---
title: identityReference
framework: networkextension
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Property
path: networkextension/nevpnprotocol/identityreference
---

# identityReference

A persistent keychain reference to a keychain item containing the certificate and private key components of the tunneling protocol authentication credential.

## Declaration

```swift
var identityReference: Data? { get set }
```

## Discussion

Discussion The keychain item must have the kSecClassIdentity class. In macOS, the system ignores this property for NEVPNProtocolIPSec objects. On iOS, the system ignores this property for NEVPNProtocolIPSec and NEVPNProtocolIKEv2 objects. In these cases where the system ingores this property, set the identity using the identityData property.

## See Also

### Authenticating the user

- [username](networkextension/nevpnprotocol/username.md)
- [passwordReference](networkextension/nevpnprotocol/passwordreference.md)
- [identityData](networkextension/nevpnprotocol/identitydata.md)
- [identityDataPassword](networkextension/nevpnprotocol/identitydatapassword.md)