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# principalMediaCharacteristics

An array of media characteristics that are essential to select when choosing media with a particular characteristic.

```
var principalMediaCharacteristics: [AVMediaCharacteristic]? { get }
```

## Discussion

If no option matches the principal media characteristics, the system chooses the default option in the group as the best match.

When making automatic selections, a player item treats principal media characteristics as criteria that supersede language preferences and preferred media characteristics.

> Important:
> Use principal media characteristics with caution. It’s typical to support accessibility features using a combination of language preferences and preferred characteristics, and not using principal media characteristics.

---

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