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# representedElementKind

The identifier for specific elements of your collection view interface.

```
var representedElementKind: String? { get }
```

## Discussion

For supplementary and decoration views, you use this string to distinguish between views in a given section. You also use this string to identify the intended purpose of the view in your collection view interface.

When the value of the [`representedElementCategory`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCollectionViewLayoutAttributes/representedElementCategory) property is [`NSCollectionElementCategory.item`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCollectionElementCategory/item), this property is `nil`.

---

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