# constraint(lessThanOrEqualTo:) Returns a constraint that defines one item’s attribute as less than or equal to another. ``` func constraint(lessThanOrEqualTo anchor: NSLayoutAnchor) -> NSLayoutConstraint ``` ## Parameters `anchor` A layout anchor from an [`NSView`](/documentation/AppKit/NSView) or [`NSLayoutGuide`](/documentation/AppKit/NSLayoutGuide) object. You must use a subclass of [`NSLayoutAnchor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSLayoutAnchor) that matches the current anchor. For example, if you call this method on an [`NSLayoutXAxisAnchor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSLayoutXAxisAnchor) object, this parameter must be another [`NSLayoutXAxisAnchor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSLayoutXAxisAnchor). ## Return Value An [`NSLayoutConstraint`](/documentation/AppKit/NSLayoutConstraint) object that defines the attribute represented by this layout anchor as less than or equal to the attribute represented by the `anchor` parameter. ## Discussion This method defines the relationship `first attribute <= second attribute`. Where `first attribute` is the layout attribute represented by the anchor receiving this method call, and `second attribute` is the layout attribute represented by the `anchor` parameter. All values are measured in points; however, these values can be interpreted in different ways, depending on the type of layout anchor. - For leading or trailing anchors, the values increase as you move in the current language’s reading direction. For English, values increase as you move to the right. - For left and right anchors, the values increase as you move to the right. - For [`NSLayoutYAxisAnchor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSLayoutYAxisAnchor) objects, the values increase as you move down. - For [`NSLayoutDimension`](/documentation/AppKit/NSLayoutDimension) objects, the values increase as the items increase in size. The constraints produced by the following two examples are identical. ```objc // Creating a constraint using NSLayoutConstraint [NSLayoutConstraint constraintWithItem:subview attribute:NSLayoutAttributeLeading relatedBy:NSLayoutRelationLessThanOrEqual toItem:self.view attribute:NSLayoutAttributeLeadingMargin multiplier:1.0 constant:0.0].active = YES; // Creating the same constraint using constraintLessThanOrEqualToAnchor: NSLayoutGuide *margin = self.view.layoutMarginsGuide; [subview.leadingAnchor constraintLessThanOrEqualToAnchor:margin.leadingAnchor].active = YES; ``` --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)