Jump To:
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.
Document Descriptions
On Off
Display

Sorted by
Title
Sort by
Topic
Sort by
Date
NSOperation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an encapsulated, single-shot task.
Process Management 2008-11-19
NSOperationQueue Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that manages a set of prioritized operations.
Process Management 2008-11-19
NSOutlineView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a row-and-column format view for displaying hierarchical data.
User Experience 2009-02-04
NSOutlineViewDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface used by an outline view to retrieve data and, optionally, to update data values.
Data Management, User Experience 2007-02-19
NSOutputStream Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a write-only data stream.
Data Management, File Management, Networking 2009-01-06
NSPageLayout Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a printing dialog for querying the user about page layout.
Printing 2007-04-11
NSPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a window for performing auxiliary functions in an application.
Events & Other Input, Graphics & Imaging, User Experience 2009-01-06
NSParagraphStyle Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable paragraph style.
Text & Fonts 2006-05-23
NSPasteboard Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a pasteboard.
Interapplication Communication, User Experience 2008-10-15
NSPathCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a path control object.
User Experience 2007-04-11
NSPathCellDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface used to customize a pop-up-style control that represents a path.
User Experience 2007-04-11
NSPathComponentCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a component of a path control.
User Experience 2007-04-11
NSPathControl Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control representing a file path or virtual path.
User Experience 2007-04-11
NSPathControlDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface used to support dragging and pop-up menu customization in path controls.
User Experience 2007-04-11
NSPDFImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws an image from PDF data.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-01-26
NSPersistentDocument Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a document that integrates with the Core Data framework.
Data Management, Design Guidelines 2008-02-08
NSPersistentStore Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
New document that describes the abstract Core Data class that represents a persistent store.
Data Management 2007-07-22
NSPersistentStoreCoordinator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to mediate between persistent stores and managed object contexts in a Core Data application.
Data Management 2008-03-11
NSPersistentStoreCoordinator Sync Services Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods added to NSPersistenStoreCoordinator to support syncing of Core Data managed objects
Syncing 2007-07-11
NSPersistentStoreCoordinatorSyncing Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a protocol that you use to change the behavior of a Core Data application sync session.
Syncing 2007-07-11
NSPICTImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws an image from PICT data.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-01-26
NSPipe Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a communications channel between processes.
Interapplication Communication 2007-01-26
NSPlaceholders Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for providing default display values when a Cocoa bindings attribute returns a selection marker.
Data Management 2006-05-23
NSPointerArray Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an ordered collection of pointers.
Data Management 2009-03-04
NSPointerFunctions Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes callout functions for managing a pointer reference held somewhere else.
Data Management 2008-10-15
NSPopUpButton Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for displaying pull-down or pop-up lists of items.
User Experience 2008-10-15
NSPopUpButtonCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell used in the display of pull-down or pop-up menus.
User Experience 2008-10-15
NSPort Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for implementing communication ports.
Interapplication Communication 2007-07-19
NSPortCoder Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a coder that transmits objects, or their proxies, between distributed objects.
Interapplication Communication 2007-01-29
NSPortMessage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the message data sent using distributed objects.
Interapplication Communication 2007-01-29
NSPortNameServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the port registration object used by distributed objects.
Interapplication Communication 2007-01-29
NSPositionalSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify an insertion point in a container relative to another object in the container.
Scripting & Automation 2007-06-29
NSPredicate Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of logical conditions.
Data Management 2006-08-16
NSPredicateEditor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a graphical predicate editor.
Data Management, User Experience 2008-10-15
NSPredicateEditorRowTemplate Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a row in a graphical predicate editor.
Data Management, User Experience 2007-01-12
NSPreferencePane Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the interface for subclasses to provide preference panes to System Preferences or other applications.
User Experience 2006-05-23
NSPrinter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a printer as specified by a PPD file.
Printing 2007-01-29
NSPrintInfo Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the print settings used for a print job.
Printing 2009-01-06
NSPrintOperation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a print job.
Printing 2007-03-02
NSPrintPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a print dialog.
Printing 2007-07-16
NSPrintPanelAccessorizing Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for configuring accessory panes for the print panel.
Printing, User Experience 2007-03-09
NSProcessInfo Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the current process.
Interapplication Communication, Process Management, Resource Management 2007-03-26
NSProgressIndicator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control that shows that a lengthy task is under way.
User Experience 2008-03-11
NSPropertyDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to define properties of an entity in a Core Data managed object model.
Objective-C Language 2006-10-03
NSPropertyListSerialization Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to convert property list objects to and from several serialized formats.
Data Management 2008-06-09
NSPropertyMapping Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mapping of a property in a Core Data migration.
Data Management 2007-05-22
NSPropertySpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify a simple attribute value, a one-to-one relationship, or all elements of a to-many relationship.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSProtocolChecker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that restricts the messages that can be sent to another object.
Objective-C Language 2006-05-23
NSProxy Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for object surrogates used in distributed messages and lazy instantiation.
