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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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DOMElement Additions Reference (HTML)
Describes the API added to the DOMElement class to facilitate communication between WebKit and the DOM API.
User Experience 2008-10-15
DOMHTMLDocument Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API added to the DOMHTMLDocument class to facilitate communication between WebKit and the DOM API.
User Experience 2009-01-26
DOMHTMLFrameElement Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API added to the DOMHTMLFrameElement class to facilitate communication between WebKit and the DOM API.
User Experience 2006-05-23
DOMHTMLIFrameElement Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API added to the DOMHTMLIFrameElement class to facilitate communication between WebKit and the DOM API.
User Experience 2006-05-23
DOMHTMLObjectElement Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API added to the DOMHTMLObjectElement class to facilitate communication between WebKit and the DOM API.
User Experience 2006-05-23
DOMNode Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API added to the DOMNode class to facilitate communication between WebKit and the DOM API.
User Experience 2009-02-04
DOMRange Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API added to the DOMRange class to facilitate communication between WebKit and the DOM API.
User Experience 2008-10-15
Exception Handling Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API used to monitor and debug exceptional conditions in Objective-C code.
Objective-C Language 2006-10-03
Find By Content Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for performing relevance-ranked searches. Replaced by Search Kit.
Data Management, Text & Fonts, User Experience 2006-07-13
Foundation Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes constants in the Foundation framework.
Data Management, Objective-C Language 2009-05-06
Foundation Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the common data types in the Foundation framework.
Data Management, Objective-C Language 2008-09-09
Foundation Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Foundation framework API.
General, Objective-C Language 2008-06-27
Foundation Functions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Foundation framework functions.
Data Management 2008-10-15
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 4.0.1 Compiler User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU 4.0.1 compiler.
Intel-Based Macs 2007-10-31
IBDocument Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an Interface Builder document, which visually represents a nib file.
Tools 2009-01-06
IBInspector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for managing inspector views in Interface Builder.
Tools 2007-07-11
IBPlugin Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for managing plug-ins in Interface Builder.
Tools 2007-04-02
Identity Services Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the APIs for using identities and the Identity Picker.
Networking 2007-05-14
IKFilterBrowserPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides the panel contained in a filter browser.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-10-31
IKFilterBrowserView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports browsing Core Image filters.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-06
IKFilterCustomUIProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Descibes the protocol that defines a method for providing a view for a filter.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-07
IKFilterUIView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a user interface for Core Image filters.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-06
IKImageBrowserDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to access the data source associated with an image browser view.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-17
IKImageBrowserDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol for the delegate of an image browser view.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-07
IKImageBrowserItem Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used by an image browser view to access the data source for an item.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-01-12
IKImageBrowserView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that can display and browse a large amount of images and movies in an efficient manner.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-13
IKImageEditPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a panel optimized for image editing.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-06
IKImageEditPanelDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the mthods than an image edit panel object uses to access the contents of its data source object.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-06
IKImageView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display images efficiently at the same time it supports image editing.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-04-08
IKPictureTaker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Descibes the class that provides a panel for choosing images.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-10-31
IKSaveOptions Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that initializes, adds, and manages user interface options for saving image data.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-06
IKSlideshow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that encapsulates a data source and options for a slideshow.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-10-31
IKSlideshowDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods that a slideshow object uses to access the contents of its data source object.
Graphics & Imaging 2009-03-04
Image Kit Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for providing a user interface for images, image editing, and image processing.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-12-06
IMAVManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the object that controls the auxiliary audio and video source to iChat Theater.
Apple Applications 2007-10-31
IMKCandidates Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports the use of candidate windows for an input method.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2007-06-05
IMKInputController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that controls input on the input method side.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2007-06-06
IMKMouseHandling Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to receive mouse events for an input method client session.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2007-06-05
IMKServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that manages connections to input method clients.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2007-06-06
IMKServerInput Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to receive text events.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2009-05-06
IMKStateSetting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to set or access state values for an input method client session.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2007-06-05
IMKTextInput Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to send and obtain data from an input method client session.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2007-06-05
IMService Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the IMService objects that each represent one service available through iChat.
Apple Applications 2008-10-15
IMVideoDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods that a video data source implements to provide auxiliary audio and video source to iChat Theater.
Apple Applications 2007-07-08
Input Method Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for building input methods for Chinese, Japanese, and other languages.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2007-06-06
Instant Message Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for providing iChat presence information to Cocoa applications and using iChat Theater.
Apple Applications, Internet & Web 2007-07-08
InstantMessage Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the constants found in the Instant Message framework.
Apple Applications 2006-05-23
InstantMessage Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types found in the Instant Message framework.
Apple Applications 2006-05-23
Interface Builder Kit Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the constants declared in the Interface Builder Kit framework.
