# init() Implemented by subclasses to initialize a new object (the receiver) immediately after memory for it has been allocated. ``` init() ``` ## Return Value An initialized object, or `nil` if an object could not be created for some reason that would not result in an exception. ## Discussion An [`init()`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class/init()) message is coupled with an [`alloc`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class/alloc) (or [`allocWithZone:`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class/allocWithZone:)) message in the same line of code: ```objc SomeClass *object = [[SomeClass alloc] init]; ``` An object isn’t ready to be used until it has been initialized. In a custom implementation of this method, you must invoke super’s [Initialization](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/General/Conceptual/DevPedia-CocoaCore/Initialization.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40008195-CH21) then initialize and return the new object. If the new object can’t be initialized, the method should return `nil`. For example, a hypothetical `BuiltInCamera` class might return `nil` from its `init` method if run on a device that has no camera. ```objc - (instancetype)init { if (self = [super init]) { // Initialize self } return self; } ``` In some cases, a custom implementation of the [`init()`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class/init()) method might return a substitute object. You must therefore always use the object returned by [`init()`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class/init()), and not the one returned by [`alloc`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class/alloc) or [`allocWithZone:`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class/allocWithZone:), in subsequent code. The [`init()`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class/init()) method defined in the `NSObject` class does no initialization; it simply returns `self`. In terms of nullability, callers can assume that the `NSObject` implementation of [`init()`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class/init()) does not return `nil`. --- 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)