# GetContextValue Reads a value collected during authorization. ``` int (*)(struct __OpaqueAuthorizationEngine *, const char *, enum AuthorizationContextFlags *, const struct AuthorizationValue **) GetContextValue; ``` ## Parameters `inEngine` An opaque handle that is passed to your plug-in when the authorization engine calls your [`MechanismCreate`](/documentation/Security/AuthorizationPluginInterface/MechanismCreate) function. `inKey` A key indicating which value you want to retrieve. This key must correspond to one you specified when you used the [`SetContextValue`](/documentation/Security/AuthorizationCallbacks/SetContextValue) function to store a context value. `outContextFlags` On output points to a flag that indicates whether this value is available to the authorization client. `outValue` On input, allocate a pointer to an [`AuthorizationValue`](/documentation/Security/AuthorizationValue) structure. On output, the structure contains the size of the data and a pointer to the data. Because your [`AuthorizationValue`](/documentation/Security/AuthorizationValue) structure does not own the data, you must not deallocate the structure or the data pointed to by the structure. ## Return Value A result code. Possible results are [`errAuthorizationSuccess`](/documentation/Security/errAuthorizationSuccess) (no error) and [`errAuthorizationInternal`](/documentation/Security/errAuthorizationInternal) (Security Server internal error). ## Discussion Your plug-in authorization mechanism might collect data such as the user name and other authentication information during evaluation of authorization. You can use the [`SetContextValue`](/documentation/Security/AuthorizationCallbacks/SetContextValue) function to have the Security Server store this data and the [`GetContextValue`](/documentation/Security/AuthorizationCallbacks/GetContextValue) function to retrieve it. The authorization engine sends you the entry point to the [`GetContextValue`](/documentation/Security/AuthorizationCallbacks/GetContextValue) function in an [`AuthorizationCallbacks`](/documentation/Security/AuthorizationCallbacks) structure when you call the [`AuthorizationPluginCreate`](/documentation/Security/AuthorizationPluginCreate) function. > Important: > Do not call this function after you have called the ``doc://com.apple.security/documentation/Security/AuthorizationCallbacks/SetResult`` function. If you do so, the data retrieved by the `GetContextValue` function might not reflect the current value even though the function returns the ``doc://com.apple.security/documentation/Security/errAuthorizationSuccess`` result code. --- 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)