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# installName

The installation name for a dynamic library.

```
var installName: String? { get }
```

## Discussion

Metal ignores this property if the library’s [`type`](/documentation/Metal/MTLLibrary/type) isn’t  [`MTLLibraryType.dynamic`](/documentation/Metal/MTLLibraryType/dynamic). Otherwise this property is a non-`nil` value specifying a file system path to the dynamic library.

Metal uses the installation name whenever you create a pipeline state object that directly or indirectly relies on a dynamic library. Metal embeds the installation name into any Metal library that links against the dynamic library.

Specify one of the following:

- An absolute path to a file containing the dynamic library. This option is appropriate when you serialize the dynamic library to the file system on the current device or Mac computer.
- A path relative to `@executable_path`, where the system substitutes the directory containing the library that is creating the new pipeline state object.
- A path relative to `@loader_path`, where the system substitutes the directory containing the Metal library that contains the reference to this dynamic library.

Use a relative path when you include the dynamic library as part of a bundle or app.

---

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