Interapplication Communication, Objective-C Language 2007-04-06
NSQuickDrawView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated technology replaced by Quartz.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-01-30
NSQuitCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to quit the specified application.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSRandomSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify an arbitrary object in a collection.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSRangeSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify a range of objects in a container through two delimiting objects.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSRecursiveLock Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a lock that can be acquired multiple times by one thread without causing a deadlock.
Process Management 2007-04-30
NSRelationshipDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a relationship in a Core Data schema.
Objective-C Language 2006-07-11
NSRelativeSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify an object in a collection by its position relative to another object.
Scripting & Automation 2006-06-28
NSResponder Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for handling events.
Events & Other Input 2007-03-05
NSRuleEditor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a graphical rule editor.
User Experience 2008-02-08
NSRulerMarker Class Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a marker on a ruler, such as a tab setting.
Text & Fonts 2006-05-23
NSRulerView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a ruler, with markers, that adjoins a scroll view's document view.
Text & Fonts 2006-05-23
NSRunLoop Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the object that manages events on a thread.
Events & Other Input, Performance 2008-02-08
NSSavePanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the panel that a user employs to set a file-system location and save a file.
Events & Other Input, File Management, User Experience 2009-02-04
NSScanner Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that scans values from a string.
Data Management 2008-10-15
NSScreen Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a screen (computer monitor).
Graphics & Imaging 2009-01-06
NSScriptClassDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to encapsulate the scriptability information for a scriptable class.
Scripting & Automation 2007-07-17
NSScriptCoercionHandler Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a mechanism for converting one kind of scripting data to another.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSScriptCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to represent a scripting statement and the information needed to perform the operation it specifies.
Scripting & Automation 2007-07-20
NSScriptCommandDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to provide a description of a script command.
Scripting & Automation 2007-04-10
NSScriptExecutionContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a shared instance of the context in which the current script command is executed.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSScriptingComparisonMethods Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to define a set of methods for comparing script objects.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSScriptKeyValueCoding Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to provide additional key-value coding capabilities in a scriptable application.
Scripting & Automation 2007-10-31
NSScriptObjectSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the abstract class used to instantiate objects that represent references to scriptable objects.
Scripting & Automation 2007-06-29
NSScriptObjectSpecifiers Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used by scriptable objects to provide a fully specified object specifier to themselves.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSScriptSuiteRegistry Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used as the top-level repository of scriptability information for an application at runtime.
Scripting & Automation 2007-04-10
NSScriptWhoseTest Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the abstract class used to represent expressions for testing scriptable object inclusion.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSScroller Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for scrolling a document view within a scroll view.
User Experience 2009-04-08
NSScrollView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view for displaying content larger than its bounds.
Graphics & Imaging, User Experience 2006-05-23
NSSearchField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text field optimized for entering a search query.
User Experience 2006-05-23
NSSearchFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a search field cell.
User Experience 2008-03-11
NSSecureTextField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text field that hides its text.
Text & Fonts, User Experience 2006-05-23
NSSecureTextFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a secure text field.
Text & Fonts, User Experience 2007-10-31
NSSegmentedCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an action cell that provides appearance and behavior for an NSSegmentedControl object.
User Experience 2009-05-06
NSSegmentedControl Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a horizontal button divided into multiple segments
User Experience 2009-05-06
NSSerializer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated technology replaced by the NSPropertyListSerialization class.
Data Management 2006-05-23
NSServicesRequests Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for transferring data to the pasteboard during service requests.
Interapplication Communication 2007-01-30
NSSet Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable unordered collection of distinct elements.
Data Management 2008-10-15
NSSetCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to set values in a scriptable object.
Scripting & Automation 2006-05-23
NSShadow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a drop shadow for a drawing operation.
Graphics & Imaging 2009-02-04
NSSimpleHorizontalTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the deprecated technology replaced by NSATSTypesetter.
Text & Fonts 2006-05-23
NSSlider Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for selecting a value from a continuous range of values.
User Experience 2006-05-23
NSSliderCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an action cell that provides appearance and behavior for an NSSlider object.
User Experience 2006-05-23
NSSocketPort Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a BSD socket for distributed object connections or raw messaging.
Interapplication Communication, Networking 2008-10-15
NSSocketPortNameServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a registrar of named TCP/IP sockets.
Interapplication Communication, Networking 2007-02-26
NSSortDescriptor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the rules for a sorting operation.
Data Management 2007-10-31
NSSound Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that loads and plays audio files.
Audio, Data Management, Resource Management 2008-10-15
NSSpecifierTest Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to apply a test to compare a specified object to another object.
Scripting & Automation 2006-06-28
NSSpeechRecognizer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa command-and-control voice recognition system.
Accessibility, Events & Other Input, User Experience 2007-04-03
NSSpeechSynthesizer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa parser that converts text to speech.
Accessibility, Text & Fonts, User Experience 2009-01-06
NSSpellChecker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface to the Cocoa spell-checking service.
Text & Fonts 2007-04-27
NSSpellServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an application-defined spell-checking service.
Text & Fonts 2007-04-27