<!--
{
  "availability" : [
    "iOS: 9.1.0 -",
    "iPadOS: 9.1.0 -",
    "macCatalyst: 13.1.0 -",
    "macOS: 10.12.0 -",
    "tvOS: 10.0.0 -",
    "visionOS: 1.0.0 -"
  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "PhotoKit",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/Photos/PHLivePhoto",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Class",
  "symbol" : {
    "kind" : "Class",
    "modules" : [
      "Photos"
    ],
    "preciseIdentifier" : "c:objc(cs)PHLivePhoto"
  },
  "title" : "PHLivePhoto"
}
-->

# PHLivePhoto

A displayable representation of a Live Photo—a picture that includes motion and sound from the moments just before and after its capture.

```
class PHLivePhoto
```

## Overview

In iOS and tvOS, you can use this class to reference Live Photos from the user’s library (fetched with the [`PHAsset`](/documentation/Photos/PHAsset) and [`PHImageManager`](/documentation/Photos/PHImageManager) classes), to load displayable Live Photo objects from data obtained elsewhere (such as pictures shared through a social network), and to assign Live Photos to [`PHLivePhotoView`](/documentation/PhotosUI/PHLivePhotoView) objects for display.

In iOS, tvOS, and macOS, you can use this class to display edits in progress for Live Photo content in a photo editing extension.

> Note:
> For guidance on how to integrate Live Photos with your app’s user experience, see [Live Photos](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/MobileHIG/LivePhotos.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40006556-CH74) in [iOS Human Interface Guidelines](https://developer.apple.com/ios/human-interface-guidelines/).

The [`PHLivePhoto`](/documentation/Photos/PHLivePhoto) class serves in much the same role for Live Photos as the <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/UIKit/UIImage> or <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/AppKit/NSImage> class serves for static images. A <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/UIKit/UIImage> or <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/AppKit/NSImage> object represents not the data file an image is loaded from, but instead a ready-to-use image that can be displayed in a view—similarly, a [`PHLivePhoto`](/documentation/Photos/PHLivePhoto) object represents a Live Photo ready to display with motion and sound using a [`PHLivePhotoView`](/documentation/PhotosUI/PHLivePhotoView) object, not an entry in the Photos library or the data resources that constitute a Live Photo. (To work with Live Photos as elements of the Photos library, use the [`PHAsset`](/documentation/Photos/PHAsset) class. To work with the data files that constitute a Live Photo, use the [`PHAssetResource`](/documentation/Photos/PHAssetResource) class.)

> Tip:
> To display Live Photo content on the web, use the <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/LivePhotosKitJS> framework.

## Topics

### Inspecting a Live Photo

[`size`](/documentation/Photos/PHLivePhoto/size)

The size, in pixels, of the Live Photo.

### Loading a Live Photo from Data Files

[`request(withResourceFileURLs:placeholderImage:targetSize:contentMode:resultHandler:)`](/documentation/Photos/PHLivePhoto/request(withResourceFileURLs:placeholderImage:targetSize:contentMode:resultHandler:))

Asynchronously loads a Live Photo from the specified resource files.

[`cancelRequest(withRequestID:)`](/documentation/Photos/PHLivePhoto/cancelRequest(withRequestID:))

Cancels an asynchronous request

### Constants

[`PHLivePhotoRequestID`](/documentation/Photos/PHLivePhotoRequestID)

A numeric identifier for an asynchronous Live Photo loading request.

  <doc://com.apple.photokit/documentation/PhotoKit/image-request-identifiers>

  <doc://com.apple.photokit/documentation/PhotoKit/result-handler-info-dictionary-keys>



---

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)