# SCNetworkConnection ## Overview The `SCNetworkConnection` programming interface contains functions that allow an application to control connection-oriented services defined in the system and get connection-status information. Note that these functions allow you to control and get information about existing services only. If you need to create, change, or remove services, you should use the `SCNetworkConfiguration` programming interface instead. > Note: > Currently, only PPP services can be controlled. ## Topics ### Getting Connection-Status Information [`func SCNetworkConnectionGetTypeID() -> CFTypeID`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionGetTypeID()) Returns the type identifier of all `SCNetworkConnection` instances. [`func SCNetworkConnectionCopyUserPreferences(CFDictionary?, UnsafeMutablePointer?>, UnsafeMutablePointer?>) -> Bool`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionCopyUserPreferences(_:_:_:)) Provides the default service ID and a dictionary of user options for the specified connection. [`func SCNetworkConnectionCopyServiceID(SCNetworkConnection) -> CFString?`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionCopyServiceID(_:)) Returns the service ID associated with the specified network connection. [`func SCNetworkConnectionGetStatus(SCNetworkConnection) -> SCNetworkConnectionStatus`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionGetStatus(_:)) Returns the status of the specified network connection. [`func SCNetworkConnectionCopyExtendedStatus(SCNetworkConnection) -> CFDictionary?`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionCopyExtendedStatus(_:)) Returns the extended status of the connection. [`func SCNetworkConnectionCopyStatistics(SCNetworkConnection) -> CFDictionary?`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionCopyStatistics(_:)) Returns the statistics of the specified connection. [`func SCNetworkConnectionCopyUserOptions(SCNetworkConnection) -> CFDictionary?`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionCopyUserOptions(_:)) Gets the user options used to start the specified connection. ### Starting and Stopping a Connection [`func SCNetworkConnectionStart(SCNetworkConnection, CFDictionary?, Bool) -> Bool`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionStart(_:_:_:)) Starts the connection process for the specified network connection. [`func SCNetworkConnectionStop(SCNetworkConnection, Bool) -> Bool`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionStop(_:_:)) Stops the connection process for the specified network connection. ### Scheduling a Connection Reference on a Run Loop [`func SCNetworkConnectionScheduleWithRunLoop(SCNetworkConnection, CFRunLoop, CFString) -> Bool`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionScheduleWithRunLoop(_:_:_:)) Schedules the specified connection with the specified run loop. [`func SCNetworkConnectionUnscheduleFromRunLoop(SCNetworkConnection, CFRunLoop, CFString) -> Bool`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionUnscheduleFromRunLoop(_:_:_:)) Unschedules the specified connection from the specified run loop. ### Creating a Connection Reference [`func SCNetworkConnectionCreateWithServiceID(CFAllocator?, CFString, SCNetworkConnectionCallBack?, UnsafeMutablePointer?) -> SCNetworkConnection?`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionCreateWithServiceID(_:_:_:_:)) Creates a new connection reference to use for getting the status or for connecting or disconnecting the associated service. ### Specifying a Dispatch Queue and Enabling Notifications [`func SCNetworkConnectionSetDispatchQueue(SCNetworkConnection, dispatch_queue_t?) -> Bool`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionSetDispatchQueue(_:_:)) Specifies a dispatch queue to use for the connection’s callback function and enables notifications. ### Data Types [`class SCNetworkConnection`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnection) The handle to manage a connection-oriented service. [`typealias SCNetworkConnectionCallBack`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionCallBack) The type of callback function used when a status event is delivered. [`struct SCNetworkConnectionContext`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionContext) A structure containing user-specified data and callbacks for a network connection. ### Constants [`enum SCNetworkConnectionStatus`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionStatus) The current status of the network connection. [`enum SCNetworkConnectionPPPStatus`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionPPPStatus) The PPP-specific status of the network connection. [Statistics Dictionary Keys](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/statistics-dictionary-keys) Keys associated with values in the statistics dictionary. [Selection Options Dictionary Keys](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/selection-options-dictionary-keys) Keys used with the [`SCNetworkConnectionCopyUserPreferences(_:_:_:)`](/documentation/SystemConfiguration/SCNetworkConnectionCopyUserPreferences(_:_:_:)) selection options dictionary. --- 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)