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Leopard Reference
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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NSGlyphInfo Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a glyph attribute value in an attributed string.
Text & Fonts 2007-03-01
NSGlyphStorage Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface between a glyph generator and glyph storage.
Text & Fonts 2009-01-06
NSGradient Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a color gradient to use when drawing.
Graphics & Imaging 2009-01-06
NSGraphicsContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a destination for drawing operations.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-03-01
NSHashTable Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable unordered collection of distinct elements that may use weak references.
Data Management 2007-06-26
NSHelpManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an application-level help system.
Events & Other Input, Resource Management, User Experience 2009-02-04
NSHost Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a network host.
Networking, Process Management 2007-03-24
NSHTTPCookie Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque set of data that represents state or configuration.
Internet & Web, Networking 2008-11-13
NSHTTPCookieStorage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a collection of cookies shared across all applications.
Internet & Web, Networking 2006-05-23
NSHTTPURLResponse Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a response to an HTTP request.
Internet & Web, Networking 2006-05-23
NSIgnoreMisspelledWords Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for a spelling checker's ignored words list.
Text & Fonts 2006-05-23
NSImage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a graphical image that includes facilities for drawing and compositing.
Graphics & Imaging 2009-01-06
NSImageCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that displays an image in a frame, usually in a control.
User Experience 2009-01-06
NSImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for managing and drawing image data.
Graphics & Imaging 2009-01-06
NSImageView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that displays an image.
User Experience 2007-01-22
NSIndexPath Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a path to a node in a tree.
Data Management 2008-10-15
NSIndexSet Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable collection of unique unsigned integers.
Data Management 2007-03-24
NSIndexSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the position of an object in a collection.
Scripting & Automation 2007-04-01
NSInputManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used by text views to communicate with the text input management system.
Events & Other Input, Text & Fonts, User Experience 2007-04-01
NSInputServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that interprets text view events and communicates them to the text input management system.
Events & Other Input, Text & Fonts, User Experience 2007-04-01
NSInputServerMouseTracker Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol implemented by text input servers to handle mouse events.
Events & Other Input, Text & Fonts, User Experience 2007-04-02
NSInputServiceProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol implemented by text input servers to handle application and text field events.
Events & Other Input, Text & Fonts, User Experience 2007-04-02
NSInputStream Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a read-only data stream.
Data Management, File Management, Networking 2007-04-05
NSInvocation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an Objective-C message for use in store-and-forward operations.
Interapplication Communication, Objective-C Language 2008-10-15
NSInvocationOperation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a nonconcurrent operation for executing a single encapsulated task.
Interapplication Communication, Objective-C Language 2007-04-12
NSKeyedArchiver Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the facility for encoding objects and scalar values identified by keys.
Data Management 2008-10-15
NSKeyedUnarchiver Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that extracts the contents of an archive created by the NSKeyedArchiver class.
Data Management 2008-10-15
NSKeyValueBindingCreation Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for managing Cocoa bindings.
Data Management 2007-04-10
NSKeyValueCoding Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for accessing object properties indirectly by key name or key path.
Data Management, Design Guidelines 2009-02-04
NSKeyValueObserving Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving notifications of changes to object properties.
Data Management, Design Guidelines 2007-10-31
NSLayoutManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for controlling text layout.
Text & Fonts 2008-12-20
NSLevelIndicator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for displaying a rank or amount along a linear scale.
User Experience 2007-03-01
NSLevelIndicatorCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell used for displaying a rank or amount along a linear scale.
User Experience 2007-03-01
NSLocale Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a locale.
Internationalization, User Experience 2008-02-08
NSLock Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutex-based lock.
Process Management 2008-02-08
NSLocking Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for supporting mutex and condition locks.
Process Management 2007-01-22
NSLogicalTest Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to perform logical operations in determining the scriptable objects a command acts on.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSMachBootstrapServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a local port name server that takes and returns instances of NSMachPort.
Interapplication Communication 2007-01-22
NSMachPort Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a port object that wraps a Mac OS X local communication port.
Interapplication Communication 2007-04-30
NSManagedObject Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Core Data model object.
Data Management 2008-10-15
NSManagedObjectContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to represent a single "object space" in a Core Data application.
Data Management 2008-10-15
NSManagedObjectID Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a universal identifier for a managed object.
Data Management 2006-10-09
NSManagedObjectModel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Core Data schema.
Data Management 2007-01-26
NSMappingModel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Core Data class used to specify a mapping from one schema to another during migration.
Data Management 2007-05-22
NSMapTable Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a collection of key-value pairs that supports weak references.
Data Management 2007-07-22
NSMatrix Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a group of cell objects that work together in various ways.
User Experience 2008-10-15
NSMenu Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an application menu.
User Experience 2008-02-08
NSMenuItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a menu item.
