# Joining & Creating Calls ### Creating a call You create a call by specifying a "call type" and a call id. ```swift let call = streamVideo.call(callType: "default", callId: "123") let result = try await call.create() ``` The **call type** controls which features are enabled, and sets up permissions. For the call id there are a few things to note: - You can reuse the same call multiple times. - If you have a unique id for the call we recommend passing that as the id. - If you don't have a unique id you can leave it empty and we'll generate one for you. As an example, if you're building a telemedicine app calls will be connected to an appointment. Using your own appointment id as the **call id** makes it easy to find the call later. ### Joining a call Joining a call sets up the realtime communication for audio and video. ```swift let call = streamVideo.call(callType: "default", callId: "123") let result = try await call.join() ``` ### Create and join a call For convenience, you can create and join a call in a single operation. One of the flags you can provide there is `create`. Set this to `true` if you want to enable creating new call. Set it to `false` if you only want to join an existing call. ```swift try await call.join(create: true) ``` ### Leave call To leave a call, you can use the `leave` method: ```swift call.leave() ``` ### End call Ending a call requires a [special permission](https://getstream.io/video/docs/ios/guides/permissions-and-moderation/). This action terminates the call for everyone. ```swift try await call.end() ``` Only users with special permission can join an ended call. ### Call CRUD Basic CRUD operations are available on the call object ```swift // create let call = streamVideo.call(callType: "default", callId: "123") let result = try await call.create() // update let custom: [String: RawJSON] = ["secret": .string("secret")] let updateResult = try await call.update(custom: custom) // get let getResult = try await call.get() ``` ### Call Create Options Here's a more complete example that shows how to create a call with members and custom data that starts tomorrow and is limited to our team: ```swift let members = ["thierry", "tommaso"] let call = streamVideo.call(callType: "default", callId: UUID().uuidString) let result = try await call.create( memberIds: members, custom: ["color": .string("red")], startsAt: Calendar.current.date(byAdding: .day, value: 1, to: Date()), team: "stream", ring: true, notify: false ) ``` Members are permanently associated with a call. It allows you to: - Restrict the ability to join a call only to members - Send a push notification to members when the call starts #### Backstage setup The backstage feature makes it easy to build a use-case where you and your co-hosts can setup your camera before going live. Only after you call call.goLive() the regular users be allowed to join the livestream. However, you can also specify a `joinAheadTimeSeconds`, which allows regular users to join the livestream before it is live, in the specified join time before the stream starts. Here's an example how to do that: ```swift let call = streamVideo.call(callType: "livestream", callId: callId) let backstageRequest = BackstageSettingsRequest( enabled: true, joinAheadTimeSeconds: 300 ) try await call.create( members: [.init(userId: "test")], startsAt: Date().addingTimeInterval(500), backstage: backstageRequest ) try await call.join() ``` In the code snippet above, we are creating a call that starts 500 seconds from now. We are also enabling backstage mode, with a `joinAheadTimeSeconds` of 300 seconds. That means that regular users will be able to join the call 200 seconds from now. The following options are supported when creating a call: | Option | Description | Default | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | | `memberIds` | A list of users ids to add as members to this call. | `nil` | | `members` | A list of members to add to this call. You can specify the role and custom data on these members. | `nil` | | `custom` | Any custom data you want to store. | `nil` | | `startsAt` | When the call will start. Used for calls scheduled in the future, livestreams, audio rooms etc. | `nil` | | `team` | Restrict the access to this call to a specific team. | `nil` | | `ring` | If you want the call to ring for each member. | `false` | | `notify` | If you want the call to nofiy each member by sending push notification. | `false` | | `maxDuration` | If you want to specify a max duration of the call, in seconds. | `nil` | | `maxParticipants` | If you want to specify the max number of participants in the call. | `nil` | | `backstage` | If you want to specify backstage setup for the call. | `nil` | | `video` | If you want to specify whether the call will have video enabled. | `nil` | | `transcription` | Transcription settings for the call (`TranscriptionSettingsRequest`). | `nil` | ### Querying Members You can query the members of the call. This is helpful if you have thousands of members in a call and want to paginate. ```swift let filters: [String: RawJSON] = ["user_id": .string("jaewoong")] let response = try await call.queryMembers( filters: filters, sort: [SortParamRequest.descending("created_at")], limit: 5 ) ``` You can filter the member list on these fields, and sort on the selected fields. Note that you can also query on custom data for the member or the user. | Option | Description | Sorting Supported | | ------------ | --------------------------------- | ----------------- | | `user_id` | The user's id. | Yes | | `role` | The member's role. | No | | `custom` | The custom data on the member. | No | | `created_at` | When the member was created. | Yes | | `updated_at` | When the member was last updated. | No | ## Restricting access You can restrict access to a call by tweaking the [Call Type](https://getstream.io/video/docs/ios/guides/configuring-call-types/) permissions and roles. A typical use case is to restrict access to a call to a specific set of users -> call members. ### Step 1: Set up the roles and permissions On our [dashboard](https://getstream.io/signin/?product=video), navigate to the **Video & Audio -> Roles & Permissions** section and select the appropriate role and scope. In this example, we will use `my-call-type` scope. By default, all users unless specified otherwise, have the `user` role. We start by removing the `JoinCall` permission from the `user` role for the `my-call-type` scope. It will prevent regular users from joining a call of this type. ![Revoke JoinCall for user role](https://getstream.io/docs-assets/images/46682e1503fe.png) Next, let's ensure that the `call_member` role has the `JoinCall` permission for the `my-call-type` scope. It will allow users with the `call_member` role to join a call of this type. ![Grant JoinCall for call_member role](https://getstream.io/docs-assets/images/e46d0102ca88.png) Once this is set, we can proceed with setting up a `call` instance. ### Step 2: Set up the call ```swift let call = streamVideo.call(callType: "my-call-type", callId: "my-call-id") try await call.create(members: [.init(role: "call_member", userId: "alice")]) // and if necessary, to grant access to more users try await call.addMembers(members: [.init(role: "call_member", userId: "charlie")]) // or, to remove access from some users try await call.removeMembers(ids: ["charlie"]) ``` --- This page was last updated at 2026-08-10T16:01:05.720Z. For the most recent version of this documentation, visit [https://getstream.io/video/docs/ios/guides/joining-and-creating-calls/](https://getstream.io/video/docs/ios/guides/joining-and-creating-calls/).