---
title: "numberOfSections(in:)"
framework: uikit
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "uikit/uicollectionviewdatasource/numberofsections(in:)"
---

# numberOfSections(in:)

Asks your data source object for the number of sections in the collection view.

## Declaration

```swift
optional func numberOfSections(in collectionView: UICollectionView) -> Int
```

## Parameters

- `collectionView`: The collection view requesting this information.

## Return Value

Return Value The number of sections in collectionView.

## Discussion

Discussion If you don’t implement this method, the collection view uses a default value of 1.

## See Also

### Getting item and section metrics

- [collectionView(_:numberOfItemsInSection:)](uikit/uicollectionviewdatasource/collectionview(_:numberofitemsinsection:).md)