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Cocoa is an object-oriented application environment designed for developing Mac OS X native applications. The Cocoa frameworks support rapid development and high productivity. Cocoa provides developers starting new Mac OS X projects the fastest way to full-featured implementations. Applications from other platforms can also be brought to Mac OS X quickly using Cocoa.

A guided introduction and learning path for developers new to Cocoa.   Essential information for developers using Objective-C.   Objective-C API references organized by framework.
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ABActionDelegate Protocol Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol for populating the rollover menus of Address Book with custom items.
Apple Applications 2006-05-23
ABAddressBook Class Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Provides a programming interface to the Address Book.
Apple Applications 2007-07-07
ABGroup Class Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how this class supports the concept of a "group" containing one or more persons.
Apple Applications 2007-07-07
ABIdentityPicker Class Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the identity picker, a dialog or sheet used to select groups and people for Identity Services.
Apple Applications 2006-08-23
ABImageClient Protocol Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to handle images loaded from an asynchronous fetch from ABPerson objects.
Apple Applications 2006-05-23
ABMultiValue Class Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use these classes to represent properties that might have multiple values.
Apple Applications 2007-07-08
ABPeoplePickerView Class Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to customize the behavior of people-picker views in an application's user interface.
Apple Applications 2006-05-23
ABPerson Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to encapsulate all information about a person in the Address Book database.
Apple Applications 2007-07-07
ABSearchElement Class Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to specify a search query for records in the Address Book database.
Apple Applications 2006-05-23
Address Book Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the constants found in the Address Book framework.
Apple Applications 2006-07-26
Address Book Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types and constants found in the Address Book framework.
Apple Applications 2006-07-26
Address Book Objective-C Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa API for supporting and working with Address Book.
Apple Applications, General 2007-07-08
AddressBook Functions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions and function-like macros found in the Address Book framework.
Apple Applications 2006-05-23
AMAction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the abstract class that defines the interface and general characteristics of Automator actions.
Apple Applications 2007-03-01
AMAppleScriptAction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to support Automator actions that are driven by AppleScript scripts.
Apple Applications 2006-10-26
AMBundleAction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to support Automator actions that are loadable bundles.
Apple Applications 2006-10-26
AMShellScriptAction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to support Automator actions driven by a shell script or by a Perl or Python script.
Apple Applications 2006-10-26
AMWorkflow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to represent an Automator workflow within an application.
Apple Applications 2006-10-26
AMWorkflowController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to control an Automator workflow in an application.
Apple Applications 2007-07-09
AMWorkflowView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Apple Applications 2006-11-09
Apple Applications Schema Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the schemas used by Apple Applications to sync records such as contacts, calendars, and bookmarks.
Apple Applications, Data Management, Internet & Web, Syncing 2007-10-31
AppleScript Studio Terminology Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the scripting terminology for AppleScript Studio, through version 1.4.
Scripting & Automation, Tools 2007-10-31
Application Kit Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the constants defined in the Application Kit framework not described in individual classes.
Objective-C Language 2007-10-31
Application Kit Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types defined in the Application Kit framework not described in individual classes.
Objective-C Language 2006-05-23
Application Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for all things related to an application's user interface.
General, Objective-C Language, User Experience 2008-11-19
Application Kit Functions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that support the Application Kit framework.
Objective-C Language 2008-11-19
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
Automator Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the constants defined in the Automator framework not described in individual classes.
Apple Applications 2007-05-10
Automator Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for creating and working with actions used by the Automator application.
Apple Applications, Scripting & Automation 2006-10-26
Byte-Order Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Core Foundation byte-order functions.
Intel-Based Macs 2006-05-23
CAAction Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving actions initiated by a layer.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-24
CAAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for managing the actions and timing of an animation.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-10-31
CAAnimationGroup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a grouping of multiple animations into a single animation.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-03-11
CABasicAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the basic interpolation of a layer property.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-24
CAConstraint Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a single geometric constraint between two layers.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-24
CAConstraintLayoutManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layout manager that applies a set of constraints to a layer tree.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
CAKeyframeAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an animation that provides keyframe interpolation of a layer property.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-24
CalAlarm Class Reference (HTML)
Describes the class used to create and initialize alarms.
Apple Applications 2009-03-04
CalAttendee Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to to confirm status and obtain more information about an attendee.
Apple Applications 2007-07-08
CALayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a node of animated visual content.
Graphics & Imaging 2009-02-04
CALayoutManager Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving requests to arrange a layout tree.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-24
CalCalendar Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to get attributes about a calendar.
Apple Applications 2007-07-08
CalCalendarItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to provide access to information about calendar objects associated with a calendar item.
