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# isByref

Returns a Boolean value that indicates whether the receiver is encoding an object by reference.

```
- (BOOL) isByref;
```

## Return Value

<doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/true> if the receiver is encoding an object `byref`, <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/false> if it expects a copy.

## Discussion

See [Distributed Objects Programming Topics](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/DistrObjects/DistrObjects.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/10000102i) for more information.

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