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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.
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Carbon Accessibility Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for making Carbon applications accessible to assistive technologies.
Accessibility 2006-02-07
Speech Recognition Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C interface for recognizing and accepting spoken input.
Accessibility 2003-02-01
Speech Synthesis Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for converting text into synthesized speech.
Accessibility 2009-04-08
ABAddressBook C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for accessing, adding, and removing Address Book records.
Apple Applications 2007-07-08
ABGroup Reference for C (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type used to group Address Book records.
Apple Applications 2003-08-20
ABMultiValue Reference for C (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for accessing Address Book properties with multiple values.
Apple Applications 2003-08-20
ABPerson C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that encapsulates information about a person in Address Book.
Apple Applications 2006-07-26
ABPicker Reference for C (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the ABPicker opaque type.
Apple Applications 2007-07-20
ABRecord C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that represents a generic Address Book record.
Apple Applications 2005-04-29
Address Book Actions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Address Book action callbacks.
Apple Applications 2007-07-08
Address Book C Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting and working with Address Book.
Apple Applications 2006-05-23
Address Book Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C functions that support the Carbon API for Address Book.
Apple Applications 2007-07-08
Audio Codec Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for configuring audio codecs and for encoding and decoding audio data.
Audio 2007-10-31
Audio File Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a C programming interface for reading and writing audio files.
Audio 2008-07-08
Audio Queue Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a high-level programming interface for recording and playing back audio data.
Audio 2008-07-08
Disc Recording Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the Objective-C and C API for burning audio and data CDs and DVDs.
Audio 2008-04-08
Disc Recording UI Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the Objective-C and C API for presenting a user interface when burning audio and data CDs and DVDs.
Audio 2008-04-08
MIDI File Format (HTML)
Describes the QuickTime implementation of the MIDI file standard.
Audio 2002-09-17
Sound Manager 3.3 (HTML)
Deprecated - Summary of Sound Manager legacy releases 3.1, 3.2.1, and 3.3.
Audio 2001-11-15
Core Foundation Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Core Foundation API.
Core Foundation 2007-10-31
CFAttributedString Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable character string and its associated attributes.
Data Management 2009-05-06
CFMutableAttributedString Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable character string and associated set of attributes.
Data Management 2009-05-06
Collection Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for implementing an abstract data type that stores related pieces of information.
Data Management 2003-04-01
Core Endian Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and installing callbacks to byte swap custom data.
Data Management 2007-05-29
Find By Content Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for performing relevance-ranked searches. Replaced by Search Kit.
Data Management 2006-07-13
Mathematical and Logical Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for mathematical and logical data manipulation.
Data Management 2005-11-09
Search Kit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for supporting user searches of textual content.
Data Management 2009-05-06
Apple Event Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for interapplication communication using Apple events.
Events & Other Input 2007-07-13
Carbon Event Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for handling events in Carbon applications.
Events & Other Input 2007-10-31
Event Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the event-handling system created originally for Classic Mac OS and superseded by the Carbon Event Manager.
Events & Other Input 2007-10-31
Ink Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the C API for customizing handwriting recognition.
Events & Other Input 2006-01-10
Keyboard Layout Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for managing key-to-character mappings used to support various languages.
Events & Other Input 2002-11-18
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
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
Speech Recognition Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C interface for recognizing and accepting spoken input.
Events & Other Input 2003-02-01
Text Services Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for communicating between client applications and provider modules.
Events & Other Input 2005-11-09
Alias Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and managing persistent references to file system objects.
File Management 2006-12-05
Audio File Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a C programming interface for reading and writing audio files.
File Management 2008-07-08
CFFileDescriptor Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for monitoring file descriptors for read and write activity.
File Management 2007-05-23
Disc Recording Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the Objective-C and C API for burning audio and data CDs and DVDs.
File Management 2008-04-08
Disc Recording UI Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the Objective-C and C API for presenting a user interface when burning audio and data CDs and DVDs.
File Management 2008-04-08
File Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for basic file management tasks, such as opening and saving files.
