# NSPredicate A definition of logical conditions for constraining a search for a fetch or for in-memory filtering. ``` class NSPredicate ``` ## Overview Predicates represent logical conditions, which you can use to filter collections of objects. Although it’s common to create predicates directly from instances of [`NSComparisonPredicate`](/documentation/Foundation/NSComparisonPredicate), [`NSCompoundPredicate`](/documentation/Foundation/NSCompoundPredicate), and [`NSExpression`](/documentation/Foundation/NSExpression), you often create predicates from a format string that the class methods parse on [`NSPredicate`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate). Examples of predicate format strings include: - Simple comparisons, such as `grade == "7"` or `firstName like "Juan"` - Case- and diacritic-insensitive lookups, such as `name contains[cd] "stein"` - Logical operations, such as `(firstName like "Mei") OR (lastName like "Chen")` - Temporal range constraints, such as `date between {$YESTERDAY, $TOMORROW}` - Relational conditions, such as `group.name like "work*"` - Aggregate operations, such as `@sum.items.price < 1000` For a complete syntax reference, refer to the [Predicate Programming Guide](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/Predicates/AdditionalChapters/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40001789). You can also create predicates that include variables using the [`evaluate(with:substitutionVariables:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/evaluate(with:substitutionVariables:)) method so that you can predefine the predicate before substituting concrete values at runtime. ## Topics ### Creating a Predicate [`predicateWithFormat:`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/predicateWithFormat:) Creates and returns a new predicate formed by creating a new string with a specified format and parsing the result. [`init(format:argumentArray:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/init(format:argumentArray:)) Creates a predicate by substituting the values in a specified array into a format string and parsing the result. [`init(format:arguments:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/init(format:arguments:)) Creates a predicate by substituting the values in an argument list into a format string and parsing the result. [`init(format:_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/init(format:_:)) Creates a predicate by substituting the values in an argument list into a format string and parsing the result. [`init(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/init(_:)) Creates a predicate by converting an existing predicate. [`withSubstitutionVariables(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/withSubstitutionVariables(_:)) Returns a copy of the predicate and substitutes the predicates variables with specified values from a specified substitution variables dictionary. [`init(value:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/init(value:)) Creates and returns a predicate that always evaluates to a specified Boolean value. [`init(block:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/init(block:)) Creates a predicate that evaluates using a specified block object and bindings dictionary. [`init(fromMetadataQueryString:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/init(fromMetadataQueryString:)) Creates a predicate with a metadata query string. ### Evaluating a Predicate [`evaluate(with:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/evaluate(with:)) Returns a Boolean value that indicates whether the specified object matches the conditions that the predicate specifies. [`evaluate(with:substitutionVariables:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/evaluate(with:substitutionVariables:)) Returns a Boolean value that indicates whether the specified object matches the conditions that the predicate specifies after substituting in the values from a specified variables dictionary. [`allowEvaluation()`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/allowEvaluation()) Forces a securely decoded predicate to allow evaluation. ### Getting a String Representation [`predicateFormat`](/documentation/Foundation/NSPredicate/predicateFormat) The predicate’s format string. --- 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)