# Ref A safe reference allowing in-place reads to a shared value. ``` @frozen struct Ref where Value : ~Copyable ``` ## Topics ### Initializers [`init(borrowing Value)`](/documentation/Swift/Ref/init(_:)) Initializes an instance of `Ref` with the given borrowed value. This creates a constant reference to that value preventing writes on the original value while this reference is still active. [`init(unsafeAddress: UnsafePointer, borrowing: borrowing Owner)`](/documentation/Swift/Ref/init(unsafeAddress:borrowing:)) Unsafely initializes an instance of `Ref` using the given ‘unsafeAddress’ as the reference based on the borrowed lifetime of the given ‘owner’ argument. ### Instance Properties [`var value: Value`](/documentation/Swift/Ref/value) Dereferences the constant reference allowing for in-place reads to the underlying value. ## Relationships ### Conforms To [`SendableMetatype`](/documentation/Swift/SendableMetatype) [`BitwiseCopyable`](/documentation/Swift/BitwiseCopyable) [`Copyable`](/documentation/Swift/Copyable) [`Sendable`](/documentation/Swift/Sendable) --- 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)