---
title: initial
framework: foundation
role: symbol
role_heading: Type Property
path: foundation/nskeyvalueobservingoptions/initial
---

# initial

If specified, a notification should be sent to the observer immediately, before the observer registration method even returns.

## Declaration

```swift
static var initial: NSKeyValueObservingOptions { get }
```

## Discussion

Discussion The change dictionary in the notification will always contain an newKey entry if new is also specified but will never contain an oldKey entry. (In an initial notification the current value of the observed property may be old, but it’s new to the observer.) You can use this option instead of explicitly invoking, at the same time, code that is also invoked by the observer’s observeValue(forKeyPath:of:change:context:) method. When this option is used withaddObserver(_:forKeyPath:options:context:) a notification will be sent for each indexed object to which the observer is being added.

## See Also

### Constants

- [new](foundation/nskeyvalueobservingoptions/new.md)
- [old](foundation/nskeyvalueobservingoptions/old.md)
- [prior](foundation/nskeyvalueobservingoptions/prior.md)