## Inspect a dynamic component

Use **Dynamic component gadget** to identify where a simulation-created component is
attached, which layout contains it, and whether a container currently owns it.
The gadget also exposes the component metadata name and VCID when those values
are available.

![Dynamic component gadget for the selected Block Geo, showing its Warehouse Shelf parent component, Customer Order Warehouse layout, ComponentContainer_HIDE_ owner, metadata name, and VCID.](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/assets/captures/gadgets-dynamic-component-block-geo.png)

## Before you start

* Run the model far enough to create a runtime component
* Select the runtime component in the 3D view or another Visual Components view

## Steps

1. [Open Inspector](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/docs/getting-started/open-inspector/) for the selected
   runtime component.
2. In the gadget selector, select **Dynamic component gadget**.
3. Read **Parent component**, **In layout**, and **In container** to establish
   the component's current ownership context.
4. Read **Metadata name** and **VCID** when you need to identify the component
   type or compare it with another runtime instance.
5. Use the inspect action beside an object-valued row to follow that component,
   layout, or container in Inspector.

## Interpret the result

* **Parent component** is the component associated with the selected
  component's parent root node. It can be `<null>` when no parent component is
  returned.
* **In layout** is the layout returned by the selected component's root node.
  Use it to distinguish the containing layout from the component hierarchy.
* **In container** is the `ISimContainer` behavior whose `Components`
  collection contains the selected dynamic component. It can be `<null>` when
  no owning container is found.
* **Metadata name** comes from the component metadata name. A blank value means
  the current component supplied no displayable metadata name.
* **VCID** is the component's unique component type identifier. A blank value
  means the current component supplied no VCID.
* A static layout component is not eligible for this gadget. If the card shows
  no component data, confirm that the selected object was created during
  simulation and is still the inspected object.

## Use the result

* A populated **Parent component** with a blank **In container** points to a
  hierarchy relationship without a matching container membership; inspect the
  parent and its behaviors before investigating the runtime component further.
* A populated **In container** identifies the behavior that currently owns the
  component. Follow it when the investigation concerns membership, loading,
  or runtime movement.
* Use **Object hierarchy** when you need the broader parent and child tree, or
  **PM product** when the component's Process Modeling product relationship is
  the investigation question.

## Related tasks

See [Inspector gadget system](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/docs/overview/gadget-system/) to choose another
view for the selected object. Use [Object hierarchy](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/docs/gadgets/object-hierarchy/) for
tree context or [Process Modeling product](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/docs/gadgets/product/) for product state.