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# UICollectionViewDiffableDataSource.CellProvider

A closure that configures and returns a cell for a collection view from its diffable data source.

```
typealias CellProvider = (UICollectionView, IndexPath, ItemIdentifierType) -> UICollectionViewCell?
```

## Parameters

`collectionView`

The collection view to configure this cell for.

`indexPath`

The index path that specifies the location of the cell in the collection view.

`itemIdentifier`

An object, with a type that implements the <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/Hashable> protocol, the data source uses to uniquely identify the item for this cell.

## Return Value

A non-`nil` configured cell object. The cell provider must return a valid cell object to the collection view.

## Discussion

You use this closure to configure and return cells when creating a diffable data source using [`init(collectionView:cellProvider:)`](/documentation/UIKit/UICollectionViewDiffableDataSource-9tqpa/init(collectionView:cellProvider:)).

## See Also

[`UICollectionViewDiffableDataSourceReference`](/documentation/UIKit/UICollectionViewDiffableDataSourceReference)

The object you use to manage data and provide cells for a collection view.

[Updating collection views using diffable data sources](/documentation/UIKit/updating-collection-views-using-diffable-data-sources)

Streamline the display and update of data in a collection view using a diffable data source that contains identifiers.

[Implementing modern collection views](/documentation/UIKit/implementing-modern-collection-views)

Bring compositional layouts to your app and simplify updating your user interface with diffable data sources.


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