user: What is Interface and how is it used in Blender Python scripting?

assistant: [image reference removed]

Asset Browser, showing materials in an asset library.

### Header

#### Import Settings

Import Method
:   Determines how data is managed when an asset is imported.
    This option can be found in the center of the Asset Browser header
    (when an asset library other than *Current File* or *Essentials* is selected):

    Follow Preferences:
    :   Use the import method set in the [File Path Preferences](preferences/file_paths.xhtml#bpy-types-userassetlibrary-import-method).

    Link:
    :   The asset will be [linked](../files/linked_libraries/link_append.xhtml#bpy-ops-wm-link) to the current blend-file, and thus be read-only.
        Later changes to the asset file will be reflected in all files that link it.

    Append:
    :   The asset and all its dependencies will be [Appended](../files/linked_libraries/link_append.xhtml#bpy-ops-wm-append) (copied) into the current file.
        Dragging a material into the scene three times will result in three independent copies.
        Dragging an object into the scene three times will also result in three independent copies.

        “Dependencies” in this case means everything the asset refers to.
        For an object, this can be its mesh and materials, but also other objects
        used by modifiers, constraints, or drivers.

        Since the file now has its own copy of the asset, later changes to
        the asset file will not be reflected in the file it’s appended from.

    Pack:
    :   Imports the asset as *linked* data and immediately packs it into the current blend-file.
        This ensures that the asset remains available even if the original library data is modified
        or becomes unavailable.

        Useful for maintaining self-contained files that do not rely on external asset library paths.

Instance Collections – When Linking/Appending
:   *Mimics the Instance Collections option when* [appending from the file browser](../files/linked_libraries/link_append.xhtml#bpy-ops-wm-append)

    Some asset types such as collections can be created as an instanced collection.
    This is done by enabling the *Instance* option after dragging collection assets into the 3D Viewport.
    By enabling these options, an empty object is added that uses an instance of the collection.
    If these option is disabled, the full collection hierarchy will be added to the scene.

    Collection Assets from the current file will always be instanced.

#### Display Settings

Adjusts how assets are displayed in the asset list.

Display Mode
:   Control how files are displayed.

    Horizontal List:
    :   Displays files and folders in a horizontal list.

    Thumbnails:
    :   Shows [previews](file_browser.xhtml#file-browser-previews).

Preview Size Horizontal List
:   Change the size of thumbnails in list views.

Column Size Horizontal List
:   The width of columns in horizontal list views.

Size Thumbnails
:   Changes the size of the preview thumbnails.

Sort By
:   Name:
    :   Sort the asset list alphabetically.

    Asset Catalog:
    :   Sort the asset list so that assets in the same catalog are kept together.
        Within a single catalog, assets are ordered by name.
        The catalogs are in order of the flattened catalog hierarchy.

### Main Region

The center region of the Asset Browser lists the assets contained in the selected catalog.

Click `LMB` to select a single asset. Additionally hold `Ctrl` to add/remove that asset
to/from the selection, or `Shift` to select a range of assets. You can also drag `LMB`
to perform a box select.

The region has a context menu with the following operations:

Refresh Asset Library `R`
:   Refreshes the list.

Clear Asset
:   See [Removing Assets](../files/asset_libraries/introduction.xhtml#bpy-ops-asset-clear).

Clear Asset (Set Fake User)
:   See [Removing Assets](../files/asset_libraries/introduction.xhtml#assets-clear-set-fake-user).

Open Blend File
:   Opens the blend-file containing the asset.

Display Size
:   Changes the size of the preview thumbnails.

### Asset Library Region

The region on the left lets you select an asset library and shows its catalogs.
You can show/hide this region by pressing `T`.

Asset Library
:   The [asset library](../files/asset_libraries/introduction.xhtml) whose catalogs to show.

    All Libraries:
    :   Show catalogs from all available libraries.

    Current File:
    :   Show the catalogs in the current blend-file (even if that file is not yet part of
        an asset library). See [The Current File Asset Library](../files/asset_libraries/introduction.xhtml#asset-library-current-file) for more information.

    Essentials:
    :   Show the catalogs that come bundled with Blender.

    Any libraries that you added in the [File Path Preferences](preferences/file_paths.xhtml#bpy-types-userassetlibrary)
    are listed here too.

Copy Bundle to Asset Library
:   Shown when *Asset Library* is set to *Current File* and the current blend-file is an
    [asset bundle](#asset-bundles) that’s not yet part of an asset library.

    Lets you select a target asset library, then opens a File Browser in that library’s root
    folder so you can save the current blend-file there. Once saved, the assets in the blend-file
    become available as part of the library.

Catalogs
:   Tree view that shows the [catalogs](../files/asset_libraries/catalogs.xhtml) of the selected
    asset library. A catalog is a group of assets; when you select one, only the assets in that
    catalog and its child catalogs will be listed.

    You can rename a catalog by double-clicking it, or assign it to a different parent catalog
    by dragging and dropping.

Add-ons and features like the [Pose Library](../animation/armatures/posing/editing/pose_library.xhtml)
can show custom panels here.

### Asset Details Region

The region on the right shows the metadata of the active asset.
You can show/hide this region by pressing `N` or clicking the gear icon in the header.

*Only metadata of assets contained in the current blend-file can be edited*.

Name
:   The asset’s name. Unique for the asset data type within the same blend-file.

Source
:   The full path of the blend-file that contains the asset.

    Open Blend File
    :   Opens the blend-file that contains the asset in a new Blender instance.
        When this instance is closed, the Asset Browser will be automatically refreshed.

License
:   Optional name of the license under which this asset is distributed.
    Not used by Blender itself.

Copyright
:   Optional copyright notice. Not used by Blender itself.

Description
:   Optional asset description. Not used by Blender itself.

Author
:   Optional field for the asset author. Not used by Blender itself.

#### Preview

Shows the preview image of the asset. See [Asset Previews](#asset-previews).

Load Custom Preview
:   Opens a File Browser where you can select a new image for the asset preview.

Generate Preview
:   Autogenerate a new preview for the asset.

Preview
:   Menu of additional preview operators.

    Render Active Object
    :   Generates a preview based on the 3D Viewport’s [Active](../glossary/index.xhtml#term-Active) object.
        This is useful for node groups,
        which cannot automatically generate their own preview.

    Remove Preview
    :   Remove the preview of the asset.

    Capture Screenshot Preview
    :   Drag-select a rectangle over an area of Blender to capture it as the preview
        image of the asset. See [Screenshot Capture for Previews](#screenshot-preview).

#### Tags

Panel for viewing and editing asset tags.
These do not have any meaning to Blender and can be chosen freely.
When using the search field to filter the assets, the assets whose tags (partially) match
the search term will also be shown.