# objectForKey: Returns the object that the record stores for the specified key. ``` - (id) objectForKey:(CKRecordFieldKey) key; ``` ## Parameters `key` The string that identifies a field in the record. A key must consist of one or more alphanumeric characters and must start with a letter. CloudKit permits the use of underscores, but not spaces. ## Return Value The object for the specified key, or `nil` if no such key exists in the record. ## Discussion New records don’t contain any keys or values. Values are always one of the data types in [`Supported Data Types`](/documentation/CloudKit/CKRecord#Supported-Data-Types). You access the fields of a `CKRecord` object the same way you access key-value pairs in a dictionary. The `CKRecord` class defines the [`objectForKey:`](/documentation/CloudKit/CKRecord/objectForKey:) and [`setObject:forKey:`](/documentation/CloudKit/CKRecord/setObject:forKey:) methods for getting and setting values. It also supports dictionary index notation. The following example shows how to use both techniques to set a `firstName` field and retrieve a `lastName` field from a record: ```objc // Equivalent ways to get a value. id value = [myRecord objectForKey:@"hiredAt"]; value = myRecord[@"hiredAt"]; ``` --- 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)