisScript", "thisTrigger", "thisargs", "x", "y"] source: https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Magic_Variables revid: 378809 updated: 2026-06-30T19:25:43Z --- # Magic Variables __NOEDITSECTION__ Magic variables are engine-maintained [variables](../topics/Variables.md) that serve a specific purpose within a given scope and are often used by the engine to provide data to a script or [code](../topics/Code.md) fragment. They are usually no longer present after leaving the scope (e.g. after code execution or after a [forEach](../commands/forEach.md)-statement). #### _this Used to make the arguments of a script call ([call](../commands/call.md), [exec](../commands/exec.md), [execVM](../commands/execVM.md), [spawn](../commands/spawn.md)) visible and accessible to the script. Also used by Event Handlers to provide parameters. #### _x Represents the current element during iteration with [apply](../commands/apply.md), [count](../commands/count.md), [configClasses](../commands/configClasses.md), [configProperties](../commands/configProperties.md), [findIf](../commands/findIf.md), [forEach](../commands/forEach.md) and [select](../commands/select.md). #### _y (Arma 3 v2.02) Iterating over a [HashMap](../topics/HashMap.md) with [forEach](../commands/forEach.md) will return the key as [_x](../topics/Magic_Variables.md#x) and the value as [_y](../topics/Magic_Variables.md#y). #### _exception (Armed Assault v1.00) Exception handling using a [try](../commands/try.md)-[catch](../commands/catch.md)-statement declares this variable which contains details about the [thrown](../commands/throw.md) exception in the [try](../commands/try.md)-block. #### _fnc_scriptName (Arma 3 v1.00) > [!NOTE] > Not engine-maintained, but added by `functions_f/initFunctions.sqf` – see [scriptName](../commands/scriptName.md). Within a Function, the `TAG_fnc_functionName` function name (e.g. `"myTag_fnc_myFunction"`). #### _fnc_scriptNameParent (Arma 3 v1.00) > [!NOTE] > Not engine-maintained, but added by `functions_f/initFunctions.sqf` – see [scriptName](../commands/scriptName.md). Within a Function, the name of the function that called the current function (same as [_fnc_scriptName](../topics/Magic_Variables.md#fnc_scriptname) if the function was not called by another function). #### _forEachIndex (Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead v1.55) Represents the (zero-based) index of a [forEach](../commands/forEach.md)- / [forEachReversed](../commands/forEachReversed.md)-loop. #### _self (Arma 3 v2.14) Available in HashMapObject methods. Contains the HashMapObject instance that the method was invoked on (see [createHashMapObject](../commands/createHashMapObject.md)). #### _thisArgs (Arma 3 v2.04) Additional Event Handler arguments available with [addMissionEventHandler](../commands/addMissionEventHandler.md). #### _thisEvent (Arma 3 v2.06) The name of the Event added with [addEventHandler](../commands/addEventHandler.md), [addMPEventHandler](../commands/addMPEventHandler.md), [addMissionEventHandler](../commands/addMissionEventHandler.md),[addUserActionEventHandler](../commands/addUserActionEventHandler.md), [ctrlAddEventHandler](../commands/ctrlAddEventHandler.md) and [displayAddEventHandler](../commands/displayAddEventHandler.md), as well as for config types EHs. #### _thisEventHandler (Arma 3 v1.64) The index for Event Handlers added with [addEventHandler](../commands/addEventHandler.md), [addMPEventHandler](../commands/addMPEventHandler.md), [addMissionEventHandler](../commands/addMissionEventHandler.md), [addUserActionEventHandler](../commands/addUserActionEventHandler.md), [ctrlAddEventHandler](../commands/ctrlAddEventHandler.md) and [displayAddEventHandler](../commands/displayAddEventHandler.md). #### _thisFSM (Arma 3 v1.54) The FSM ID for FSMs executed with [execFSM](../commands/execFSM.md). #### _thisScript (Arma 3 v1.54) The [Script Handle](../topics/Script_Handle.md) of a script started with [execVM](../commands/execVM.md), [call](../commands/call.md) or [spawn](../commands/spawn.md). #### _thisScriptedEventHandler (Arma 3 v1.68) The index for Scripted Event Handlers added with [BIS_fnc_addScriptedEventHandler](../functions/BIS_fnc_addScriptedEventHandler.md). #### _time > [!WARNING] > SQS only. The time elapsed since the script started running. #### this - **Addon Config Files** (e.g. UserActions, onInit, etc.)**:** The object to which the entry belongs. - **Dialogs:** The player unit that activated control (e.g. via mouseEnter). [false](../commands/false.md) if non-activated. - **Object Init Fields:** The object to which the init field belongs. - **Triggers:** - *Condition*: The [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md) return value of the Trigger's condition (e.g. "East Not Present"). - *On Activation* and *On Deactivation*: Seems to always return [false](../commands/false.md). - **Waypoints:** - *Condition*, *On Activation* and *On Deactivation*: The group leader that completed the waypoint (or the driver, if the waypoint is assigned to a vehicle). #### thisList - **Triggers:** - Accessible in the *Condition*, *On Activation* and *On Deactivation* code. - Defines an array of objects that have been detected by the trigger (same as what is returned by the [list](../commands/list.md) command). - Seems to be undefined in the *On Deactivation* expression and should not be used. It will either be an empty array, or possibly the contents of a different trigger. - **Waypoints:** - Accessible within the *Condition* or *On Activation* code. - Defines an array containing all group members that completed the waypoint. #### thisTrigger Refers to the trigger object itself - accessible within the *Condition*, *On Activation* and *On Deactivation* code. #### thisActivator (Arma 3 v2.22) Refers to an [Object](../topics/Object.md), which activated this trigger. Default: the trigger [Object](../topics/Object.md) itself. Source: [BI Community Wiki — Magic Variables](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Magic_Variables) (revision 378809).