# path(forResource:ofType:) Returns the full pathname for the resource identified by the specified name and file extension. ``` func path(forResource name: String?, ofType ext: String?) -> String? ``` ## Parameters `name` The name of the resource file. If you specify `nil` , the method returns the first resource file it finds with the specified extension. `ext` The filename extension of the file to locate. If you specify an empty string or `nil` , the extension is assumed not to exist and the file is the first file encountered that exactly matches `name` . ## Return Value The full pathname for the resource file, or `nil` if the file could not be located. ## Discussion The method first looks for a matching resource file in the non-localized resource directory of the specified bundle. If a matching resource file is not found, it then looks in the top level of an available language-specific `.lproj` folder. (The search order for the language-specific folders corresponds to the user’s preferences.) It does not recurse through other subfolders at any of these locations. For more details on how localized resources are found, read [The Bundle Search Pattern](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/CoreFoundation/Conceptual/CFBundles/AccessingaBundlesContents/AccessingaBundlesContents.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/10000123i-CH104-SW7) in [Bundle Programming Guide](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/CoreFoundation/Conceptual/CFBundles/Introduction/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/10000123i). The following code fragment gets the path to a plist within the bundle, and loads it into an `NSDictionary`: ```objc NSBundle *thisBundle = [NSBundle bundleForClass:[self class]]; if (commonDictionaryPath = [thisBundle pathForResource:@"CommonDictionary" ofType:@"plist"]) { theDictionary = [[NSDictionary alloc] initWithContentsOfFile:commonDictionaryPath]; } ``` --- 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)