---
title: "makeVideoDecoder(codecType:videoFormatDescription:videoDecoderSpecifications:pixelBufferManager:)"
framework: MediaExtension
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
platforms: [macOS 14.0+]
path: "mediaextension/mevideodecoderextension/makevideodecoder(codectype:videoformatdescription:videodecoderspecifications:pixelbuffermanager:)"
---

# makeVideoDecoder(codecType:videoFormatDescription:videoDecoderSpecifications:pixelBufferManager:)

Creates a new video decoder that matches the codec type, format description, decoder specifications, and pixel buffer manager that you specify.

## Declaration

```swift
func makeVideoDecoder(codecType: CMVideoCodecType, videoFormatDescription: CMVideoFormatDescription, videoDecoderSpecifications: [String : Any], pixelBufferManager extensionDecoderPixelBufferManager: MEVideoDecoderPixelBufferManager) throws -> any MEVideoDecoder
```

## Parameters

- `codecType`: The codec type for the requested decoder.
- `videoFormatDescription`: An object that describes the video data.
- `videoDecoderSpecifications`: A dictionary that contains video decoder specification values, which may be empty. See doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/VideoToolbox/decompression-properties for a list of keys to use.
- `extensionDecoderPixelBufferManager`: A pixel buffer manager.

## Return Value

Return Value A new MEVideoDecoder.

## Discussion

Discussion The videoDecoderSpecifications parameter accepts the following keys: kVTVideoDecoderSpecification_EnableHardwareAcceleratedVideoDecoder kVTVideoDecoderSpecification_RequireHardwareAcceleratedVideoDecoder kVTVideoDecoderSpecification_RequiredDecoderGPURegistryID kVTVideoDecoderSpecification_PreferredDecoderGPURegistryID If the parameter values aren’t compatible with the video decoder, this method fails with the error MEError.Code.unsupportedFeature. The video decoder needs to retain the pixel buffer manager and use it to allocate and configure output pixel buffers.

## See Also

### Creating a video decoder

- [init()](mediaextension/mevideodecoderextension/init().md)