<!--
{
  "availability" : [
    "iOS: 8.0.0 -",
    "iPadOS: 8.0.0 -",
    "macCatalyst: 8.0.0 -",
    "tvOS: 10.0.0 -",
    "visionOS: 1.0.0 -",
    "watchOS: 2.0.0 -"
  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "HomeKit",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/HomeKit/HMCharacteristic/properties",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Instance Property",
  "symbol" : {
    "kind" : "Instance Property",
    "modules" : [
      "HomeKit"
    ],
    "preciseIdentifier" : "c:objc(cs)HMCharacteristic(py)properties"
  },
  "title" : "properties"
}
-->

# properties

An array of properties that describe the characteristic.

```
var properties: [String] { get }
```

## Discussion

Test a characteristic’s [`properties`](/documentation/HomeKit/HMCharacteristic/properties) array for any of the constants listed in [Characteristic Properties](/documentation/HomeKit/characteristic-properties) to learn something about the corresponding characteristic. For example, you can create a readability Boolean in an extension to the [`HMCharacteristic`](/documentation/HomeKit/HMCharacteristic) class by testing for [`HMCharacteristicPropertyReadable`](/documentation/HomeKit/HMCharacteristicPropertyReadable):

```swift
extension HMCharacteristic {
    var isReadable: Bool {
        return properties.contains(HMCharacteristicPropertyReadable)
    }
}
```

---

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)