What is the main difference between static and dynamic lighting in Unity?

The main distinction between static and dynamic lighting in Unity lies in the behavior and performance characteristics during gameplay. Static lighting remains unchanged throughout the game, meaning that once it is baked into the scene, it does not adapt or move in response to changes in the environment or gameplay dynamics. This results in a performance advantage because static lights can be pre-computed, allowing for optimized rendering without the need to recalculate lighting in real-time.

This means that developers can create visually rich environments using static lighting that enhances the overall performance of the game, especially in scenarios where the lighting conditions are not expected to change dynamically. In contrast, dynamic lighting allows for objects and light sources to interact and change during runtime, but this comes with a higher computational cost since the lighting must be calculated in real-time.

Understanding these differences is crucial for game developers, especially when optimizing performance and visual fidelity. Dynamic lighting offers flexibility for interactive experiences, whereas static lighting can efficiently enhance scenes where the lighting conditions are fixed.