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# canHandle(_:)

Returns whether a request can be handled based on a preflight evaluation.

```
class func canHandle(_ request: URLRequest) -> Bool
```

## Parameters

`request`

The request to evaluate. The connection deep-copies the request on creation.

## Return Value

<doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/true> if a preflight operation determines that a connection with `request` can be created and the associated I/O can be started, <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/false> otherwise.

## Discussion

The result of this method is valid as long as no [`URLProtocol`](/documentation/Foundation/URLProtocol) classes are registered or unregistered, and `request` remains unchanged. Applications should be prepared to handle failures even if they have performed request preflighting by calling this method.

## See Also

[`unregisterClass(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/URLProtocol/unregisterClass(_:))

Unregisters the specified subclass of [`URLProtocol`](/documentation/Foundation/URLProtocol).

[`registerClass(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/URLProtocol/registerClass(_:))

Attempts to register a subclass of [`URLProtocol`](/documentation/Foundation/URLProtocol), making it visible to the URL loading system.

[URL Loading System](/documentation/Foundation/url-loading-system)

Interact with URLs and communicate with servers using standard Internet protocols.


---

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