---
title: "decodeTopLevelObjectAndReturnError:"
framework: foundation
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "foundation/nscoder/decodetoplevelobjectandreturnerror:"
---

# decodeTopLevelObjectAndReturnError:

Decodes a previously-encoded object, populating an error if decoding fails.

## Declaration

```occ
- (id) decodeTopLevelObjectAndReturnError:(NSError **) error;
```

## Parameters

- `error`: An doc://com.apple.foundation/documentation/Foundation/NSError reference. On return, if this value is not nil, it represents an error encountered while decoding.

## Return Value

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

## See Also

### Decoding Top-Level Objects

- [decodeTopLevelObjectOfClass:forKey:error:](foundation/nscoder/decodetoplevelobjectofclass:forkey:error:.md)
- [decodeTopLevelObjectOfClasses:forKey:error:](foundation/nscoder/decodetoplevelobjectofclasses:forkey:error:.md)
- [decodeTopLevelObjectForKey:error:](foundation/nscoder/decodetoplevelobjectforkey:error:.md)