# CMSampleBufferCreateForImageBuffer(allocator:imageBuffer:dataReady:makeDataReadyCallback:refcon:formatDescription:sampleTiming:sampleBufferOut:) Creates a sample buffer with an image buffer and a callback to make the data ready for use. ``` func CMSampleBufferCreateForImageBuffer(allocator: CFAllocator?, imageBuffer: CVImageBuffer, dataReady: Bool, makeDataReadyCallback: CMSampleBufferMakeDataReadyCallback?, refcon makeDataReadyRefcon: UnsafeMutableRawPointer?, formatDescription: CMVideoFormatDescription, sampleTiming: UnsafePointer, sampleBufferOut: UnsafeMutablePointer) -> OSStatus ``` ## Parameters `allocator` The allocator to use for allocating the `CMSampleBuffer` object. Pass `kCFAllocatorDefault` to use the default allocator. `imageBuffer` `CVImageBuffer` for the media data. This can be a `CVImageBuffer` whose content hasn’t yet been rendered, or a `CVImageBuffer` that already contains the media data (in which case `dataReady` should be true). May not be `NULL`. `dataReady` Indicates whether or not the `CVImageBuffer` already contains the media data. `makeDataReadyCallback` Callback that [`CMSampleBufferMakeDataReady(_:)`](/documentation/CoreMedia/CMSampleBufferMakeDataReady(_:)) should call to make the data ready. Can be `NULL`. `makeDataReadyRefcon` Refcon [`CMSampleBufferMakeDataReady(_:)`](/documentation/CoreMedia/CMSampleBufferMakeDataReady(_:)) should pass to the callback. `formatDescription` A description of the media data’s format. See discussion above for constraints. May not be `NULL`. `sampleTiming` A `CMSampleTimingInfo` struct that provides the timing information for the media represented by the `CVImageBuffer`. `sampleBufferOut` On output, points to the newly created `CMSampleBuffer` that contains a `CVImageBuffer`. ## Return Value A result code. See [Sample Buffer Error Codes](/documentation/CoreMedia/sample-buffer-errors). ## Discussion Unlike a `CMBlockBuffer` which can reference many samples, a `CVImageBuffer` is defined to reference only one sample; therefore this routine has fewer parameters than `CMSampleBufferCreate`. Sample timing information, which is a vector for `CMSampleBufferCreate`, consists of only one value for this routine. The concept of sample size doesn’t apply to `CVImageBuffers`. As such, [`CMSampleBufferGetSampleSizeArray(_:entryCount:arrayToFill:entriesNeededOut:)`](/documentation/CoreMedia/CMSampleBufferGetSampleSizeArray(_:entryCount:arrayToFill:entriesNeededOut:)) returns `kCMSampleBufferError_BufferHasNoSampleSizes`, and [`CMSampleBufferGetSampleSize(_:at:)`](/documentation/CoreMedia/CMSampleBufferGetSampleSize(_:at:)) returns 0. Because `CVImageBuffers` hold visual data, the format description provided is a `CMVideoFormatDescription`. The format description must be consistent with the attributes and formatting information attached to the `CVImageBuffer`. The width, height, and `codecType` must match (for `CVPixelBuffers` the codec type is given by `CVPixelBufferGetPixelFormatType`(pixelBuffer); for other `CVImageBuffers`, the codecType must be 0). The format description extensions must match the image buffer attachments for all the keys in the list returned by `CMVideoFormatDescriptionGetExtensionKeysCommonWithImageBuffers`. If absent in either they must be absent in both. ## Topics ### Callbacks [`CMSampleBufferMakeDataReadyCallback`](/documentation/CoreMedia/CMSampleBufferMakeDataReadyCallback) Client callback called by [`CMSampleBufferMakeDataReady(_:)`](/documentation/CoreMedia/CMSampleBufferMakeDataReady(_:)). --- 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)