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# AVCaptureMetadataInput

A capture input for providing timed metadata to a capture session.

```
class AVCaptureMetadataInput
```

## Overview

This class provides input to an [`AVCaptureSession`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureSession). An instance of [`AVCaptureMetadataInput`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureMetadataInput) can present one and only one [`AVCaptureInput.Port`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureInput/Port) connected to an [`AVCaptureMovieFileOutput`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureMovieFileOutput). Provide metadata through the input port by conforming to a <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/CoreMedia/CMFormatDescription> and supplying [`AVMetadataItem`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVMetadataItem) objects in an [`AVTimedMetadataGroup`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVTimedMetadataGroup).

## Topics

### Creating metadata input

[`-  initWithFormatDescription:clock:`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureMetadataInput/init(formatDescription:clock:))

Creates capture metadata input to provide timed groups to a capture session.

[`+  metadataInputWithFormatDescription:clock:`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureMetadataInput/metadataInputWithFormatDescription:clock:)

Returns a metadata input instance that allows clients to provide timed metadata groups to a capture session.

### Providing metadata

[`-  appendTimedMetadataGroup:error:`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureMetadataInput/append(_:))

Provides metadata to the capture session.

## Relationships

### Conforms To

[`CustomStringConvertible`](/documentation/Swift/CustomStringConvertible)

[`CustomDebugStringConvertible`](/documentation/Swift/CustomDebugStringConvertible)

[`NSObjectProtocol`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObjectProtocol)

[`CVarArg`](/documentation/Swift/CVarArg)

[`Hashable`](/documentation/Swift/Hashable)

[`Equatable`](/documentation/Swift/Equatable)

### Inherits From

[`AVCaptureInput`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureInput)

---

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