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# value(forKey:)

Returns the value associated with a given key.

```
func value(forKey key: String) -> Any?
```

## Parameters

`key`

The key for which to return the corresponding value. Note that when using key-value coding, the key must be a string (see [Accessing Object Properties](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/KeyValueCoding/BasicPrinciples.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20002170)).

## Return Value

The value associated with `key`.

## Discussion

If `key` does not start with “`@`”, invokes [`object(forKey:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSDictionary/object(forKey:)). If `key` does start with “`@`”, strips the “@” and invokes `[super valueForKey:]` with the rest of the key.

## See Also

[`getObjects:andKeys:`](/documentation/Foundation/NSDictionary/getObjects:andKeys:)

Returns by reference C arrays of the keys and values in the dictionary.

[`setValue(_:forKey:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSMutableDictionary/setValue(_:forKey:))

Adds a given key-value pair to the dictionary.


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