---
title: "init(_:format:)"
framework: swiftui
role: symbol
role_heading: Initializer
platforms: [iOS 18.0+, iPadOS 18.0+, Mac Catalyst 18.0+, macOS 15.0+, tvOS 18.0+, visionOS 2.0+, watchOS 11.0+]
path: "swiftui/text/init(_:format:)-8sfgg"
---

# init(_:format:)

Creates a text view that displays the current system time as defined by the given format style, keeping the text up to date as time progresses.

## Declaration

```swift
init<V, F>(_ source: TimeDataSource<V>, format: F) where V == F.FormatInput, F : DiscreteFormatStyle, F.FormatOutput == String
```

## Discussion

Discussion Use this initializer to create a text view that updates as time progresses, just like init(_:style:), but with the flexibility of Foundation’s FormatStyle protocol. In the following example, the first Text view presents the current date and time, whereas the second view displays a soccer clock counting from startDate. Both views are kept up to date as time progresses. Text(.currentDate, format: .dateTime) Text(.durationOffset(to: startDate), format: .time(pattern: .minuteSecond)) Redaction for Reduced Luminance When the text is displayed with reduced luminance and frame rate, it automatically modifies the format or its output so it never shows outdated information. If the format is known to SwiftUI and allows removing units or fields, SwiftUI removes parts that change more frequently than the frame rate allows. E.g. a string like 13 minutes, 22 seconds would change to just 13 minutes. Otherwise, all digits in the formatted output are redacted using dashes.