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# kSecUseAuthenticationContext

A key whose value indicates a local authentication context to use.

```
let kSecUseAuthenticationContext: CFString
```

## Discussion

The corresponding value is of type <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/LocalAuthentication/LAContext>, and represents a reusable local authentication context that should be used for keychain item authentication, according to the following rules:

- If this key is not specified, and if the item requires authentication, a new context will be created, used once, and discarded.
- If this key is specified with a context that has been previously authenticated, the operation will succeed without asking user for authentication.
- If this key is specified with a context that has not been previously authenticated, the system attempts authentication on the context. If successful, the context may be reused in subsequent keychain operations.

---

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