<!--
{
  "availability" : [
    "iOS: 10.0.0 -",
    "iPadOS: 10.0.0 -",
    "macCatalyst: 14.0.0 -",
    "macOS: 10.15.0 -",
    "tvOS: 17.0.0 -"
  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "AVFoundation",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCapturePhotoOutput/availablePhotoCodecTypes",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Instance Property",
  "symbol" : {
    "kind" : "Instance Property",
    "modules" : [
      "AVFoundation"
    ],
    "preciseIdentifier" : "c:objc(cs)AVCapturePhotoOutput(py)availablePhotoCodecTypes"
  },
  "title" : "availablePhotoCodecTypes"
}
-->

# availablePhotoCodecTypes

The compression codecs this capture output currently supports for photo capture.

```
var availablePhotoCodecTypes: [AVVideoCodecType] { get }
```

## Discussion

To capture a photo in a compressed format, such as JPEG, use the [`init(format:)`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCapturePhotoSettings/init(format:)) initializer to create your photo settings object. In that initializer’s `format` dictionary, pass the key [`AVVideoCodecKey`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVVideoCodecKey), whose value must be one of the codec identifiers listed in this array.

> Note:
> Read this property only after adding the photo capture output to an ``doc://com.apple.avfoundation/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureSession`` object containing a video source. If the photo capture output isn’t connected to a session with a video source, this array is empty.

This property supports key-value observing.

---

Copyright &copy; 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)