Jump To:
Leopard Reference
Carbon is a set of C APIs offering developers an advanced user interface tool kit, event handling, the Quartz 2D graphics library, and multiprocessing support. Developers have access to other C and C++ APIs, including the OpenGL drawing system and the Mach microkernel.

A guided introduction and learning path for developers new to Carbon.   Essential information for developers using procedural C.   C API references organized by framework.
Document Descriptions
On Off
Display

Sorted by
Title
Sort by
Topic
Sort by
Date
Ink Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the C API for customizing handwriting recognition.
Events & Other Input 2006-01-10
Interface Builder Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for unarchiving interface objects.
Tools, User Experience 2004-02-17
Internet Config Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy technology for managing Internet preferences in Classic Mac OS.
Networking 2003-05-01
JavaScriptCore Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the API for evaluating JavaScript programs from within a C-based program
Internet & Web 2008-04-08
Keyboard Layout Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for managing key-to-character mappings used to support various languages.
Events & Other Input, Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2002-11-18
Keychain Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy C API for managing passwords for multiple users and databases. Replaced by Keychain Services.
Security 2005-07-07
Keychain Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Keychain Services API, used to create, find, modify, and delete keychain items.
Security 2008-11-19
Language Analysis Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon shared library that performs morphological analysis for Japanese text.
Internationalization 2003-04-01
Launch Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an API for opening documents, other applications, and URLs, in a way similar to the Finder or the Dock.
File Management, Interapplication Communication 2006-07-13
List Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for managing and displaying elements in a scrollable list. Replaced by the Data Browser.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience 2007-12-11
Locale Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting conventions of a specific language or region.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2002-01-24
Low Memory Accessors Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for obtaining information stored in low-memory variables.
Resource Management 2006-07-13
Mac OS X ABI Dynamic Loader Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions used to access Mach-O files.
Runtime Architecture 2005-11-09
Mac OS X ABI Mach-O File Format Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data structures that make up the Mach-O file format.
Runtime Architecture 2009-02-04
Mathematical and Logical Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for mathematical and logical data manipulation.
Data Management 2005-11-09
MDImporter Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the plug-in architecture and callbacks required by a document metadata importer.
File Management 2005-04-29
MDItem Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the metadata attributes for a file.
File Management 2006-06-28
MDLineage Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for tracking versions of a file.
File Management 2006-07-13
MDQuery Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a metadata query.
File Management 2005-06-04
MDSchema Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a metadata schema.
File Management 2005-04-29
Memory Management Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for accessing global variables and managing the operating-system queue.
Resource Management 2006-07-12
Memory Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the deprecated technology for working with dynamic memory.
Resource Management 2007-06-27
Menu Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and managing an application's menus.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience 2006-09-15
MIDI File Format (HTML)
Describes the QuickTime implementation of the MIDI file standard.
Audio 2002-09-17
Mixed Mode Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface that supports PowerPC computers running 680x0 code.
Runtime Architecture 2003-04-01
Multilingual Text Engine Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting Unicode text editing.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2007-02-19
Multiprocessing Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating preemptively scheduled tasks in Carbon applications.
Performance, Process Management 2008-02-08
Navigation Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for presenting a user interface for opening, saving, and navigating files.
File Management, User Experience 2006-08-16
Notification Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used by background applications to communicate information to the user.
Events & Other Input 2002-12-01
Open Scripting Architecture Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for compiling and executing scripts in applications and writing scripting components.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation 2007-05-07
Open Transport Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon compatibility library for accessing TCP/IP networks at the transport level.
Networking 2005-07-07
Palette Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API used to select colors for display devices limited to an 8-bit pixel depth.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-07-13
Pascal String Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for manipulating Pascal strings in Carbon applications.
Runtime Architecture, Text & Fonts 2006-07-12
Pasteboard Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and interacting with pasteboards.
Interapplication Communication 2007-06-29
PDEPanel Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to implement custom panes in a printing dialog.
Printing 2007-12-11
PDEPlugIn Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to add custom panes to a printing dialog.
Printing 2007-12-11
PDEPlugInCallbackProtocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to access information about the current print job.
Printing 2007-12-11
Picture Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for reading and modifying image data stored in PICT-formatted files. Replaced by Quartz2D.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-07-13
Power Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy C API for controlling power to the internal hardware devices of battery-powered Macintosh computers.
Resource Management 2006-07-13
Preferences Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Core Foundation preferences functions.
User Experience 2007-10-31
Printing Plug-in Interfaces Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the various callback interfaces that Mac OS X printing plug-ins implement in Carbon.
Printing 2003-07-31
Process Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for process management in Carbon applications.
Process Management 2007-12-04
QLPreviewRequest Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type for handling requests for Quick Look document previews.
User Experience 2007-04-20
QLThumbnailRequest Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type for handling requests for Quick Look thumbnail images.
