# Shader Graph Asset reference
A Shader Graph asset is a file that contains a graph you create and edit in the [**Shader Graph** window](Shader-Graph-Window.md). It is also a shader that you can select from a material's shader dropdown, as any other shader.
To access the properties of a Shader Graph asset in the **Inspector** window, select the asset in your project.
## Action buttons
Manage Shader Graph assets code.
| Property | Description |
|---------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Open Shader Editor** | Opens the selected asset in the [Shader Graph window](Shader-Graph-Window.md) so you can edit the graph. |
| **View Generated Shader** | Opens the shader code that the shader graph generates in a text editor or an IDE, such as Visual Studio. The code includes all possible passes and targets. |
| **Regenerate** | Updates the code you edited in your text editor or IDE. This button appears only when you select **View Generated Shader**. |
| **Copy Shader** | Copies the shader code to the clipboard. |
## Properties
Manage Shader Graph assets templates.
| Property | Description |
|---------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Use As Template** | Marks the selected Shader Graph asset as a template. When enabled, the asset appears in the [Shader Graph template browser](template-browser.md), but is no longer listed in any material's **Shader** dropdown by default. |
| **Expose As Shader** | Keeps the asset listed in a material's **Shader** dropdown so you can still use it as a shader when you also use it as a template. This is available only when **Use As Template** is enabled. |
| **Name** | Sets the name of the template in the Shader Graph template browser. |
| **Category** | Sets the category of the template in the Shader Graph template browser. |
| **Description** | Sets the description of the template in the Shader Graph template browser. |
| **Icon** | Sets the icon that represents the template in the Shader Graph template browser. |
| **Thumbnail** | Sets the image that represents the template in the Shader Graph template browser. |
## Additional resources
* [Creating a new shader graph asset](Create-Shader-Graph.md)
* [Shader Graph Window](Shader-Graph-Window.md)
* [Shader Graph template browser](template-browser.md)