---
title: "Ways to connect layers"
description: "Choose grouping, parenting, a layout or an instance according to what should stay connected."
canonical: "https://terminal.lottiefiles.com/docs/concepts/connecting-layers/"
last_updated: 2026-10-27
---

# Ways to connect layers

Choose grouping, parenting, a layout or an instance according to what should stay connected.

Moving two layers beside each other does not connect them. Each keeps its own position and keys
until you give them a relationship.

| You want to… | Use | What stays connected |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Move a scene as one object | A group (`⌃G`) | The group contains the layers in a precomp, with its anchor in their middle |
| Make one part carry another | **Parent** | The child follows the parent's position, scale and rotation while keeping its own offset |
| Keep a row or column spaced | A layout (`⇧Y`) | Layers take places in a row or column; growing one moves the others aside |
| Reuse a drawing and edit every use together | An instance (`⌥⌃D`) | Instances share the contents of a group; each use has its own transform |
| Arrange many linked copies | A [repeat](https://terminal.lottiefiles.com/docs/repeats.md) | Copies follow the source drawing and keys, with arrangement and timing controls |

Parenting changes how a layer measures its position. When you assign the parent, the layer
stays where it is at the playhead. Its position becomes an offset in the parent's space. You
can still animate that offset to make a hand move while its arm carries it.

A group changes where you edit. Enter the precomp to select its parts; select the group to
move the scene. An instance shares those parts with another use. Choose **make unique** before
editing inside if only this use should change.

A layout gives each layer a resting place. The layer's own entrance or bounce is an offset
from that place, so the animation does not push its neighbours aside. Its changing size does.

Use [Layouts and parenting](https://terminal.lottiefiles.com/docs/layers/arranging.md) for the controls, or
[make a layer turn from one end](https://terminal.lottiefiles.com/docs/how-to/make-a-layer-turn-from-one-end.md) before connecting
the parts it should carry.