---
title: ambient
framework: avfaudio
role: symbol
role_heading: Type Property
path: avfaudio/avaudiosession/category-swift.struct/ambient
---

# ambient

The category for an app in which sound playback is nonprimary — that is, your app also works with the sound turned off.

## Declaration

```swift
static let ambient: AVAudioSession.Category
```

## Discussion

Discussion This category is also appropriate for “play-along” apps, such as a virtual piano that a user plays while the Music app is playing. When you use this category, audio from other apps mixes with your audio. Screen locking and the Silent switch (on iPhone, the Ring/Silent switch) silence your audio.

## See Also

### Getting Standard Categories

- [multiRoute](avfaudio/avaudiosession/category-swift.struct/multiroute.md)
- [playAndRecord](avfaudio/avaudiosession/category-swift.struct/playandrecord.md)
- [playback](avfaudio/avaudiosession/category-swift.struct/playback.md)
- [record](avfaudio/avaudiosession/category-swift.struct/record.md)
- [soloAmbient](avfaudio/avaudiosession/category-swift.struct/soloambient.md)
- [audioProcessing](avfaudio/avaudiosession/category-swift.struct/audioprocessing.md)