# `GSSelectableElementProtocol parent`

*Instance Method*

The object that directly contains the receiver, or `nil` when the receiver is detached.

## Declaration

```swift
func parent() -> (any GSContainerProtocol)?
```

```objc
- (GSContainer *) parent;
```

```python
parent() -> GSContainer
```

## See Also

### Owners

- [`GSSelectableElementProtocol.layer`](/Core/GlyphsCore/GSSelectableElementProtocol/layer) — The layer associated with the object, or `nil` when no layer is available.