# IndexPath A list of indexes that together represent the path to a specific location in a tree of nested arrays. ``` struct IndexPath ``` ## Overview Each index in an index path represents the index into an array of children from one node in the tree to another, deeper, node. ## Topics ### Creating Index Paths [`init()`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/init()) Creates an empty index path. [`init(index:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/init(index:)) Creates an index path with a single element. [`init(arrayLiteral:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/init(arrayLiteral:)) Creates an index path from an array literal. [`init(indexes:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/init(indexes:)-7auqk) Creates an index path from an array of elements. [`init(indexes:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/init(indexes:)-55we8) Creates an index path from a sequence of integers. [`Element`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/Element) A type that represents one node of an index path. ### Working with Special Node Names and supply specialized names for the first two index path nodes for use when working with table views and collection views. [`endIndex`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/endIndex) One past the index of the last node in the index path. [`item`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/item-8cp0y) The value of the item element of the index path. [`row`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/row) The value of the row element of the index path. [`section`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/section-8h7wo) The value of the section element of the index path. [`startIndex`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/startIndex) The index of the first node in the index path. ### Counting Nodes ### Accessing Nodes [`subscript(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/subscript(_:)-6p6ul) Accesses one of the index path’s nodes. [`subscript(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/subscript(_:)-4pgu1) Accesses a contiguous subrange of the index path’s nodes. ### Adding Nodes [`+(_:_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/+(_:_:)) Combines the elements of two index paths into a single index path. [`+=(_:_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/+=(_:_:)) Appends the elements of another index path to this index path. ### Removing Nodes ### Finding Nodes ### Selecting Nodes [`append(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/append(_:)-6dxrh) Appends the nodes of another index path to this one. [`append(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/append(_:)-6vsd5) Appends an array of elements to this index path as additional nodes. [`append(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/append(_:)-7qv6f) Appends a single element to this index path as a new node. [`appending(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/appending(_:)-93eco) Returns a new index path containing the elements of this one plus the given element. [`appending(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/appending(_:)-53tcl) Returns a new index path containing the elements of this one plus those of another index path. [`appending(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/appending(_:)-174v0) Returns a new index path containing the elements of this one plus an array of additional elements. [`compare(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/compare(_:)) Compares this index path to another in depth-first traversal order. [`dropLast()`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/dropLast()) Return a new index path containing all but the last element. [`index(after:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/index(after:)) Returns the index that follows the given index. [`index(before:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/index(before:)) Returns the index that precedes the given index. [`makeIterator()`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/makeIterator()) Returns an iterator over the nodes of the index path. ### Excluding Nodes [`dropLast()`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/dropLast()) Return a new index path containing all but the last element. ### Transforming Index Paths ### Iterating over Nodes [`makeIterator()`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/makeIterator()) Returns an iterator over the nodes of the index path. ### Sorting Nodes ### Comparing Index Paths [`compare(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/compare(_:)) Compares this index path to another in depth-first traversal order. ### Manipulating Indexes [`Index`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/Index) A type that points to a particular node in an index path, similar to an array index. [`startIndex`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/startIndex) The index of the first node in the index path. [`endIndex`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/endIndex) One past the index of the last node in the index path. [`index(after:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/index(after:)) Returns the index that follows the given index. [`index(before:)`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/index(before:)) Returns the index that precedes the given index. [`Indices`](/documentation/Foundation/IndexPath/Indices) A type that represents a group of nodes in an index path. ### Using Reference Types [`NSIndexPath`](/documentation/Foundation/NSIndexPath) A list of indexes that together represent the path to a specific location in a tree of nested arrays. ## Relationships ### Conforms To [`Equatable`](/documentation/Swift/Equatable) [`Copyable`](/documentation/Swift/Copyable) [`SendableMetatype`](/documentation/Swift/SendableMetatype) [`Encodable`](/documentation/Swift/Encodable) [`ReferenceConvertible`](/documentation/Foundation/ReferenceConvertible) [`CustomDebugStringConvertible`](/documentation/Swift/CustomDebugStringConvertible) [`Sendable`](/documentation/Swift/Sendable) [`Collection`](/documentation/Swift/Collection) [`CustomStringConvertible`](/documentation/Swift/CustomStringConvertible) [`Decodable`](/documentation/Swift/Decodable) [`Hashable`](/documentation/Swift/Hashable) [`BidirectionalCollection`](/documentation/Swift/BidirectionalCollection) [`Sequence`](/documentation/Swift/Sequence) [`MutableCollection`](/documentation/Swift/MutableCollection) [`RandomAccessCollection`](/documentation/Swift/RandomAccessCollection) [`Escapable`](/documentation/Swift/Escapable) [`CustomReflectable`](/documentation/Swift/CustomReflectable) [`Comparable`](/documentation/Swift/Comparable) [`ExpressibleByArrayLiteral`](/documentation/Swift/ExpressibleByArrayLiteral) --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. 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