---
title: "decodeTopLevelObject(forKey:)"
framework: foundation
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "foundation/nscoder/decodetoplevelobject(forkey:)"
---

# decodeTopLevelObject(forKey:)

Decodes the previously-encoded object associated by a key.

## Declaration

```swift
@nonobjc func decodeTopLevelObject(forKey key: String) throws -> Any?
```

## Parameters

- `key`: The key that identifies the object to decode.

## Return Value

Return Value The decoded object, or nil if decoding fails.

## See Also

### Decoding Top-Level Objects

- [decodeObject(of:forKey:)](foundation/nscoder/decodeobject(of:forkey:)-7tmft.md)
- [decodeObject(of:forKey:)](foundation/nscoder/decodeobject(of:forkey:)-roif.md)
- [decodeTopLevelObject()](foundation/nscoder/decodetoplevelobject().md)
- [decodeTopLevelObject(of:forKey:)](foundation/nscoder/decodetoplevelobject(of:forkey:)-3w6pd.md)
- [decodeTopLevelObject(of:forKey:)](foundation/nscoder/decodetoplevelobject(of:forkey:)-5lnnn.md)