# init(column:) Creates a new column of machine learning dictionaries from a given column whose elements can be converted to dictionaries. ``` init(column: MLDataColumn) where T : MLDataValueConvertible ``` ## Parameters `column` An [`MLDataColumn`](/documentation/CreateML/MLDataColumn) of elements convertible to [`MLDataValue.DictionaryType`](/documentation/CreateML/MLDataValue/DictionaryType). ## Discussion Use this initializer to create a column of dictionaries from another column. Start by creating a column that is convertible to a column of dictionaries. ```swift let intDictionaryString = "{1:\"one\", 2:\"two\", 3:\"three\"}" let intDictionaryString2 = "{4:\"four\", 5:\"five\", 6:\"six\"}" let stringsColumn = MLDataColumn([intDictionaryString, intDictionaryString2]) print(stringsColumn) // Prints ["{1:"one", 2:"two", 3:"three"}", "{4:"four", 5:"five", 6:"six"}"] ``` Then use [`init(column:)`](/documentation/CreateML/MLDataColumn/init(column:)-s8g5) to convert the column to a column of dictionaries. ```swift let dictionaryColumn = MLDataColumn(column: stringsColumn) print(dictionaryColumn) // Prints [[1: one, 2: two, 3: three], [5: five, 4: four, 6: six]] ``` --- 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)