# PropertyListSerialization An object that converts between a property list and one of several serialized representations. ``` class PropertyListSerialization ``` ## Overview The [`PropertyListSerialization`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization) class provides methods that convert a property list to and from several serialized formats. A property list is itself an array or dictionary that contains only [`NSData`](/documentation/Foundation/NSData), [`NSString`](/documentation/Foundation/NSString), [`NSArray`](/documentation/Foundation/NSArray), [`NSDictionary`](/documentation/Foundation/NSDictionary), [`NSDate`](/documentation/Foundation/NSDate), and [`NSNumber`](/documentation/Foundation/NSNumber) objects. Property list objects are toll-free bridged with their respective Core Foundation types (, , and so on). See [Toll-Free Bridging](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/General/Conceptual/CocoaEncyclopedia/Toll-FreeBridgin/Toll-FreeBridgin.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40010810-CH2) for more information on toll-free bridging. ## Topics ### Serializing a Property List [`data(fromPropertyList:format:options:)`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization/data(fromPropertyList:format:options:)) Returns an `NSData` object containing a given property list in a specified format. [`writePropertyList(_:to:format:options:error:)`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization/writePropertyList(_:to:format:options:error:)) Writes a property list to the specified stream. [`PropertyListSerialization.WriteOptions`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization/WriteOptions) ### Deserializing a Property List [`propertyList(from:options:format:)`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization/propertyList(from:options:format:)) Creates and returns a property list from the specified data. [`propertyList(with:options:format:)`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization/propertyList(with:options:format:)) Creates and returns a property list by reading from the specified stream. ### Validating a Property List [`propertyList(_:isValidFor:)`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization/propertyList(_:isValidFor:)) Returns a Boolean value that indicates whether a given property list is valid for a given format. ### Obsolete Methods [`dataFromPropertyList(_:format:errorDescription:)`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization/dataFromPropertyList(_:format:errorDescription:)) This method is obsolete and will be deprecated soon. [`propertyListFromData(_:mutabilityOption:format:errorDescription:)`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization/propertyListFromData(_:mutabilityOption:format:errorDescription:)) This method is deprecated. Use [`data(fromPropertyList:format:options:)`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization/data(fromPropertyList:format:options:)) instead. ### Constants [`PropertyListSerialization.MutabilityOptions`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization/MutabilityOptions) These constants specify mutability options in property lists. [`PropertyListSerialization.PropertyListFormat`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization/PropertyListFormat) These constants are used to specify a property list serialization format. [`PropertyListSerialization.ReadOptions`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization/ReadOptions) The only read options supported are described in [`PropertyListSerialization.MutabilityOptions`](/documentation/Foundation/PropertyListSerialization/MutabilityOptions). ### Error Codes [`NSPropertyListReadCorruptError`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListReadCorruptError-swift.var) Parsing of the property list failed. [`NSPropertyListReadUnknownVersionError`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListReadUnknownVersionError-swift.var) The version number of the property list cannot be determined. [`NSPropertyListReadStreamError`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListReadStreamError-swift.var) Reading of the property list failed. [`NSPropertyListWriteStreamError`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListWriteStreamError-swift.var) Writing to the property list failed. [`NSPropertyListWriteInvalidError`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListWriteInvalidError-swift.var) Writing failed because of an invalid property list object, or an invalid property list type was specified. [`NSPropertyListErrorMinimum`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListErrorMinimum-swift.var) The start of the range of error codes reserved for property list errors. [`NSPropertyListErrorMaximum`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListErrorMaximum-swift.var) The end of the range of error codes reserved for property list errors. [`NSPropertyListReadCorruptError`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListReadCorruptError-c.enum.case) Parsing of the property list failed. [`NSPropertyListReadUnknownVersionError`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListReadUnknownVersionError-c.enum.case) The version number of the property list cannot be determined. [`NSPropertyListReadStreamError`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListReadStreamError-c.enum.case) Reading of the property list failed. [`NSPropertyListWriteStreamError`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListWriteStreamError-c.enum.case) Writing to the property list failed. [`NSPropertyListWriteInvalidError`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListWriteInvalidError-c.enum.case) Writing failed because of an invalid property list object, or an invalid property list type was specified. [`NSPropertyListErrorMinimum`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListErrorMinimum-c.enum.case) The start of the range of error codes reserved for property list errors. [`NSPropertyListErrorMaximum`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPropertyListErrorMaximum-c.enum.case) The end of the range of error codes reserved for property list errors. --- 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)