# changingLayout(to:) Returns a copy with the specified buffer layout. ``` func changingLayout(to bufferLayout: MLShapedArrayBufferLayout) -> MLShapedArraySlice ``` ## Parameters `bufferLayout` The desired buffer layout. ## Discussion The returned shaped array slice will have `.strides` property according to the requested layout. The function may return a heap-memory backed shaped array even if `self` is backed by a pixel buffer. ```swift let source = MLShapedArray(scalars: 0..., shape: [4, 4]) let slice = source[1...2, 1...2] // slice.shape == [2, 2] // Returns a new MLShapedArraySlice with the specified strides. _ = slice.changingLayout(to: .custom(strides: [3, 1])) // Returns a new MLShapedArraySlice with the first-major contiguous layout. _ = source.changingLayout(to: .firstMajorContiguous) // strides = [2, 1] // Returns a new MLShapedArraySlice with the last-major contiguous layout. _ = source.changingLayout(to: .lastMajorContiguous) // strides = [1, 2] ``` The `withUnsafeShapedBufferPointer` function provides read-only access to the underlying buffer of the layout. The `withUnsafeMutableShapedBufferPointer(body:)` function may provide a buffer of different layout due to copy-on-write. Use `withUnsafeMutableShapedBufferPointer(bufferLayout:body:)` if you need a specific buffer layout. It raises a precondition error if the custom strides and the shape have different ranks. --- 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)