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# CGImageMetadataCopyStringValueWithPath(_:_:_:)

Searches the metadata for the specified tag, and returns its string value if it exists.

```
func CGImageMetadataCopyStringValueWithPath(_ metadata: CGImageMetadata, _ parent: CGImageMetadataTag?, _ path: CFString) -> CFString?
```

## Parameters

`metadata`

The metadata object to search.

`parent`

The parent tag, if any. Specify `NULL` to start the search in the top-level tags of the metadata object. If this parameter is `NULL`, you must include a valid prefix string in the `path` parameter.

`path`

A string that represents the path to the tag. A path consists of the tag’s name, plus optional prefix and parent information. Separate prefix information from other path information using a colon (`:`) character. Separate parent and child tags using the period (`.`) character. For example, the string `“exif:Flash.RedEyeMode”` represents the path to the `RedEyeMode` field of the `Flash` parent structure in the EXIF metadata.

    When a tag contains an ordered or unordered array, specify elements using a     `0`    -based index inside square brackets. For example, use the string     `“dc.subject[2]”`     to access the third element in the     `subject`     array.

    When the tag contains an alternate-text array, access elements using an RFC 3066 language code inside square brackets. For example, use the string     `“dc.description[de]”`     to access the German description information.

    Use the ? character to delimit qualifiers for tags with string values. You may not use this character for arrays and structures.

## Return Value

The string value for the specified tag, or `NULL` if the tag wasn’t found or doesn’t contain a string value.

## Discussion

The XMP type of the property at the specified path must be [`CGImageMetadataType.string`](/documentation/ImageIO/CGImageMetadataType/string) or [`CGImageMetadataType.alternateText`](/documentation/ImageIO/CGImageMetadataType/alternateText). If the property contains alternate text, this function returns the element with the `x-default` language qualifier.

---

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