---
title: symmetricKey
framework: applearchive
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Property
path: applearchive/archiveencryptioncontext/symmetrickey
---

# symmetricKey

The symmetric encryption key used to encrypt or decrypt an archive.

## Declaration

```swift
var symmetricKey: SymmetricKey? { get set }
```

## Discussion

Discussion Use the generateSymmetricKey() function to generate random keys.

## See Also

### Setting and retrieving keys

- [mainKey](applearchive/archiveencryptioncontext/mainkey.md)
- [generateSymmetricKey()](applearchive/archiveencryptioncontext/generatesymmetrickey().md)
- [setSymmetricKey(_:)](applearchive/archiveencryptioncontext/setsymmetrickey(_:).md)
- [setRecipientPrivateKey(_:)](applearchive/archiveencryptioncontext/setrecipientprivatekey(_:).md)
- [setSigningPrivateKey(_:)](applearchive/archiveencryptioncontext/setsigningprivatekey(_:).md)
- [setRecipientPublicKey(_:)](applearchive/archiveencryptioncontext/setrecipientpublickey(_:).md)
- [setSigningPublicKey(_:)](applearchive/archiveencryptioncontext/setsigningpublickey(_:).md)