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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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NSURLResponse Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the metadata returned by a server for a load request.
Networking 2007-12-11
Application Kit Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the constants defined in the Application Kit framework not described in individual classes.
Objective-C Language 2007-10-31
Application Kit Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types defined in the Application Kit framework not described in individual classes.
Objective-C Language 2006-05-23
Application Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for all things related to an application's user interface.
Objective-C Language 2008-11-19
Application Kit Functions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that support the Application Kit framework.
Objective-C Language 2008-11-19
Core Data Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the constants defined by the Core Data framework not described in individual classes.
Objective-C Language 2007-01-18
Core Data Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for the Core Data framework.
Objective-C Language 2007-07-24
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
Foundation Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes constants in the Foundation framework.
Objective-C Language 2009-05-06
Foundation Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the common data types in the Foundation framework.
Objective-C Language 2008-09-09
Foundation Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Foundation framework API.
Objective-C Language 2008-06-27
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
NSAutoreleasePool Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface to the deferred-release mechanism in Cocoa's reference-counted memory management system.
Objective-C Language 2009-01-02
NSCopying Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for providing immutable duplicates of objects.
Objective-C Language 2006-05-23
NSDeserializer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated technology replaced by the NSPropertyListSerialization class.
Objective-C Language 2006-05-23
NSEntityDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify entities in a Core Data managed object model.
Objective-C Language 2008-02-08
NSException Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an exceptional condition.
Objective-C Language 2007-01-30
NSExceptionHandler Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a facility for monitoring and debugging exceptional conditions.
Objective-C Language 2006-10-03
NSFastEnumeration Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for supporting the Objective-C 2.0 fast-enumeration feature.
Objective-C Language 2007-06-27
NSFetchedPropertyDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a fetched property of an entity in a Core Data managed object model.
Objective-C Language 2006-07-11
NSFontDescriptor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a dictionary that fully specifies a font.
Objective-C Language 2008-03-11
NSGarbageCollector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the garbage collector.
Objective-C Language 2008-10-15
NSInvocation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an Objective-C message for use in store-and-forward operations.
Objective-C Language 2008-10-15
NSInvocationOperation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a nonconcurrent operation for executing a single encapsulated task.
Objective-C Language 2007-04-12
NSMethodSignature Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the types of a method's parameters and return value.
Objective-C Language 2008-10-15
NSMutableCopying Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for providing mutable duplicates of objects.
Objective-C Language 2006-05-23
NSObject Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa root class.
Objective-C Language 2009-02-04
NSObject Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface used to define basic object behavior.
Objective-C Language 2008-12-22
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
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.
Objective-C Language 2007-04-06
NSRelationshipDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a relationship in a Core Data schema.
Objective-C Language 2006-07-11
NSTextAttachmentCell Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for drawing text attachments.
Objective-C Language 2006-05-23
NSURLResponse Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the metadata returned by a server for a load request.
Objective-C Language 2007-12-11
NSValidatedUserInterfaceItem Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for a control to respond to requests regarding automatic enabling and disabling.
Objective-C Language 2006-08-29
Objective-C 1 Runtime Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the data structures and functions of the Objective-C 1.0 runtime support library.
Objective-C Language 2009-01-06
Objective-C 2.0 Runtime Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data structures and functions of the Objective-C runtime support library.
Objective-C Language 2008-11-19
NSAssertionHandler Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the facility for handling false assertions.
Performance 2007-02-22
NSAutoreleasePool Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface to the deferred-release mechanism in Cocoa's reference-counted memory management system.
Performance 2009-01-02
NSRunLoop Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the object that manages events on a thread.
Performance 2008-02-08
Core Endian Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and installing callbacks to byte swap custom data.
Porting 2007-05-29
Core Printing Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that provides an abstraction layer for application printing.
Printing 2007-07-24
NSBox Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that can display its border and a title.
Printing 2008-10-15
NSPageLayout Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a printing dialog for querying the user about page layout.
Printing 2007-04-11
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 2007-03-09
NSView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for drawing, event handling, and printing in views.
Printing 2009-02-04
PDEPanel Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to implement custom panes in a printing dialog.
Printing 2007-12-11
PDEPlugIn Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to add custom panes to a printing dialog.
Printing 2007-12-11
PDEPlugInCallbackProtocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to access information about the current print job.
Printing 2007-12-11
NSCondition Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a pthread-style condition variable and associated mutex lock.
Process Management 2008-09-09
NSConditionLock Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an integer-based condition for use in thread locking.
Process Management 2007-01-15
NSDistributedLock Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutex lock that spans multiple processes.
Process Management 2007-01-22
NSHost Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a network host.
Process Management 2007-03-24
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
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
NSProcessInfo Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the current process.
Process Management 2007-03-26
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
NSTask Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a task that runs as a subprocess.
Process Management 2007-01-31
NSThread Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a thread of execution.
Process Management 2007-12-11
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
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
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.
Resource Management 2007-07-19
NSCoder Application Kit Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for converting archived NXColor objects into NSColor objects.
Resource Management 2006-05-23
NSFileManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that performs file-system operations.
Resource Management 2008-10-15
NSFileWrapper Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a file-system node.
Resource Management 2008-10-15
NSHelpManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an application-level help system.
Resource Management 2009-02-04
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
NSProcessInfo Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the current process.
Resource Management 2007-03-26
NSSound Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that loads and plays audio files.
Resource Management 2008-10-15
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
NSApplication Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the responder object that manages an application's events and resources.
Runtime Architecture 2009-02-04
AppleScript Studio Terminology Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the scripting terminology for AppleScript Studio, through version 1.4.
Scripting & Automation 2007-10-31
Automator Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for creating and working with actions used by the Automator application.
Scripting & Automation 2006-10-26
NSAppleEventDescriptor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to access the basic data structures in an Apple event.
Scripting & Automation 2007-04-10