# init(selectedText:contextBefore:contextAfter:markedText:selectedRangeInMarkedText:) Initializes a document with plain text strings that represent the selection and its surrounding context. ``` init(selectedText: String?, contextBefore: String?, contextAfter: String?, markedText: String?, selectedRangeInMarkedText: NSRange) ``` ## Parameters `selectedText` The currently selected text, or `nil` for a caret selection. Pass an empty string, not `nil`, when the selection consists of nontext — in that case, a single call to delete backward doesn’t remove content from the `contextBefore` parameter. This value can be empty if the selection falls outside the context’s area, even if selected text exists elsewhere in the document. `contextBefore` A suffix of the text that precedes the selection, or `nil` if the selection is at the beginning of the document. This string needs to correspond to a range that contains no nontext content. If the string contains a number of backward-deletion repetitions, that same number of delete-backward calls needs to remove the corresponding text from the document. The string needs to begin on a word boundary, or outside of a word entirely. `contextAfter` A prefix of the text that follows the selection, or `nil` if the selection is at the end of the document. This string needs to correspond to a range that contains no nontext content. The string needs to end on a word boundary, or outside of a word entirely. `markedText` The current marked text, or `nil` if no marked text exists. This value can be empty if the marked text falls outside the context’s area, even if marked text exists elsewhere in the document. `selectedRangeInMarkedText` The range of the current selection relative to the marked text range. Pass `(NSNotFound, 0)` to indicate no marked text. --- 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)