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# serializedRepresentation

The contents of the file wrapper as an opaque data object.

```
var serializedRepresentation: Data? { get }
```

## Discussion

This property contains a data object in the format used by the <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/PasteboardType/fileContents> pasteboard type. This data object is also suitable for passing to [`init(serializedRepresentation:)`](/documentation/Foundation/FileWrapper/init(serializedRepresentation:)).

This property may be `nil` if the user modifies the contents of the file system node after you call [`read(from:options:)`](/documentation/Foundation/FileWrapper/read(from:options:)) or [`init(url:options:)`](/documentation/Foundation/FileWrapper/init(url:options:)-70161), but before [`FileWrapper`](/documentation/Foundation/FileWrapper) has read the contents of the file.  You can use the [`immediate`](/documentation/Foundation/FileWrapper/ReadingOptions/immediate) reading option to reduce the likelihood of this problem.

## See Also

[`-  initWithSerializedRepresentation:`](/documentation/Foundation/FileWrapper/init(serializedRepresentation:))

Initializes the receiver as a regular-file file wrapper from given serialized data.


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