---
title: "init(string:)"
framework: foundation
role: symbol
role_heading: Initializer
path: "foundation/nsdate/init(string:)"
---

# init(string:)

Returns a date object initialized with a date and time value specified by a given string in the international string representation format.

## Declaration

```swift
convenience init?(string description: String)
```

## Parameters

- `description`: A string that specifies a date and time value in the international string representation format—YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS ±HHMM, where ±HHMM is a time zone offset in hours and minutes from UTC (for example, “2001-03-24 10:45:32 +0600”). You must specify all fields of the format string, including the time zone offset, which must have a plus or minus sign prefix.

## Return Value

Return Value An NSDate object initialized with a date and time value specified by aString.

## See Also

### Related Documentation

- [description](foundation/nsdate/description.md)

### Legacy Operations

- [date(withNaturalLanguageString:)](foundation/nsdate/date(withnaturallanguagestring:).md)
- [date(withNaturalLanguageString:locale:)](foundation/nsdate/date(withnaturallanguagestring:locale:).md)
- [date(with:)](foundation/nsdate/date(with:).md)
- [addTimeInterval(_:)](foundation/nsdate/addtimeinterval(_:).md)
- [date(withCalendarFormat:timeZone:)](foundation/nsdate/date(withcalendarformat:timezone:).md)
- [description(withCalendarFormat:timeZone:locale:)](foundation/nsdate/description(withcalendarformat:timezone:locale:).md)