# init(reflecting:) Creates a string with a detailed representation of the given value, suitable for debugging. ``` init(reflecting subject: Subject) ``` ## Discussion Use this initializer to convert an instance of any type to its custom debugging representation. The initializer creates the string representation of `instance` in one of the following ways, depending on its protocol conformance: - If `subject` conforms to the `CustomDebugStringConvertible` protocol, the result is `subject.debugDescription`. - If `subject` conforms to the `CustomStringConvertible` protocol, the result is `subject.description`. - If `subject` conforms to the `TextOutputStreamable` protocol, the result is obtained by calling `subject.write(to: s)` on an empty string `s`. - An unspecified result is supplied automatically by the Swift standard library. For example, this custom `Point` struct uses the default representation supplied by the standard library. ``` struct Point { let x: Int, y: Int } let p = Point(x: 21, y: 30) print(String(reflecting: p)) // Prints "p: Point = { // x = 21 // y = 30 // }" ``` After adding `CustomDebugStringConvertible` conformance by implementing the `debugDescription` property, `Point` provides its own custom debugging representation. ``` extension Point: CustomDebugStringConvertible { var debugDescription: String { return "Point(x: \(x), y: \(y))" } } print(String(reflecting: p)) // Prints "Point(x: 21, y: 30)" ``` --- 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)