# getCharacters(_:) Copies all characters from the receiver into a given buffer. ``` func getCharacters(_ buffer: UnsafeMutablePointer) ``` ## Parameters `buffer` Upon return, contains the characters from the receiver. `buffer` must be large enough to contain all characters in the string (`[string length]*sizeof(unichar)`). ## Discussion Invokes [`getCharacters(_:range:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSString/getCharacters(_:range:)) with `buffer` and the entire extent of the receiver as the range. ## See Also [`length`](/documentation/Foundation/NSString/length) The number of UTF-16 code units in the receiver. --- Copyright © 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)