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# needsToBeUpdated(fromPath:)

Indicates whether the file wrapper needs to be updated to match a given file-system node.

```
func needsToBeUpdated(fromPath path: String) -> Bool
```

## Parameters

`path`

file-system node with which to compare the file wrapper.

## Return Value

<doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/false> when the file wrapper needs to be updated to match `node`, <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/false> otherwise.

## Discussion

This table describes which attributes of the file wrapper and `node` are compared to determine whether the file wrapper needs to be updated:

|File-wrapper type|Comparison determinants                  |
|-----------------|-----------------------------------------|
|Regular file     |Modification date and access permissions.|
|Directory        |Member hierarchy (recursive).            |
|Symbolic link    |Destination pathname.                    |

### Special Considerations

Beginning with OS X v10.6, the preferred method of referring to files is with a `file://` URL. Therefore, this method has been deprecated in favor of [`matchesContents(of:)`](/documentation/Foundation/FileWrapper/matchesContents(of:)).

## See Also

[`fileAttributes`](/documentation/Foundation/FileWrapper/fileAttributes)

A dictionary of file attributes.


---

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