Apple Applications 2007-07-08
CalCalendarStore Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to retrieve calendar objects, including calendars, events and tasks.
Apple Applications 2009-04-08
Calendar Store Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Apple Applications 2007-07-08
Calendar Store Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Calendar Store framework classes and methods used to access iCal data.
Apple Applications, Data Management, General 2007-07-08
CalEvent Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to get properties about an event.
Apple Applications 2009-03-04
CalNthWeekDay Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the CalNthWeekDay class that is used to define a weekly repeating pattern of an event.
Apple Applications 2007-07-08
CalRecurrenceEnd Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a property of a CalRecurrenceRule that defines how long a recurrence is scheduled to repeat.
Apple Applications 2007-07-08
CalRecurrenceRule Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to initialize and get recurrence rules and properties.
Apple Applications 2009-03-04
CalTask Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to get properties about a task.
Apple Applications 2007-10-31
CAMediaTiming Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for the time behavior of an animation.
Graphics & Imaging 2009-03-04
CAMediaTimingFunction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the pacing of an animation as a timing curve.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-07-11
CAOpenGLLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that acts as a target for OpenGL commands.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-03-11
CAPropertyAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for manipulating values of layer properties.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-24
CARenderer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws a layer to a Core Graphics context.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-04-30
CAScrollLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that displays a scrollable portion of another layer.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-24
CATextLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that draws text.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
CATiledLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that draws tiles of content as needed.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-24
CATransaction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a batch of Core Animation updates that are applied to a render tree atomically.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-24
CATransition Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides transition animations to layers.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-10-31
CBGroupIdentity Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for operating on user identities.
Networking 2007-05-14
CBIdentity Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to create and operate on identities.
Networking 2007-05-14
CBIdentityAuthority Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manipulate identity authority databases.
Networking 2007-05-14
CBIdentityPicker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that manages the identity picker.
Networking 2007-05-14
CBUserIdentity Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for operating on user identities.
Networking 2007-05-14
Certificate, Key, and Trust Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes services to read and evaluate certificates and to use cryptographic keys.
Security 2008-11-19
CIColor Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions to support Cocoa color information.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-05-23
CIColor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manage color values and color spaces for Core Image filters.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-05
CIContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides an evaluation context for rendering a Core Image image through Quartz 2D or OpenGL.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-03-16
CIFilter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that processes image data and produces a Core Image image as output.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
CIFilter Core Animation Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category that extends Core Image filters for use with Layer Kit.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-24
CIFilter Image Kit Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category that extends Core Image filters for use with Image Kit.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-06
CIFilterGenerator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports chaining together image processing filters.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-05
CIFilterShape Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that defines the bounding shape of a filter and the domain of definition of a filter operation.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-07
CIImage Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for manipulating Cocoa images.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-06-08
CIImage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents an immutable Core Image image.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-10-31
CIImageAccumulator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that enables feedback-based image processing.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-01-05
CIImageProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to supply bitmap data for creating or initializing a Core Image image.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-05
CIKernel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that operates on individual pixels using a kernel routine.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-05
CIPlugIn Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that is responsible for loading image units.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-05
CIPlugInRegistration Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to load Core Image image units.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-07
CISampler Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that retrieves samples of images that are then processed by a Core Image kernel.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-07
CIVector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to pass parameter values to Core Image filters.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-07
Cocoa Bindings Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the exposed bindings of Cocoa classes.
User Experience 2007-10-31
Collaboration Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for monitoring and editing identities.
Networking 2007-05-14
Core Animation Function Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C functions that support Core Animation.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-24
Core Animation Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for Core Animation.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-06-26
Core Data Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the constants defined by the Core Data framework not described in individual classes.
Objective-C Language 2007-01-18
Core Data Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for the Core Data framework.
Data Management, General, Objective-C Language 2007-07-24
Core Endian Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and installing callbacks to byte swap custom data.
Data Management, Intel-Based Macs, Porting 2007-05-29
Core Image Kernel Language Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the symbols for writing image-processing kernels.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-06-09
Core Image Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for using and creating filters for image processing.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-05
Core Printing Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that provides an abstraction layer for application printing.
Printing 2007-07-24
Cryptographic Message Syntax Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for encrypting, signing, and decoding messages using Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS).
Security 2007-10-31
Dictionary Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C and C routines that support programmatic access to dictionaries.
Text & Fonts 2007-05-29
Disc Recording Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the Objective-C and C API for burning audio and data CDs and DVDs.
Audio, 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.
Audio, File Management, User Experience 2008-04-08
DOMDocument Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API added to the DOMDocument class to facilitate communication between WebKit and the DOM API.
User Experience 2008-10-15