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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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PDFAnnotation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describe the class for creating and managing annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationButtonWidget Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating button annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationChoiceWidget Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating pop-up menu and list annotations in a PDF document.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationCircle Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating circle annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationFreeText Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating free text annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationInk Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating ink annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationLine Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating line annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationLink Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating link annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationMarkup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating markup annotations (highlighting, underlining, and so on) in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationPopup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating pop-up menu annotations in a PDF document.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationSquare Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating square annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationStamp Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for displaying content to look as if it is "stamped" onto a PDF page.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationText Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating text annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationTextWidget Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating editable text fields in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
PDFBorder Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and manipulating borders around annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2006-05-23
PDFDestination Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for describing specific destinations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
PDFDocument Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and manipulating PDF files.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
PDFOutline Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and manipulating structure outlines in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
PDFPage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for handling specific pages in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
PDFThumbnailView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the thumbnail view in a PDF document.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
Preference Panes Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for supporting and working with preference panes.
General, User Experience 2006-05-23
Publication Subscription Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the Cocoa framework for publishing and subscribing to RSS and Atom feeds.
Internet & Web 2008-04-08
QCComposition Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents a Quartz Composer composition.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-06-26
QCCompositionParameterView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to edit the input parameters of a composition in a view.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-05-09
QCCompositionParameterViewDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol for responding to changes in a QCCompositionParameterView object.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-05-09
QCCompositionPickerPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display a utility window for browsing and selecting a composition.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-05-09
QCCompositionPickerView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display a view for browsing and selecting a composition.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-05-09
QCCompositionPickerViewDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol for responding to changes in a QCCompositionPickerView object.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-05-09
QCCompositionRenderer Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods for passing and retrieving data from the ports of a composition.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-04-08
QCCompositionRepository Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents a system-wide, central repository of Quartz Composer compositions.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-05-09
QCPlugIn Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to write custom patches for Quartz Composer.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-04-08
QCPlugInContext Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used by execution contexts.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-05-09
QCPlugInInputImageSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods for managing image data that's input to a QCPlugIn object.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-12
QCPlugInOutputImageProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods for managing image data that's produced as output from a QCPlugIn object.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-05-09
QCPlugInViewController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a controller object for a user interface to edit the settings for a QCPlugIn object.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-05-09
QCRenderer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to load, play, and control a Quartz Composer composition to an arbitrary OpenGL context.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-05-09
QCView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to load, play, and control a Quartz Composer composition to a custom NSView object.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-05-09
QLPreviewRequest Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type for handling requests for Quick Look document previews.
User Experience 2007-04-20
QLThumbnailRequest Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type for handling requests for Quick Look thumbnail images.
User Experience 2007-10-31
QTCaptureAudioPreviewOutput Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an output destination used to preview audio being captured.
QuickTime 2009-04-08
QTCaptureDevice Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that represents a connected physical media capture device, such as a camera or microphone.
QuickTime 2009-05-06
QTCaptureDeviceInput Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a wrapper for a QTCaptureDevice object.
QuickTime 2009-04-08
QTCaptureInput Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an input source connection for a capture session object.
QuickTime 2009-04-08
QTCaptureOutput Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for connecting capture output destinations to a capture session object.
QuickTime 2009-03-04
QTCaptureVideoPreviewOutput Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for previewing a video stream that is being captured.
QuickTime 2009-03-04
QTCaptureView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that displays a video preview of a capture session.
QuickTime 2009-04-08
QTDataReference Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the location of a QuickTime movie or other media data.
QuickTime 2009-04-08
QTKit Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types and constants in the QTKit framework.
QuickTime 2006-05-23
QTKit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interfaces for working with QuickTime movies and media capture.
QuickTime 2007-10-31
QTMedia Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a QuickTime media object.
QuickTime 2009-03-04
QTMovie Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a QuickTime movie and movie controller.
QuickTime 2009-01-07
QTMovieView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view for playing a QuickTime movie.
QuickTime 2007-05-01
QTTrack Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a QuickTime movie track.
QuickTime 2009-03-04
Quartz Composer Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API that supports loading, playing, and controlling compositions.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-01-25
Quartz Core Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interfaces for Core Image and Core Video.
Graphics & Imaging 2008-03-12
Quick Look Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for creating plug-ins that generate Quick Look previews and thumbnails.
User Experience 2007-04-13
SBApplication Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an Objective-C representation of a scriptable application.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation 2007-05-29
SBApplicationDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving and handling Apple event errors from applications.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation 2007-05-29
SBElementArray Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable array for storing related Scripting Bridge objects.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation 2007-05-29
SBObject Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object in a scriptable application.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation 2007-05-29
Screen Saver Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for supporting and working with screen effects.
General, User Experience 2006-05-23
Screen Saver Functions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes functions and function-like macros available in the Screen Saver framework.
User Experience 2006-05-23
ScreenSaverDefaults Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that defines a set of methods for saving and restoring user defaults for screen savers.
User Experience 2006-05-23
ScreenSaverView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that defines the interface for subclassers to interact with the screen saver infrastructure.
