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# date(from:)

Returns a date representing the absolute time calculated from given components.

```
func date(from comps: DateComponents) -> Date?
```

## Parameters

`comps`

The components from which to calculate the returned date.

## Return Value

A new `NSDate` object representing the absolute time calculated from `comps`. Returns `nil` if the receiver cannot convert the components given in `comps` into an `NSDate` object.

## Discussion

When there are insufficient components provided to completely specify an absolute time, a calendar uses default values of its choice. When there is inconsistent information, a calendar may ignore some of the components parameters or the method may return `nil`. Unnecessary components are ignored (for example, Day takes precedence over Weekday and Weekday ordinals).

The following example shows how to use this method to create a date object to represent 14:10:00 on 6 January 1965, for a given calendar (`gregorian`).

```objc
NSDateComponents *comps = [[NSDateComponents alloc] init];
[comps setYear:1965];
[comps setMonth:1];
[comps setDay:6];
[comps setHour:14];
[comps setMinute:10];
[comps setSecond:0];
NSDate *date = [gregorian dateFromComponents:comps];
[comps release];
```

Note that some computations can take a relatively long time to perform.

## See Also

[`components(_:from:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSCalendar/components(_:from:))

Returns the date components representing a given date.


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