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# init(contentsOfURL:)

Creates and returns a mutable array containing the contents specified by a given URL.

```
init?(contentsOfURL url: URL)
```

## Parameters

`url`

The location of the file containing a string representation of a mutable array produced by the [`write(to:atomically:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSArray/write(to:atomically:)) method.

## Return Value

A mutable array containing the contents specified by `aURL`. Returns `nil` if the location can’t be opened or if the contents of the location can’t be parsed into a mutable array.

## Discussion

The array representation at the location identified by `aURL` must contain only property list objects (`NSString`, `NSData`, `NSDate`, `NSNumber`, `NSArray`, or `NSDictionary` objects). The objects contained by this array are immutable even if the array is mutable.

## See Also

[`-  writeToURL:atomically:`](/documentation/Foundation/NSArray/write(to:atomically:))

Writes the contents of the array to the location specified by a given URL.


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