---
title: "localizedString(forKey:value:table:)"
framework: foundation
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "foundation/bundle/localizedstring(forkey:value:table:)"
---

# localizedString(forKey:value:table:)

Returns a localized version of the string designated by the specified key and residing in the specified table.

## Declaration

```swift
func localizedString(forKey key: String, value: String?, table tableName: String?) -> String
```

## Parameters

- `key`: The key for a string in the table identified by tableName.
- `value`: The value to return if key is nil or if a localized string for key can’t be found in the table.
- `tableName`: The receiver’s string table to search. If tableName is nil or is an empty string, the method attempts to use the table in Localizable.strings.

## Return Value

Return Value A localized version of the string designated by key in table tableName. This method returns the following when key is nil or not found in table: If key is nil and value is nil, returns an empty string. If key is nil and value is non-nil, returns value. If key is not found and value is nil or an empty string, returns key. If key is not found and value is non-nil and not empty, return value.

## Discussion

Discussion For more details about string localization and the specification of a .strings file, see “String Resources.” Using the user default NSShowNonLocalizedStrings, you can alter the behavior of localizedString(forKey:value:table:) to log a message when the method can’t find a localized string. If you set this default to true (in the global domain or in the application’s domain), then when the method can’t find a localized string in the table, it logs a message to the console and capitalizes key before returning it. The following example cycles through a static array of keys when a button is clicked, gets the value for each key from a strings table named Buttons.strings, and sets the button title with the returned value: - (void)changeTitle:(id)sender {     static int keyIndex = 0;     NSBundle *thisBundle = [NSBundle bundleForClass:[self class]];       NSString *locString = [thisBundle         localizedStringForKey:assortedKeys[keyIndex++]         value:@"No translation" table:@"Buttons"];     [sender setTitle:locString];     if (keyIndex == MAXSTRINGS) keyIndex=0; }

## See Also

### Related Documentation

- [path(forResource:ofType:inDirectory:)](foundation/bundle/path(forresource:oftype:indirectory:)-swift.type.method.md)
- [paths(forResourcesOfType:inDirectory:)](foundation/bundle/paths(forresourcesoftype:indirectory:)-swift.type.method.md)
- [paths(forResourcesOfType:inDirectory:)](foundation/bundle/paths(forresourcesoftype:indirectory:)-swift.method.md)
- [path(forResource:ofType:inDirectory:)](foundation/bundle/path(forresource:oftype:indirectory:)-swift.method.md)
- [path(forResource:ofType:)](foundation/bundle/path(forresource:oftype:).md)