How to Select Objects by Type in Blender

Selecting objects by their type in Blender is an essential technique for managing complex 3D scenes efficiently. Whether you need to grab all light sources, cameras, or mesh objects simultaneously, Blender provides multiple quick tools to achieve this. You can select objects by type using the 3D Viewport menu, quick keyboard shortcuts like Shift + G, or by filtering elements inside the Outliner panel.

Method 1: Using the "Select All by Type" Menu

The most straightforward way to choose a specific category of objects without prior selection is through the 3D Viewport menu.

  1. Ensure you are in Object Mode by pressing Tab or checking the mode dropdown in the top-left corner of the 3D Viewport.
  2. Click on Select in the top menu bar of the 3D Viewport.
  3. Hover over Select All by Type.
  4. Choose the object type you want to select from the submenu (e.g., Mesh, Curve, Light, Camera, or Armature).

All objects matching that specific type in your active scene will immediately be highlighted.

Method 2: Using the "Select Similar" Shortcut (Shift + G)

If you already have one object selected and want to select all other objects of the exact same type, use the shortcut menu.

  1. Left-click to select a single object of the desired type in the 3D Viewport.
  2. Press Shift + G on your keyboard to open the Select Similar menu.
  3. Click on Type.

Blender will instantly add every object sharing that type to your current selection.

Method 3: Filtering and Selecting via the Outliner

The Outliner window allows you to filter the visibility of object types and select them in bulk.

  1. Locate the Outliner panel (usually in the top-right corner of the default interface).
  2. Click the Filter icon (looks like a funnel) at the top right of the Outliner.
  3. Under the Object Types section, disable the types you do not want to see, leaving only your target object type enabled.
  4. Click the first item in the Outliner, hold Shift, and click the last item to select all visible objects of that type.

Method 4: Selecting by Type Using Python Scripting

For automated workflows or scripting in Blender's Scripting workspace, you can select objects of a specific type using the Python API:

import bpy

# Deselect all objects first
bpy.ops.object.select_all(action='DESELECT')

# Select all light objects in the scene
for obj in bpy.context.scene.objects:
    if obj.type == 'LIGHT':
        obj.select_set(True)

Replace 'LIGHT' with 'MESH', 'CAMERA', 'CURVE', or 'ARMATURE' depending on your needs.