User Experience 2006-05-23
Scripting Bridge Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface that allows Cocoa applications to communicate with scriptable applications.
Interapplication Communication 2007-05-29
Search Kit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for supporting user searches of textual content.
Data Management, Text & Fonts, User Experience 2009-05-06
Secure Transport Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating a Secure Sockets Layer session over any transport layer.
Security 2004-08-31
Security Foundation Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Security Foundation framework for adding fine-grained control of privileged operations in an application.
Security 2006-05-23
Security Interface Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for creating views and dialogs relating to authorization, certificates, and keychains.
General, Security 2006-07-14
SecurityInterface Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types found in the Security Interface framework.
Security 2006-05-23
SFAuthorization Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to restrict a user's access to particular features in a Mac OS X application or daemon.
Security 2009-01-06
SFAuthorizationPluginView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class an authorization plug-in uses to display a custom view within the Apple-supplied authorization views.
Security 2006-07-14
SFAuthorizationView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays a lock icon that indicates a user interface has restricted access.
Security 2006-05-23
SFCertificatePanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays one or more certificates in a panel or sheet.
Security 2006-05-23
SFCertificateTrustPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that enables the user to edit the trust settings in a certificate.
Security 2006-05-23
SFCertificateView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays the contents of a certificate.
Security 2006-05-23
SFChooseIdentityPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that allows a user to select an identity from a list.
Security 2006-05-23
SFKeychainSavePanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays a sheet or panel that allows the user to create a keychain.
Security 2006-05-23
SFKeychainSettingsPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays a panel or sheet that allows users to change their keychain settings.
Security 2006-05-23
Spotlight Metadata Attributes Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes metadata attributes used with Spotlight.
File Management 2007-05-22
Sync Services Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Syncing 2007-07-11
Sync Services Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for the Sync Services framework used to sync applications and devices.
Apple Applications, Internet & Web, Syncing 2007-10-31
vImage Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C programming interface for high-performance image processing.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-07-12
Web Services Core Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the client-side APIs for accessing web services.
Internet & Web 2009-01-06
WebArchive Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for archiving a web page and all of its related resources.
User Experience 2009-04-08
WebBackForwardList Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for tracking a list of visited pages with relation to the most recent page.
User Experience 2009-02-04
WebDataSource Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for encapsulating web content for display in a web frame view.
User Experience 2008-10-15
WebDocumentRepresentation Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol adopted by document representation classes that handle specific MIME types.
User Experience 2006-05-23
WebDocumentSearching Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol adopted by document view objects to support searching.
User Experience 2006-05-23
WebDocumentText Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol adopted by document view objects to support working with text.
User Experience 2009-03-04
WebDocumentView Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol adopted by document view objects to display data of different MIME types.
User Experience 2008-10-15
WebDownload Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for providing an authentication sheet before a download begins.
User Experience 2008-10-15
WebEditingDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol adopted by WebView objects to change the view's default editing behavior.
User Experience 2009-04-08
WebFrame Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for encapsulating the data displayed within a WebFrameView object.
User Experience 2009-04-08
WebFrameLoadDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol adopted by WebView frame load delegates to be notified while frame loads are in progress.
User Experience 2009-04-08
WebFrameView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for displaying the actual web content contained in a frame.
User Experience 2009-03-04
WebHistory Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for maintaining a set of pages visited by users.
User Experience 2009-03-04
WebHistoryItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for encapsulating information about a visited page.
User Experience 2008-10-15
WebJavaPlugIn Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol for running Java applets from within a WebView.
User Experience 2009-04-08
WebKit Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the types and constants found in the WebKit framework.
User Experience 2008-10-15
WebKit Objective-C Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API used to display web content in windows.
General, User Experience 2008-10-15
WebOpenPanelResultListener Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol adopted by WebView delegates to communicate with an Open dialog.
User Experience 2009-04-08
WebPlugIn Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol adopted by an application using the Web Kit and any Web Kit-based plug-ins.
User Experience 2009-04-08
WebPlugInContainer Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol that enables a plug-in to send messages to an application.
User Experience 2009-04-08
WebPlugInViewFactory Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to create an NSView object for a plug-in.
User Experience 2009-04-08
WebPolicyDecisionListener Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol for handling download decisions asynchronously.
User Experience 2009-03-04
WebPolicyDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to modify the policy decisions that are made when handling URLs or the data they represent.
User Experience 2009-04-08
WebPreferences Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for the preferences you can change per WebView object, such as font, text encoding, and image settings.
User Experience 2008-10-15
WebResource Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for downloaded data and its related properties, such as its URL and MIME type.
User Experience 2009-04-08
WebResourceLoadDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to be notified on the progress of loading individual resources.
User Experience 2008-06-19
WebScripting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol that defines methods that classes can implement to expose their interfaces to a WebScript environment.
User Experience 2009-04-08
WebScriptObject Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for bridging a web view's scripting environment and the Objective-C runtime.
User Experience 2009-04-08
WebUIDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to control user interface-related aspects, such as opening windows and augmenting default menus.
User Experience 2009-03-04
WebUndefined Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to represent the JavaScript "undefined" value.
User Experience 2006-05-23
WebView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for embedding web content in a window.
User Experience 2009-04-08