# AVSynchronizedLayer A Core Animation layer that derives its timing from a player item so that you can synchronize layer animations with media playback. ``` class AVSynchronizedLayer ``` ## Overview You can create an arbitrary number of synchronized layers from the same `AVPlayerItem` object. A synchronized layer is similar to a object in that it doesn’t display anything itself, it just confers state upon its layer subtree. `AVSynchronizedLayer` confers its timing state, synchronizing the timing of layers in its subtree with that of a player item. Any `CoreAnimation` layer with animation property set that is added as a sublayer of `AVSynchronizedLayer` should set the animation’s property to a non-zero positive value so animations will be interpreted on the player item’s timeline. `CoreAnimation` replaces the default `beginTime` of 0.0 with . To start the animation from time 0, use a small positive value like [`AVCoreAnimationBeginTimeAtZero`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCoreAnimationBeginTimeAtZero). You might use a layer as shown in the following example: ```objc AVPlayerItem *playerItem = <#Get a player item#>; CALayer *superLayer = <#Get a layer#>; // Set up a synchronized layer to sync the layer timing of its subtree // with the playback of the playerItem/ AVSynchronizedLayer *syncLayer = [AVSynchronizedLayer synchronizedLayerWithPlayerItem:playerItem]; [syncLayer addSublayer:<#Another layer#>]; // These sublayers will be synchronized. [superLayer addSublayer:syncLayer]; ``` ## Topics ### Creating a synchronized layer [`init(playerItem:)`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVSynchronizedLayer/init(playerItem:)) Creates a new synchronized layer with timing synchronized with a given player item. ### Managing the player item [`playerItem`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVSynchronizedLayer/playerItem) The player item to which the timing of the layer is synchronized. ### Supporting types [`AVCoreAnimationBeginTimeAtZero`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCoreAnimationBeginTimeAtZero) A value that sets an animation begin time to `0`. --- 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)