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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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NSIndexSet Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable collection of unique unsigned integers.
Data Management 2007-03-24
NSInputStream Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a read-only data stream.
Data Management 2007-04-05
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 2009-02-04
NSKeyValueObserving Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving notifications of changes to object properties.
Data Management 2007-10-31
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
NSMigrationManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that migrates data from one persistent store to another.
Data Management 2007-05-22
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 2006-05-23
NSMutableAttributedString Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable character string with attributes.
Data Management 2006-06-28
NSMutableCharacterSet Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable set of characters.
Data Management 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 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 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
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 2008-11-19
NSObjCTypeSerializationCallBack Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated technology.
Data Management 2006-05-23
NSObjectController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Cocoa bindings-compatible manager of an object.
Data Management 2007-12-11
NSOutlineViewDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface used by an outline view to retrieve data and, optionally, to update data values.
Data Management 2007-02-19
NSOutputStream Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a write-only data stream.
Data Management 2009-01-06
NSPersistentDocument Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a document that integrates with the Core Data framework.
Data Management 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
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
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 2008-10-15
NSPredicateEditorRowTemplate Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a row in a graphical predicate editor.
Data Management 2007-01-12
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
NSScanner Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that scans values from a string.
Data Management 2008-10-15
NSSerializer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated technology replaced by the NSPropertyListSerialization class.
Data Management 2006-05-23
NSSet Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable unordered collection of distinct elements.
Data Management 2008-10-15
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.
Data Management 2008-10-15
NSStream Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an interface for reading and writing data.
Data Management 2008-10-15
NSString Application Kit Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for drawing strings.
Data Management 2009-02-04
NSString Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable character string.
Data Management 2009-02-04
NSTimeZone Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a time zone.
Data Management 2008-02-08
NSTreeController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that is used with Cocoa bindings to manage a tree of objects.
Data Management 2007-04-10
NSTreeNode Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a tree node in an object model.
Data Management 2006-07-13
NSUnarchiver Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that extracts the contents of an archive created by NSArchiver.
Data Management 2006-05-23
NSUndoManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a general-purpose recorder of undo and redo operations.
Data Management 2007-01-18
NSUserDefaults Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for managing preference information.
Data Management 2009-04-08
NSUserDefaultsController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Cocoa bindings-compatible manager for user preferences.
Data Management 2006-05-23
NSValue Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a container for a single C or Objective-C data item.
Data Management 2007-10-31
NSValueTransformer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Cocoa-bindings compatible interface for transforming value representations.
Data Management 2007-07-24
NSXMLDocument Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for representing XML documents as a logical tree structure.
Data Management 2007-02-27
NSXMLDTD Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a Document Type Definition as a tree structure.
Data Management 2007-02-27
NSXMLDTDNode Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a declaration node for a Document Type Definition.
Data Management 2007-02-27
NSXMLElement Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an element node in an XML tree structure.
Data Management 2007-02-27
NSXMLNode Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a logical node in an XML tree structure.
Data Management 2007-02-27
NSXMLParser Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for finding and extracting data in XML documents.
Data Management 2007-02-02
Search Kit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for supporting user searches of textual content.
Data Management 2009-05-06
NSArrayController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Cocoa bindings-compatible manager of an array or set.
Design Guidelines 2007-04-09
NSController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for controllers used with Cocoa bindings.
Design Guidelines 2007-04-02
NSCopying Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for providing immutable duplicates of objects.
Design Guidelines 2006-05-23
NSDictionary Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable collection of key-value pairs.
Design Guidelines 2009-04-08
NSDictionaryController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Cocoa bindings-compatible manager of a dictionary.
Design Guidelines 2008-06-05
NSDocument Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for managing content using Cocoa's document system.
Design Guidelines 2009-01-06
NSDocumentController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for managing documents.
Design Guidelines 2008-10-15
NSError Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a runtime error.
Design Guidelines 2009-05-06
NSErrorRecoveryAttempting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for attempting recovery from runtime errors.
Design Guidelines 2007-02-23
NSKeyValueCoding Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for accessing object properties indirectly by key name or key path.
Design Guidelines 2009-02-04
NSKeyValueObserving Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving notifications of changes to object properties.
Design Guidelines 2007-10-31
NSMutableCopying Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for providing mutable duplicates of objects.
Design Guidelines 2006-05-23
NSMutableDictionary Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a changeable collection of values that are identified by keys.
Design Guidelines 2007-02-23
NSObject Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa root class.
Design Guidelines 2009-02-04
NSObject Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface used to define basic object behavior.
Design Guidelines 2008-12-22
NSObjectController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Cocoa bindings-compatible manager of an object.
Design Guidelines 2007-12-11
NSPersistentDocument Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a document that integrates with the Core Data framework.
Design Guidelines 2008-02-08
NSTreeController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that is used with Cocoa bindings to manage a tree of objects.
Design Guidelines 2007-04-10
NSValueTransformer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Cocoa-bindings compatible interface for transforming value representations.
Design Guidelines 2007-07-24
NSWindowController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for controlling a window that is usually stored in a nib file.
Design Guidelines 2006-05-23
NSAlert Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a window that displays a message and obtains the user's response to it.
Events & Other Input 2007-04-25
NSBrowser Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for manipulating one- or two-dimensional data sets.
Events & Other Input 2007-04-05
NSButton Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control that responds to clicks.
Events & Other Input 2007-04-01
NSButtonCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell that responds to mouse clicks.
Events & Other Input 2009-04-08
NSDistributedNotificationCenter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that synchronously broadcasts notifications to other tasks.
Events & Other Input 2007-04-01
NSDraggingDestination Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for objects receiving dragged images.
Events & Other Input 2007-03-01
NSDraggingInfo Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for supplying useful information to a dragging destination.
Events & Other Input 2007-03-01
NSDraggingSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving messages when providing a dragged image.
Events & Other Input 2007-03-01
NSEvent Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an input action such as a mouse click.
Events & Other Input 2009-02-04
NSHelpManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an application-level help system.
Events & Other Input 2009-02-04
NSInputManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used by text views to communicate with the text input management system.
Events & Other Input 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 2007-04-01
NSInputServerMouseTracker Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol implemented by text input servers to handle mouse events.
Events & Other Input 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 2007-04-02