# AVCaptureDeviceDescriptor An object that identifies a capture device and is safe to pass between actors. ``` class AVCaptureDeviceDescriptor ``` ## Overview A descriptor is a representation of a capture device. An [`AVCaptureDeviceDirectionCoordinator`](/documentation/AVKit/AVCaptureDeviceDirectionCoordinator) object reports descriptors on the main actor, where the capture APIs in AVFoundation shouldn’t run. Pass a descriptor to a background actor and create the there. Read its properties on the main actor to update your interface. You don’t create `AVCaptureDeviceDescriptor` objects directly. An [`AVCaptureDeviceDirectionMap`](/documentation/AVKit/AVCaptureDeviceDirectionMap) object reports the cameras facing each direction as arrays of descriptors. ## Topics ### Identifying the device [`var uniqueID: String`](/documentation/AVKit/AVCaptureDeviceDescriptor/uniqueID) An identifier that uniquely identifies the device’s camera. [`var localizedName: String`](/documentation/AVKit/AVCaptureDeviceDescriptor/localizedName) A name for the camera that’s suitable for display in your interface. ### Inspecting the device’s characteristics [`var deviceType: AVCaptureDevice.DeviceType`](/documentation/AVKit/AVCaptureDeviceDescriptor/deviceType) The kind of camera, such as a wide-angle or telephoto camera. [`var mediaTypes: Set`](/documentation/AVKit/AVCaptureDeviceDescriptor/mediaTypes) The kinds of media the camera captures. [`var position: AVCaptureDevice.Position`](/documentation/AVKit/AVCaptureDeviceDescriptor/position) The physical position of the camera on the device. ## Relationships ### Inherits From [`NSObject-swift.class`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class) ### Conforms To [`Sendable`](/documentation/Swift/Sendable) [`CustomDebugStringConvertible`](/documentation/Swift/CustomDebugStringConvertible) [`Hashable`](/documentation/Swift/Hashable) [`CustomStringConvertible`](/documentation/Swift/CustomStringConvertible) [`CVarArg`](/documentation/Swift/CVarArg) [`SendableMetatype`](/documentation/Swift/SendableMetatype) [`NSObjectProtocol`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObjectProtocol) [`Equatable`](/documentation/Swift/Equatable) --- 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)