<!--
{
  "availability" : [
    "iOS: 5.0.0 -",
    "iPadOS: 5.0.0 -",
    "macCatalyst: 13.1.0 -",
    "macOS: 10.4.0 -",
    "tvOS: 9.0.0 -",
    "visionOS: 1.0.0 -",
    "watchOS: 2.0.0 -"
  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "Foundation",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/Foundation/NSMetadataQuery/searchScopes",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Instance Property",
  "symbol" : {
    "kind" : "Instance Property",
    "modules" : [
      "Foundation"
    ],
    "preciseIdentifier" : "c:objc(cs)NSMetadataQuery(py)searchScopes"
  },
  "title" : "searchScopes"
}
-->

# searchScopes

An array containing the search scopes.

```
var searchScopes: [Any] { get set }
```

## Discussion

This array can contain `NSURL` or `NSString` objects that represent file-system directories or the search scopes for the query. For a list of valid search scopes, see [Metadata Query Search Scopes](/documentation/Foundation/metadata-query-search-scopes). An empty array indicates that there is no limitation on where the query searches.

## See Also

  [File Metadata Search Programming Guide](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Carbon/Conceptual/SpotlightQuery/Concepts/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40001841)


---

Copyright &copy; 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)