File Management 2007-07-13
Finder Interface Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes several C data types used by the Finder to contain information about file system objects.
File Management 2006-10-31
Folder Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for finding and accessing directories, including common Mac OS X system locations.
File Management 2006-07-12
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 2006-07-13
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
Navigation Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for presenting a user interface for opening, saving, and navigating files.
File Management 2006-08-16
Resource Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for accessing information stored in resource files.
File Management 2007-10-31
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
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
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 2006-07-13
Apple Game Sprockets Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the programming interface defined by Game Sprockets. Replaced by Quartz Display Services.
Games 2006-07-13
Application Services Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for a number of services--such as Quartz 2D and ATSUI--that are essential to Carbon applications.
General 2007-10-31
Carbon Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes many fundamental user experience APIs used in Carbon applications.
General 2007-10-31
Carbon Result Codes Index (HTML)
An alphabetic list of result codes in the Carbon application environment, with links to their API reference pages.
General
Core Services Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for many fundamental operating system services.
General 2007-10-31
AGL Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Apple graphics library for Carbon applications that use OpenGL.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-10-31
Apple Game Sprockets Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the programming interface defined by Game Sprockets. Replaced by Quartz Display Services.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-07-13
ATSUI Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for rendering Unicode-encoded text with advanced typographic features.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-06-28
CGImageProperties Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes property constants for source and destination images.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-10-31
CGL Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Apple's low level interface for OpenGL contexts.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-06-28
Color Picker Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used in Classic Mac OS to solicit color choices from users.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-02
ColorSync Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for ColorSync, the platform-independent color management system in Mac OS X.
Graphics & Imaging 2005-06-04
Core Image Kernel Language Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the symbols for writing image-processing kernels.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-06-09
Display Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the C API for dynamically changing the arrangement and display modes of attached monitors. Replaced by Quartz Display Services.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-04
Font Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for QuickDraw-based font access and management.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
Fonts Panel Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for providing a Fonts window in a Carbon application.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-02-26
HIGeometry Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that defines basic geometric objects for HIToolbox.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-06-11
HIShape Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon API for manipulating HIShape objects.
Graphics & Imaging 2004-06-28
HTML Rendering Library Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for drawing HTML text and images in a window. Replaced by the Web Kit.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-07-13
Image I/O Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for reading and writing image data.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-04-09
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
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
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 Window Services Reference (HTML)
Describes the interface for capturing the contents of a window.
Graphics & Imaging 2009-01-15
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
vImage Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C programming interface for high-performance image processing.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-12
Appearance Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for coordinating the look of the standard Mac OS human interface.
Human Interface Toolbox 2007-01-23
Application Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for performing various application-level tasks in a Carbon application. Formerly titled Dock Manager Reference.
Human Interface Toolbox 2007-10-31
Control Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating Carbon controls.
Human Interface Toolbox 2007-03-26
Data Browser Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used to display data in list or column views similar to the Finder.
Human Interface Toolbox 2008-04-08
Dialog Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C interface for implementing alerts and dialog boxes.
Human Interface Toolbox 2007-10-31
Finder Interface Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes several C data types used by the Finder to contain information about file system objects.
Human Interface Toolbox 2006-10-31
HIArchive Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for storing and retrieving data in HIArchives.
Human Interface Toolbox 2005-08-11
HIGeometry Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that defines basic geometric objects for HIToolbox.
Human Interface Toolbox 2007-06-11
HIObject Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating human interface objects in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox 2005-08-11
HIShape Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon API for manipulating HIShape objects.
Human Interface Toolbox 2004-06-28
HIToolbar Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating toolbars in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox 2005-09-08
HIView Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating view-based controls and menus in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox 2007-04-13
Icon Services and Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for manipulating and drawing icons in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox 2007-04-06
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 2007-12-11
Menu Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and managing an application's menus.
Human Interface Toolbox 2006-09-15
Window Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating Carbon windows.
Human Interface Toolbox 2007-10-31
Byte-Order Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Core Foundation byte-order functions.
Intel-Based Macs 2006-05-23