<!--
{
  "availability" : [
    "iOS: 2.0.0 -",
    "iPadOS: 2.0.0 -",
    "macCatalyst: 13.0.0 -",
    "macOS: 10.0.0 -",
    "tvOS: 9.0.0 -",
    "visionOS: 1.0.0 -",
    "watchOS: 2.0.0 -"
  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "Foundation",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/Foundation/NSArray/contains(_:)",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Instance Method",
  "symbol" : {
    "kind" : "Instance Method",
    "modules" : [
      "Foundation"
    ],
    "preciseIdentifier" : "c:objc(cs)NSArray(im)containsObject:"
  },
  "title" : "contains(_:)"
}
-->

# contains(_:)

Returns a Boolean value that indicates whether a given object is present in the array.

```
func contains(_ anObject: Any) -> Bool
```

## Parameters

`anObject`

An object to look for in the array.

## Return Value

<doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/true> if `anObject` is present in the array, otherwise <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/false>.

## Discussion

Starting at index `0`, each element of the array is checked for equality with `anObject` until a match is found or the end of the array is reached.  Objects are considered equal if <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObjectProtocol/isEqual(_:)> returns <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/true>.

To determine if the array contains a particular instance of an object, you can test for identity rather than equality by calling the [`indexOfObjectIdentical(to:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSArray/indexOfObjectIdentical(to:)) method and comparing the return value to [`NSNotFound`](/documentation/Foundation/NSNotFound-9t5v2).

## See Also

[`indexOfObjectIdentical(to:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSArray/indexOfObjectIdentical(to:))

Returns the lowest index whose corresponding array value is identical to a given object.

[`index(of:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSArray/index(of:))

Returns the lowest index whose corresponding array value is equal to a given object.


---

Copyright &copy; 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)