> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://glua.bluejutzu.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Net Message Analysis Across Files

> GLua indexes both halves of every net message to catch unregistered strings, missing sends, orphaned receivers, and payload mismatches.

A net message is only correct when its two halves agree, and the two halves live in different files. Every `net.Start`, `net.Receive` and `util.AddNetworkString` in the workspace is paired with its counterpart, so a message that fails only at runtime shows up while you are writing it.

## What is checked

Four ways the two halves fail to line up:

* **Unregistered strings.** `net.Start` on a name never passed to `util.AddNetworkString`. Fails on the first send.
* **Missing sends.** A `net.Start` block that never reaches `Send`, `Broadcast` or `SendToServer` — the message is built and thrown away.
* **Orphaned receivers.** A `net.Receive` for a name nothing ever sends. Usually a rename that only happened on one side.
* **Payload mismatches.** The `net.Write*` sequence on the sender does not match the `net.Read*` sequence on the handler.

## Payload mismatch example

Read an `Entity` as a `UInt` and no error is raised — you just get nonsense. The rule catches that before you send the message.

<CodeGroup>
  ```lua Server theme={"system"}
  util.AddNetworkString("MyMessage")

  net.Start("MyMessage")
  net.WriteString("Hello")
  net.WriteEntity(someEntity)
  net.Broadcast()
  ```

  ```lua Client theme={"system"}
  net.Receive("MyMessage", function()
      local msg = net.ReadString()
      local id = net.ReadUInt(8) -- Mismatch: server wrote Entity, client reads UInt
  end)
  ```
</CodeGroup>

Diagnostic on the second read, because that is where the sequences diverge.

## Completion and rename

### Message name completion

Inside a `net.Start` or `net.Receive` string, completion offers every name registered with `util.AddNetworkString` anywhere in the workspace.

### Rename support

Rename a network string on its `util.AddNetworkString` and every `net.Start` and `net.Receive` that uses the same name is renamed with it.

## Net message graph

**GLua: Show Net Message Graph** opens a view of every net message in the workspace: which files send each one, which handle it, and what the payload looks like on either side.

<Tip>
  Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P) and run `GLua: Show Net Message Graph`.
</Tip>


## Related topics

- [glua-gmod](/glua/changelog.md)
- [GLua for Garry's Mod: GMod Lua IDE Support](/glua/index.md)
- [Get Started with GLua](/glua/quickstart.md)
- [Project Report](/glua/features/report.md)