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# makeItem(withIdentifier:for:)

Creates or returns a reusable item object of the specified type.

```
func makeItem(withIdentifier identifier: NSUserInterfaceItemIdentifier, for indexPath: IndexPath) -> NSCollectionViewItem
```

## Parameters

`identifier`

The reuse identifier for the specified item. This is the identifier you specified when registering the item. This parameter must not be `nil`.

`indexPath`

The index path specifying the location of the item. The data source object receives this information in its [`collectionView(_:itemForRepresentedObjectAt:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCollectionViewDataSource/collectionView(_:itemForRepresentedObjectAt:)) method and you should just pass it along.

## Return Value

A valid [`NSCollectionViewItem`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCollectionViewItem) object.

## Discussion

This method looks for a recycled item object of the specified type and returns it if one exists. If one does not exist, it creates it using one of the following techniques:

- If you used the [`register(_:forItemWithIdentifier:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCollectionView/register(_:forItemWithIdentifier:)-6s4i) method to register a class for the identifier, this method instantiates your class and returns it.
- If you used the [`register(_:forItemWithIdentifier:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCollectionView/register(_:forItemWithIdentifier:)-90h1i) method to register a nib file for the identifier, this method loads the item from the nib file and returns it.

---

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