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Leopard Reference
Mac OS X provides a number of system-level authorization, authentication, and cryptographic services that software and hardware developers can use to build security into their products. In addition, Mac OS X provides programming interfaces to SSL/TLS that developers can use to transport data securely over a network.

A guided introduction for developers implementing security features in Mac OS X.   Essential information for developers building security into their products.   API references organized by framework.
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Certificate, Key, and Trust Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes services to read and evaluate certificates and to use cryptographic keys.
Authentication 2008-11-19
Cryptographic Message Syntax Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for encrypting, signing, and decoding messages using Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS).
Authentication 2007-10-31
Keychain Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy C API for managing passwords for multiple users and databases. Replaced by Keychain Services.
Authentication 2005-07-07
Keychain Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Keychain Services API, used to create, find, modify, and delete keychain items.
Authentication 2008-11-19
SecurityInterface Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types found in the Security Interface framework.
Authentication 2006-05-23
SFCertificatePanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays one or more certificates in a panel or sheet.
Authentication 2006-05-23
SFCertificateTrustPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that enables the user to edit the trust settings in a certificate.
Authentication 2006-05-23
SFCertificateView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays the contents of a certificate.
Authentication 2006-05-23
SFChooseIdentityPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that allows a user to select an identity from a list.
Authentication 2006-05-23
Apple Certificate Library Functional Specification (PDF)
Specifications for Apple's implementation of the Certificate Library CDSA plug-in.
Authorization 2005-01-13
Apple Trust Policy Module Functional Specification (PDF)
Specification for Apple's implementation of the Trust Policy (TP) CDSA plug-in.
Authorization 2005-01-25
Authorization Plug-in Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for implementing an authorization plug-in.
Authorization 2007-05-15
Authorization Services C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for adding fine-grained control of privileged operations in an application.
Authorization 2005-11-08
Certificate, Key, and Trust Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes services to read and evaluate certificates and to use cryptographic keys.
Authorization 2008-11-19
Security Foundation Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Security Foundation framework for adding fine-grained control of privileged operations in an application.
Authorization 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.
Authorization 2006-07-14
SecurityInterface Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types found in the Security Interface framework.
Authorization 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.
Authorization 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.
Authorization 2006-07-14
SFAuthorizationView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays a lock icon that indicates a user interface has restricted access.
Authorization 2006-05-23
Authorization Plug-in Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for implementing an authorization plug-in.
Carbon 2007-05-15
Authorization Services C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for adding fine-grained control of privileged operations in an application.
Carbon 2005-11-08
Certificate, Key, and Trust Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes services to read and evaluate certificates and to use cryptographic keys.
Carbon 2008-11-19
Keychain Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy C API for managing passwords for multiple users and databases. Replaced by Keychain Services.
Carbon 2005-07-07
Keychain Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Keychain Services API, used to create, find, modify, and delete keychain items.
Carbon 2008-11-19
Secure Transport Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating a Secure Sockets Layer session over any transport layer.
Carbon 2004-08-31
Security Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for protecting information.
Carbon 2008-03-12
Certificate, Key, and Trust Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes services to read and evaluate certificates and to use cryptographic keys.
Cocoa 2008-11-19
Keychain Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Keychain Services API, used to create, find, modify, and delete keychain items.
Cocoa 2008-11-19
Secure Transport Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating a Secure Sockets Layer session over any transport layer.
Cocoa 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.
Cocoa 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.
Cocoa 2006-07-14
SecurityInterface Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types found in the Security Interface framework.
Cocoa 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.
Cocoa 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.
Cocoa 2006-07-14
SFAuthorizationView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays a lock icon that indicates a user interface has restricted access.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
SFCertificatePanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays one or more certificates in a panel or sheet.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
SFCertificateTrustPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that enables the user to edit the trust settings in a certificate.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
SFCertificateView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays the contents of a certificate.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
SFChooseIdentityPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that allows a user to select an identity from a list.
Cocoa 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.
Cocoa 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.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
Apple Cryptographic Service Provider Functional Specification (PDF)
Specification for Apple's implementation of the Cryptographic Service Provider (CSP) CDSA plug-in.
Cryptography 2005-03-10
Certificate, Key, and Trust Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes services to read and evaluate certificates and to use cryptographic keys.
Cryptography 2008-11-19
Cryptographic Message Syntax Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for encrypting, signing, and decoding messages using Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS).
Cryptography 2007-10-31
Keychain Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy C API for managing passwords for multiple users and databases. Replaced by Keychain Services.
Cryptography 2005-07-07
Keychain Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Keychain Services API, used to create, find, modify, and delete keychain items.
Cryptography 2008-11-19
Secure Transport Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating a Secure Sockets Layer session over any transport layer.
Cryptography 2004-08-31
SecurityInterface Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types found in the Security Interface framework.
Cryptography 2006-05-23
SFChooseIdentityPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that allows a user to select an identity from a list.
Cryptography 2006-05-23
CBGroupIdentity Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for operating on user identities.
Networking 2007-05-14
CBIdentity Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to create and operate on identities.
Networking 2007-05-14
CBIdentityAuthority Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manipulate identity authority databases.
Networking 2007-05-14
CBIdentityPicker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that manages the identity picker.
Networking 2007-05-14
CBUserIdentity Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for operating on user identities.
Networking 2007-05-14
Collaboration Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for monitoring and editing identities.
Networking 2007-05-14
Core Services Identity Reference (HTML)
Describes the C API for creating, maintaining and finding users and groups.
Networking 2008-04-08
Identity Services Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the APIs for using identities and the Identity Picker.
Networking 2007-05-14
Secure Transport Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating a Secure Sockets Layer session over any transport layer.
Networking 2004-08-31
Authorization Services C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for adding fine-grained control of privileged operations in an application.
Secure Storage 2005-11-08
Keychain Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy C API for managing passwords for multiple users and databases. Replaced by Keychain Services.
Secure Storage 2005-07-07
Keychain Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Keychain Services API, used to create, find, modify, and delete keychain items.
Secure Storage 2008-11-19
Security Interface Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for creating views and dialogs relating to authorization, certificates, and keychains.
Secure Storage 2006-07-14
SecurityInterface Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types found in the Security Interface framework.
Secure Storage 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.
Secure Storage 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.
Secure Storage 2006-05-23