Tools 2007-04-02
Interface Builder Kit Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types declared in the Interface Builder Kit framework.
Tools 2007-04-02
Interface Builder Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for implementing Interface Builder plug-ins.
Tools 2007-04-18
ISyncChange Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Syncing 2006-06-30
ISyncClient Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
An ISyncClient object represents an application, tool, or device that syncs records--for example, Address Book, .Mac, or a mobile phone.
Syncing 2007-07-11
ISyncFilter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Syncing 2006-07-07
ISyncFiltering Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Syncing 2007-07-11
ISyncManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
You use an ISyncManager object to communicate directly with the sync engine to perform administrative operations.
Syncing 2007-07-11
ISyncRecordReference Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Syncing 2007-07-11
ISyncRecordSnapshot Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Syncing 2006-07-07
ISyncSession Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
An ISyncSession object is used to manage a single sync operation.
Syncing 2008-11-19
ISyncSessionDriver Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Syncing 2007-07-11
ISyncSessionDriverDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Defines a set of methods that the data source of an ISyncSessionDriver object must implement.
Syncing 2007-07-11
ISyncUIHelper Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
An informal protocol that provides user interface attributes to the iSync user interface.
Syncing 2007-10-31
Keychain Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Keychain Services API, used to create, find, modify, and delete keychain items.
Security 2008-11-19
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
Message Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the Objective-C API for sending email messages through the Mail application.
Apple Applications 2008-04-08
NSAccessibility Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving accessibility-related messages.
Accessibility 2007-12-11
NSActionCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for the active area in a control.
User Experience 2007-02-28
NSAffineTransform Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions to support affine transformations.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-02-28
NSAffineTransform Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an affine transformation from one coordinate space to another.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-01-15
NSAlert Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a window that displays a message and obtains the user's response to it.
Events & Other Input, Graphics & Imaging, User Experience 2007-04-25
NSAnimatablePropertyContainer Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for an animatable proxy for views and windows.
Graphics & Imaging 2009-05-06
NSAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the behavior of an animation.
Games, Graphics & Imaging, User Experience 2007-10-31
NSAnimationContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes nested transaction support for animating views.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-02-08
NSAppleEventDescriptor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to access the basic data structures in an Apple event.
Scripting & Automation 2007-04-10
NSAppleEventManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to work with Apple event handler routines and to suspend and resume event handling.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSAppleScript Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions to the NSAppleScript class to provide syntax-highlighted script source.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSAppleScript Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides the ability to load, compile, and execute scripts.
Scripting & Automation 2007-07-10
NSApplication Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the responder object that manages an application's events and resources.
Runtime Architecture 2009-02-04
NSArchiver Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a class that encodes objects into an architecture-independent format.
Data Management 2006-05-23
NSArray Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manage an immutable ordered collection of objects.
Data Management 2008-06-09
NSArrayController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Cocoa bindings-compatible manager of an array or set.
Data Management, Design Guidelines 2007-04-09
NSAssertionHandler Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the facility for handling false assertions.
Performance 2007-02-22
NSAtomicStore Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Core Data atomic persistent store.
Data Management 2008-10-15
NSAtomicStoreCacheNode Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a node in an atomic persistent store.
Data Management 2006-10-09
NSATSTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a typesetter that places glyphs for text layout.
Text & Fonts 2009-03-04
NSAttributeDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to define attributes of an entity in a Core Data managed object model.
Objective-C Language 2007-10-31
NSAttributedString Application Kit Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for analyzing and using attributed strings.
Data Management, Text & Fonts 2007-12-04
NSAttributedString Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a character string with attributes.
Data Management, Text & Fonts 2008-10-15
NSAutoreleasePool Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface to the deferred-release mechanism in Cocoa's reference-counted memory management system.
Objective-C Language, Performance 2009-01-02
NSBezierPath Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a vector-based path consisting of line and curve segments.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-03-02
NSBitmapImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws an image from bitmap data.
Graphics & Imaging 2009-01-06
NSBox Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that can display its border and a title.
Graphics & Imaging, Printing, User Experience 2008-10-15
NSBrowser Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for manipulating one- or two-dimensional data sets.
Events & Other Input, User Experience 2007-04-05
NSBrowserCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell that displays data in a browser.
User Experience 2007-04-01
NSBundle Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for loading nib files in Cocoa applications.
Resource Management 2007-07-19
NSBundle Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a collection of resources used in a program.
Data Management, Internationalization, Resource Management 2007-07-19
NSButton Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control that responds to clicks.
Events & Other Input, User Experience 2007-04-01
NSButtonCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell that responds to mouse clicks.
Events & Other Input, User Experience 2009-04-08
NSCachedImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes cached image data that is ready to be rendered.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-01-15