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# play()

Initiates playback of the current item.

```
func play()
```

## Discussion

If playback was previously paused, this method resumes playback where it left off; otherwise, this method plays the first available item, from the beginning.

If a media player isn’t prepared for playback when you call this method, this method first prepares the media player and then starts playback. To minimize playback delay, call the [`prepareToPlay()`](/documentation/MediaPlayer/MPMediaPlayback/prepareToPlay()) method before you call this method.

To receive a notification when a movie player is ready to play, register for the [`MPMoviePlayerLoadStateDidChangeNotification`](/documentation/MediaPlayer/MPMoviePlayerLoadStateDidChangeNotification) notification. You can then check load state by accessing the movie player’s [`loadState`](/documentation/MediaPlayer/MPMoviePlayerController/loadState) property.

---

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