---
title: "initializeMemory(as:to:)"
framework: swift
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "swift/unsafemutablerawpointer/initializememory(as:to:)"
---

# initializeMemory(as:to:)

Initializes the memory referenced by this pointer with the given value, binds the memory to the value’s type, and returns a typed pointer to the initialized memory.

## Declaration

```swift
@discardableResult func initializeMemory<T>(as type: T.Type, to value: consuming T) -> UnsafeMutablePointer<T> where T : ~Copyable
```

## Parameters

- `type`: The type to which this memory will be bound.
- `value`: The value used to initialize this memory.

## Return Value

Return Value A typed pointer to the memory referenced by this raw pointer.

## Discussion

Discussion The memory referenced by this pointer must be uninitialized or initialized to a trivial type, and must be properly aligned for accessing T. The following example allocates raw memory for one instance of UInt, and then uses the initializeMemory(as:to:) method to initialize the allocated memory. let bytePointer = UnsafeMutableRawPointer.allocate(         byteCount: MemoryLayout<UInt>.stride,         alignment: MemoryLayout<UInt>.alignment) let int8Pointer = bytePointer.initializeMemory(as: UInt.self, to: 0)

// After using 'int8Pointer': int8Pointer.deallocate() After calling this method on a raw pointer p, the region starting at self and continuing up to p + MemoryLayout<T>.stride is bound to type T and initialized. If T is a nontrivial type, you must eventually deinitialize the memory in this region to avoid memory leaks.