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# init(api:)

Initializes and returns a newly allocated rendering context with the specified version of the OpenGL ES rendering API.

```
convenience init?(api: EAGLRenderingAPI)
```

## Parameters

`api`

The desired version of the OpenGL ES rendering API. For legal values, see [`EAGLRenderingAPI`](/documentation/OpenGLES/EAGLRenderingAPI).

## Return Value

An initialized context object, or `nil` if the object couldn’t be created.

## Discussion

To issue OpenGL ES commands to this context, you must first make the context current by calling [`setCurrent(_:)`](/documentation/OpenGLES/EAGLContext/setCurrent(_:)).

Calling [`init(api:)`](/documentation/OpenGLES/EAGLContext/init(api:)-q09o) creates a new [`EAGLSharegroup`](/documentation/OpenGLES/EAGLSharegroup) object and attaches it to this context.

## See Also

  [OpenGL ES Programming Guide](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/3DDrawing/Conceptual/OpenGLES_ProgrammingGuide/Introduction/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40008793)


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