# default() Returns the default record zone. ``` class func `default`() -> CKRecordZone ``` ## Discussion Always use this method to retrieve the default zone for a database. You can use the returned object to specify the default zone for either the public or private database of a container. You don’t need to save the returned zone object before using it. The owner of the zone is [`CKOwnerDefaultName`](/documentation/CloudKit/CKOwnerDefaultName), which corresponds to the current user. The default zone of a database is a convenient place to store and access records. If you don’t explicitly assign a zone to a record, CloudKit puts the record in the default zone. The disadvantage of using the default zone for storing records is that it doesn’t have any special capabilities. You can’t save a group of records to iCloud atomically in the default zone. Similarly, you can’t use a [`CKFetchRecordChangesOperation`](/documentation/CloudKit/CKFetchRecordChangesOperation) object on records in the default zone. --- 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)