Vector3.Lerp with a fixed t in Update() is NOT smooth movement.
It approaches the target exponentially — slowing forever, never truly arriving.
Vector3.SmoothDamp accelerates toward the target and decelerates on arrival.
It actually reaches the destination with physically believable motion.
Lerp — interpolating between two fixed values (colors, UI alpha, progress bars)SmoothDamp — following a moving target (camera, UI element, character)Compatible with any modern Unity version.
| using UnityEngine; | |
| public class LerpExample : MonoBehaviour | |
| { | |
| [SerializeField] private Transform target; | |
| private float t = 0.05f; | |
| void Update() | |
| { | |
| // Looks smooth but never actually arrives | |
| // Slows down exponentially, approaching forever | |
| transform.position = Vector3.Lerp(transform.position, target.position, t); | |
| } | |
| } |
| using UnityEngine; | |
| public class SmoothDampExample : MonoBehaviour | |
| { | |
| [SerializeField] private Transform target; | |
| [SerializeField] private float smoothTime = 0.3f; | |
| private Vector3 velocity = Vector3.zero; | |
| void Update() | |
| { | |
| // Accelerates toward target, decelerates on arrival | |
| // Actually reaches the destination | |
| transform.position = Vector3.SmoothDamp( | |
| transform.position, | |
| target.position, | |
| ref velocity, | |
| smoothTime | |
| ); | |
| } | |
| } |