---
title: "SecCertificateCopyPreferred(_:_:)"
framework: security
role: symbol
role_heading: Function
path: "security/seccertificatecopypreferred(_:_:)"
---

# SecCertificateCopyPreferred(_:_:)

Returns the preferred certificate for the specified name and key usage.

## Declaration

```swift
func SecCertificateCopyPreferred(_ name: CFString, _ keyUsage: CFArray?) -> SecCertificate?
```

## Parameters

- `name`: A string containing an email address (RFC 822) or other name for which a preferred certificate is requested.
- `keyUsage`: An array containing a list of usage attributes (doc://com.apple.security/documentation/Security/kSecAttrCanEncrypt, for example), or NULL if you do not want to request a certificate based on a particular usage. See Attribute Item Keys for a complete list of possible usage attributes.

## Return Value

Return Value The preferred certificate for the specified name and key usage, or NULL if a matching certificate does not exist. In Objective-C, free the certificate with a call to the CFRelease function when you are done with it.

## Discussion

Discussion This function is typically used to obtain the preferred encryption certificate for an email recipient. If a preferred certificate has not been set for the supplied name, this function returns NULL. Your code should then perform a search for possible certificates by calling SecItemCopyMatching(_:_:).