Jump To:
Apple's developer guides provide conceptual and task-oriented information. They include overviews, tutorials, programming guides, server administration guides, and, for developer tools, user guides.

Document Descriptions
On Off
Display

Sort by
Title
Sorted by
Topic
Sort by
Date
Atomic Store Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use the Core Data atomic store API to create persistent stores that use a custom format.
Cocoa 2008-02-08
Attributed Strings Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use attributed strings, which manage attributes of character strings or individual characters.
Cocoa 2007-06-04
Audio Queue Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to play and record audio using Audio Queue Services.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
Audio Unit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Core Audio frameworks and the Core Audio SDK to create audio units.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
Authorization Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to add fine-grained control of privileged operations in an application.
Cocoa 2009-01-06
Automator Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the concepts and tasks for developing actions, which are bundles loaded by the Automator application.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
Binary Data Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create and use Cocoa data objects, object-oriented wrappers for byte buffers.
Cocoa 2009-05-06
Boxes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa boxes.
Cocoa 2003-02-15
Browsers (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa browsers.
Cocoa 2004-08-31
Bundle Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Core Foundation bundle objects to organize resources.
Cocoa 2005-11-09
Button Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa buttons.
Cocoa 2008-10-15
Calendar Store Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to access iCal data.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
Carbon-Cocoa Integration Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use both Carbon and Cocoa in developing an application.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
Certificate, Key, and Trust Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Shows how to evaluate trust for a certificate and recover from a trust failure.
Cocoa 2008-11-19
CFNetwork Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Core Foundation networking functions to work with low-level BSD sockets.
Cocoa 2009-05-06
Cocoa Application Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to build a simple Cocoa application using Xcode.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
Cocoa Application Tutorial Using Bindings (HTML) (PDF)
A hands-on introduction to Cocoa bindings.
Cocoa 2007-07-10
Cocoa Bindings Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to rapidly develop sophisticated user interfaces using Cocoa binding technology.
Cocoa 2009-03-08
Cocoa Drawing Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa to draw your application's user interface.
Cocoa 2009-01-06
Cocoa Event-Handling Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces event mechanisms and the types of events in Cocoa and describes how to handle events of each type.
Cocoa 2009-02-04
Cocoa Fundamentals Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the basic concepts, terminology, architectures, and design patterns of the Cocoa frameworks and development environment.
Cocoa 2008-11-19
Cocoa Performance Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Guidelines for improving the performance of Cocoa applications.
Cocoa 2005-08-11
Cocoa Scripting Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create scriptable Cocoa applications that use the scripting definition (sdef) format.
Cocoa 2008-03-11
Code Loading Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Cocoa applications can dynamically load code during execution.
Cocoa 2007-08-10
Code Signing Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how you can sign your code and why you should.
Cocoa 2008-11-19
Code Size Performance Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Guidelines for reducing the size of an application binary.
Cocoa 2006-06-28
Code Speed Performance Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Guidelines for improving the performance and efficiency of code.
Cocoa 2005-07-07
Coding Guidelines for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Naming guidelines for Cocoa API and design advice to framework developers.
Cocoa 2006-04-04
Collections Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to group objects in arrays, sets, or dictionaries in Cocoa.
Cocoa 2009-02-04
Color Management Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces basic concepts and defines color spaces.
Cocoa 2005-07-07
Color Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how applications specify colors and how users choose colors in Cocoa.
Cocoa 2009-03-04
Combo Box Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa combo boxes.
Cocoa 2002-11-12
Control and Cell Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the relationship between Cocoa control and cell objects.
Cocoa 2008-10-15
Core Animation Cookbook (HTML) (PDF)
Demonstrates common Core Animation tasks.
Cocoa 2008-03-11
Core Animation Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the main components and services of Core Animation.
Cocoa 2008-11-13
Core Audio Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of Core Audio and its programming interfaces.
Cocoa 2007-01-08
Core Data Model Versioning and Data Migration Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the managed object model versioning and data migration features of Core Data.
Cocoa 2008-02-08
Core Data Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to manage objects using the Core Data framework.
Cocoa 2009-03-04
Core Data Snippets (HTML) (PDF)
Snippets of code that you can use when writing a program that uses Core Data.
Cocoa 2009-03-04
Core Data Utility Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
A hands-on guide to creating a command-line utility using low-level features of Core Data.
Cocoa 2009-03-04
Core Image Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview and explains how to use and create image filters and image units.
Cocoa 2008-06-09
Creating a Managed Object Model with Xcode (HTML) (PDF)
A tutorial that shows how to create a Core Data managed object model using Xcode.
Cocoa 2007-08-07
Creating Printing Presets for iPhoto (HTML) (PDF)
Rules for creating and installing printer-specific collections of settings. Includes a sample file.
Cocoa 2005-07-07
Cross-Development Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to build software for versions of Mac OS X other than the one the development tools are running on.
Cocoa 2006-11-07
Cursor Management (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to set the cursor and handle cursor-update events in Cocoa applications.
Cocoa 2008-03-11
Dashboard Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains Dashboard and WebKit technologies used in widgets.
Cocoa 2009-02-04
Data Formatting Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa formatters to create and validate text in text fields and other cells.
Cocoa 2008-10-15
Dates and Times Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to manage Cocoa dates and times.
Cocoa 2007-09-04
Debugging Cocoa Applications (HTML) (PDF)
Tips and techniques for debugging Cocoa applications.