User Experience 2007-10-31
Quartz 2D Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for the native two-dimensional drawing engine in Mac OS X.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-18
Quartz Display Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for configuring and controlling display hardware.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-11-19
Quartz Event Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for event taps, filters used to observe and alter the stream of low-level user input events.
Events & Other Input 2007-10-31
Quartz Window Services Reference (HTML)
Describes the interface for capturing the contents of a window.
Graphics & Imaging 2009-01-15
Quick Look Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for creating plug-ins that generate Quick Look previews and thumbnails.
User Experience 2007-04-13
QuickDraw Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for the legacy two-dimensional drawing engine in Mac OS. Replaced by Quartz 2D.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-06-29
QuickDraw Text Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for measuring and drawing text. Replaced by ATSUI.
Text & Fonts 2006-07-13
QuickTime Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for QuickTime.
QuickTime 2006-05-23
Resource Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for accessing information stored in resource files.
File Management, Resource Management 2007-10-31
Scrap Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API used to copy items to and from the Clipboard. Replaced by the Pasteboard Manager.
Interapplication Communication 2007-12-11
Script Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes a deprecated technology replaced by Unicode facilities.
Text & Fonts 2007-12-11
SCSI Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the C API for accessing SCSI devices in Classic Mac OS. Replaced by the I/O Kit.
Resource Management 2006-07-12
Search Kit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for supporting user searches of textual content.
Data Management, Text & Fonts, User Experience 2009-05-06
Secure Transport Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating a Secure Sockets Layer session over any transport layer.
Security 2004-08-31
Security Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for protecting information.
Security 2008-03-12
Sound Manager 3.3 (HTML)
Deprecated - Summary of Sound Manager legacy releases 3.1, 3.2.1, and 3.3.
Audio 2001-11-15
Speech Recognition Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C interface for recognizing and accepting spoken input.
Accessibility, Events & Other Input, User Experience 2003-02-01
Speech Synthesis Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for converting text into synthesized speech.
Accessibility, User Experience 2009-04-08
Spotlight Metadata Attributes Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes metadata attributes used with Spotlight.
File Management 2007-05-22
Spotlight Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API used to define Apple's desktop search technology, Spotlight.
File Management 2006-07-13
Text Encoding Conversion Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for transferring text across other platforms or over the Internet.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2005-07-07
Text Input Source Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for operating on text input sources, such as keyboards, character palettes, and ink input.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2007-06-07
Text Services Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for communicating between client applications and provider modules.
Events & Other Input, Text & Fonts 2005-11-09
Text Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for operating on strings (formatting, sorting, converting, comparing).
Text & Fonts 2007-05-29
TextEdit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the deprecated technology replaced by the Multilingual Text Engine (MLTE).
Text & Fonts 2006-07-13
Thread Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating cooperatively scheduled threads in Carbon applications.
Process Management 2007-04-04
Ticket Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used by printer modules and PDEs to communicate printing information to the system.
Printing 2002-10-23
Time Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for scheduling routines for execution at a later time.
Resource Management 2006-03-08
Translation Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for handling data and documents between applications, including applications from another operating system.
File Management 2006-07-12
Unicode Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that allows applications and input methods to operate on Unicode text.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2006-01-10
URL Access Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for transferring data to and from a URL from within an application. Replaced by CFNetwork.
File Management, Internet & Web, Networking 2006-07-13
vDSP Complex Vector Conversion Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes functions that convert complex vectors between interleaved and split forms.
Performance 2007-06-15
vDSP Correlation, Convolution, and Filtering Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an interface for performing correlation, convolution, and filtering operations on real or complex signals.
Performance 2009-01-06
vDSP Matrix Operations Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an interface for matrix arithmetic operations.
Performance 2009-01-06
vDSP One-Dimensional Fast Fourier Transforms Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an interface for performing one-dimensional fast Fourier transforms on an input signal.
Performance 2009-01-06
vDSP Single-Vector Operations Reference (HTML) (PDF)
This document describes the C API for performing common routines on a single vector in vDSP.
Performance 2009-01-07
vDSP Two-Dimensional Fast Fourier Transforms Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Improved function discussions and corrections.
Performance 2008-11-19
vDSP Vector Scalar Arithmetic Operations Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes vDSP functions that perform arithmetic operations combining a scalar with each element of a vector.
Performance 2007-06-15
vDSP Vector-To-Scalar Operations Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes functions that receive a vector as input and compute scalars as output.
Performance 2009-01-06
vDSP Vector-to-Vector Arithmetic Operations Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes functions that receive a vector as input and return a vector as output.
Performance 2009-01-06
vImage Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C programming interface for high-performance image processing.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-12
Web Services Core Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the client-side APIs for accessing web services.
Internet & Web 2009-01-06
WebKit C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for displaying web content in windows.
Internet & Web, User Experience 2008-10-15
Window Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating Carbon windows.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience 2007-10-31