User Experience 2008-02-08
NSMenuItem Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes a deprecated protocol replaced by the NSMenuItem class.
User Experience 2007-02-08
NSMenuItemCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated class replaced by the NSMenuItem class.
User Experience 2007-03-07
NSMenuValidation Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for enabling and disabling menu items.
User Experience 2007-03-02
NSMenuView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated class replaced by the NSMenu class.
User Experience 2009-02-04
NSMessagePort Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an endpoint for distributed object connections or interprocess messaging.
Interapplication Communication, Networking 2006-05-23
NSMessagePortNameServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a facility that accepts and returns message ports.
Interapplication Communication, Networking 2007-02-23
NSMetadataItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the metadata of a file.
File Management 2006-05-23
NSMetadataQuery Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Spotlight query for file metadata.
File Management 2007-04-02
NSMetadataQueryAttributeValueTuple Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes metadata query results.
File Management 2007-04-02
NSMetadataQueryResultGroup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a group of metadata query result objects.
File Management 2007-04-02
NSMethodSignature Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the types of a method's parameters and return value.
Objective-C Language 2008-10-15
NSMiddleSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify the middle object in a collection.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSMigrationManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that migrates data from one persistent store to another.
Data Management 2007-05-22
NSMoveCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to move the specified scriptable object or objects.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSMovie Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes a deprecated class replaced by QTKit.
QuickTime 2007-03-26
NSMovieView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes a deprecated class replaced by QTKit.
QuickTime 2007-04-02
NSMutableArray Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable ordered collection.
Data Management 2008-11-17
NSMutableAttributedString Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for setting attributes of mutable attributed strings.
Data Management, Text & Fonts 2006-05-23
NSMutableAttributedString Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable character string with attributes.
Data Management, Text & Fonts 2006-06-28
NSMutableCharacterSet Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable set of characters.
Data Management 2006-05-23
NSMutableCopying Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for providing mutable duplicates of objects.
Design Guidelines, Objective-C Language 2006-05-23
NSMutableData Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable byte buffer.
Data Management 2007-03-26
NSMutableDictionary Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a changeable collection of values that are identified by keys.
Data Management, Design Guidelines 2007-02-23
NSMutableIndexSet Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable collection of unique unsigned integers.
Data Management 2006-05-23
NSMutableParagraphStyle Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable paragraph style.
Data Management, Text & Fonts 2008-10-15
NSMutableSet Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable unordered collection of distinct elements.
Data Management 2006-09-19
NSMutableString Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable character string.
Data Management 2007-03-06
NSMutableURLRequest Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable request for a resource identified by a URL.
Internet & Web, Networking 2006-05-23
NSNameSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify an object in a collection (or container) by name.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSNetService Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a network service that an application publishes or uses as a client.
Interapplication Communication, Internet & Web, Networking 2009-04-08
NSNetServiceBrowser Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a query for published network services.
Interapplication Communication, Internet & Web, Networking 2009-04-08
NSNib Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for unarchiving and instantiating a nib file.
Resource Management 2007-01-22
NSNibAwaking Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for initializing unarchived nib objects.
Resource Management 2007-02-28
NSNibConnector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a generic connection between nib objects.
Resource Management 2007-01-22
NSNibControlConnector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an action connection between nib objects.
Resource Management 2007-01-31
NSNibOutletConnector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an outlet connection between nib objects.
Resource Management 2007-01-31
NSNotification Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes information to be broadcast to other objects through a notification center.
Events & Other Input, Interapplication Communication 2007-04-02
NSNotificationCenter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that synchronously broadcasts notifications.
Events & Other Input 2008-07-11
NSNotificationQueue Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that asynchronously broadcasts notifications.
Events & Other Input 2007-04-02
NSNull Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that represents null.
Data Management 2006-05-23
NSNumber Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a number.
Data Management 2008-02-08
NSNumberFormatter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a number formatter.
Data Management, User Experience 2008-11-19
NSObjCTypeSerializationCallBack Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated technology.
Data Management 2006-05-23
NSObject Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa root class.
Design Guidelines, Objective-C Language 2009-02-04
NSObject Interface Builder Kit Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions, used by Interface Builder plug-ins, for inspecting objects.
Tools 2007-05-10
NSObject Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface used to define basic object behavior.
Design Guidelines, Objective-C Language 2008-12-22
NSObjectController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Cocoa bindings-compatible manager of an object.
Data Management, Design Guidelines 2007-12-11
NSOpenGLContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a target for OpenGL commands.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-06-09
NSOpenGLPixelBuffer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an OpenGL pixel buffer.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-01-31
NSOpenGLPixelFormat Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a pixel format for OpenGL rendering.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-10-15
NSOpenGLView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view for OpenGL drawing.
Graphics & Imaging, User Experience 2007-01-26
NSOpenPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the panel that a user employs to locate and open a file.
Events & Other Input, File Management, User Experience 2009-02-04