Cocoa 2002-11-12
Debugging with GDB (HTML)
Open-source document that explains how to use GDB to debug programs.
Cocoa 2008-06-19
Dialogs and Special Panels (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create alert panels. Includes links to documents about other types of panels.
Cocoa 2009-02-04
Dictionary Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create a dictionary and access it programmatically.
Cocoa 2007-05-30
Distributed Objects Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Objective-C objects in different threads or different processes communicate.
Cocoa 2007-06-06
Dock Tile Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to provide an icon and contextual menu in Carbon applications.
Cocoa 2009-03-04
Document-Based Applications Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to design and implement Cocoa applications that manage multiple documents.
Cocoa 2009-01-12
Drag and Drop Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to implement drag and drop in Cocoa.
Cocoa 2006-06-28
Drawers (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa drawers.
Cocoa 2003-02-04
Drawing Performance Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Guidelines for improving the speed of drawing code.
Cocoa 2006-04-04
Error Handling Programming Guide For Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Describes NSError objects, related Application Kit support for error handling, and how to use these features in your code.
Cocoa 2009-03-04
Event-Driven XML Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to process XML documents using the Cocoa streaming parser.
Cocoa 2008-09-09
Exception Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to raise and handle exceptions in Cocoa applications.
Cocoa 2007-10-02
File System Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and guidelines describing the structure and usage of the Mac OS X file system.
Cocoa 2008-07-11
File-System Performance Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Guidelines for improving the performance of file-related code.
Cocoa 2005-07-07
Font Handling (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the Cocoa font management system and how users select fonts.
Cocoa 2008-02-08
Font Panel (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the Cocoa Font panel.
Cocoa 2004-08-31
Forms (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa forms.
Cocoa 2002-11-12
Garbage Collection Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the garbage collection system for Cocoa.
Cocoa 2008-11-19
GCC Porting Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides guidance on how to migrate projects to new GCC releases.
Cocoa 2006-10-03
Image Capture Applications Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interaction between applications programs and image capture devices such as cameras and scanners.
Cocoa 2007-05-16
Image I/O Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to read and write image data using the Image I/O framework.
Cocoa 2007-07-02
Image Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to support browsing, viewing, editing, and processing images.
Cocoa 2008-06-09
Image Unit Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to write image processing kernels and package them for distribution.
Cocoa 2009-05-06
Image Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa image views.
Cocoa 2002-11-12
Instant Message Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to access iChat services and buddies and use iChat Theater through code samples.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
Interacting with the Operating System (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Cocoa applications manage tasks and get information about hosts and processes.
Cocoa 2006-04-04
Interface Builder Plug-In Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the process for creating custom Interface Builder palettes.
Cocoa 2007-07-18
Interface Builder User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and tasks explaining how to use the Interface Builder application to design user interfaces.
Cocoa 2008-11-19
Internationalization Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to support multiple languages in software.
Cocoa 2009-01-06
Key-Value Coding Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information about how to access a Cocoa object's values using keys.
Cocoa 2009-02-04
Key-Value Observing Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the Cocoa key-value observing protocol.
Cocoa 2009-05-06
Keychain Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
This document explains how to use Keychain Services to store and retrieve passwords.
Cocoa 2009-03-12
Launch Time Performance Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Guidelines for improving the launch performance of an application.
Cocoa 2006-04-04
Low-Level File Management Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the low-level ways Cocoa applications can interact with files.
Cocoa 2009-03-05
Mac OS X ABI Function Call Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the function-calling conventions used in the architectures supported by Mac OS X.
Cocoa 2009-02-04
Mac OS X Printing System Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces Apple's printing architecture. Includes a road map for developing software.
Cocoa 2006-02-07
Mac OS X Technology Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces Mac OS X and its technologies.
Cocoa 2008-10-15
Matrix Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa matrices.
Cocoa 2006-11-07
Memory Management Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to allocate and deallocate objects in Cocoa.
Cocoa 2009-05-06
Memory Usage Performance Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Guidelines for improving the performance of memory-related code.
Cocoa 2006-06-28
Model Object Implementation Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes issues relating to the design and implementation of model objects
Cocoa 2008-02-08
Notification Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to send and receive information about events in Cocoa programs.
Cocoa 2007-05-03
NSNetServices and CFNetServices Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to implement Bonjour in Cocoa or Carbon applications.
Cocoa 2008-10-15
NSPersistentDocument Core Data Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Step-by-step instructions for building a simple but functionally rich application using NSPersistentDocument and Cocoa bindings.
Cocoa 2009-02-04
NSPersistentDocument Core Data Tutorial for Mac OS X v10.4. (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Step-by-step instructions for building a simple but functionally rich application using NSPersistentDocument and Cocoa bindings.
Cocoa 2009-02-04
Number and Value Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa object wrappers for primitive C data types.
Cocoa 2008-02-08
Object-Oriented Programming with Objective-C (HTML) (PDF)
Describes object-oriented programming from the perspective of an Objective-C developer.
Cocoa 2008-11-19
The Objective-C 2.0 Programming Language (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces object-oriented programming and describes the main programming language used for Cocoa development.
Cocoa 2009-05-06
Objective-C 2.0 Runtime Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C 2.0 runtime support library.
Cocoa 2009-02-04
Online Help (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to add help to a Cocoa application.
Cocoa 2006-06-28
Outline View Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa outline views.
Cocoa 2006-06-28