Jump To:
Leopard Reference Library
Carbon is a set of C APIs offering developers an advanced user interface tool kit, event handling, the Quartz 2D graphics library, and multiprocessing support. Developers have access to other C and C++ APIs, including the OpenGL drawing system and the Mach microkernel.

A guided introduction and learning path for developers new to Carbon.   Essential information for developers using procedural C.   C API references organized by framework.
Document Descriptions
On Off
Display

Sort by
Title
Sort by
Topic
Sorted by
Resource Type
Sort by
Date
AppleScript Studio Terminology Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the scripting terminology for AppleScript Studio, through version 1.4.
Scripting & Automation, Tools Reference 2007-10-31
Application Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for performing various application-level tasks in a Carbon application. Formerly titled Dock Manager Reference.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
Application Services Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for a number of services--such as Quartz 2D and ATSUI--that are essential to Carbon applications.
General Reference 2007-10-31
Audio Codec Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for configuring audio codecs and for encoding and decoding audio data.
Audio Reference 2007-10-31
Carbon Event Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for handling events in Carbon applications.
Events & Other Input Reference 2007-10-31
Carbon Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes many fundamental user experience APIs used in Carbon applications.
General Reference 2007-10-31
CGImageProperties Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes property constants for source and destination images.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-10-31
Core Foundation Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Core Foundation API.
Core Foundation Reference 2007-10-31
Core Services Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for many fundamental operating system services.
General Reference 2007-10-31
Cryptographic Message Syntax Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for encrypting, signing, and decoding messages using Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS).
Security Reference 2007-10-31
Dialog Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C interface for implementing alerts and dialog boxes.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
Event Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the event-handling system created originally for Classic Mac OS and superseded by the Carbon Event Manager.
Events & Other Input Reference 2007-10-31
Gestalt Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for obtaining information about the operating-system environment.
Resource Management Reference 2007-10-31
GNU C 4.0 Preprocessor User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU C 4.0 Preprocessor.
Tools Reference 2007-10-31
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 4.0.1 Compiler User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU 4.0.1 compiler.
Intel-Based Macs, Tools Reference 2007-10-31
Preferences Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Core Foundation preferences functions.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
QLThumbnailRequest Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type for handling requests for Quick Look thumbnail images.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
Quartz Event Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for event taps, filters used to observe and alter the stream of low-level user input events.
Events & Other Input Reference 2007-10-31
Resource Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for accessing information stored in resource files.
File Management, Resource Management Reference 2007-10-31
Window Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating Carbon windows.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
Carbon Printing Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used by Carbon applications to provide a user interface for printing.
Printing Reference 2007-07-24
Core Printing Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that provides an abstraction layer for application printing.
Printing Reference 2007-07-24
ABPicker Reference for C (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the ABPicker opaque type.
Apple Applications Reference 2007-07-20
Apple Event Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for interapplication communication using Apple events.
Events & Other Input, Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation Reference 2007-07-13
File Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for basic file management tasks, such as opening and saving files.
File Management Reference 2007-07-13
vImage Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C programming interface for high-performance image processing.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-07-12
ABAddressBook C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for accessing, adding, and removing Address Book records.
Apple Applications Reference 2007-07-08
Address Book Actions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Address Book action callbacks.
Apple Applications Reference 2007-07-08
Address Book Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C functions that support the Carbon API for Address Book.
Apple Applications Reference 2007-07-08
Color Picker Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used in Classic Mac OS to solicit color choices from users.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-07-02
CTFont Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a font.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-06-29
Pasteboard Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and interacting with pasteboards.
Interapplication Communication Reference 2007-06-29
QuickDraw Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for the legacy two-dimensional drawing engine in Mac OS. Replaced by Quartz 2D.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-06-29
ATSUI Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for rendering Unicode-encoded text with advanced typographic features.
Graphics & Imaging, Internationalization, Text & Fonts Reference 2007-06-28
CGL Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Apple's low level interface for OpenGL contexts.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-06-28
Memory Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the deprecated technology for working with dynamic memory.
Resource Management Reference 2007-06-27
vDSP Complex Vector Conversion Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes functions that convert complex vectors between interleaved and split forms.
Performance Reference 2007-06-15
vDSP Vector Scalar Arithmetic Operations Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes vDSP functions that perform arithmetic operations combining a scalar with each element of a vector.
Performance Reference 2007-06-15
HIGeometry Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that defines basic geometric objects for HIToolbox.
Graphics & Imaging, Human Interface Toolbox Reference 2007-06-11
Text Input Source Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for operating on text input sources, such as keyboards, character palettes, and ink input.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts Reference 2007-06-07
Core Endian Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and installing callbacks to byte swap custom data.
Data Management, Intel-Based Macs, Porting Reference 2007-05-29
Dictionary Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C and C routines that support programmatic access to dictionaries.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-05-29
Text Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for operating on strings (formatting, sorting, converting, comparing).
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-05-29
CTLine Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a line of text.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-05-24
CTRun Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a set of consecutive glyphs sharing the same attributes and direction.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-05-24
CFFileDescriptor Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for monitoring file descriptors for read and write activity.
File Management Reference 2007-05-23
Spotlight Metadata Attributes Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes metadata attributes used with Spotlight.
File Management Reference 2007-05-22
CTFontCollection Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a collection of fonts.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-05-16
Authorization Plug-in Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for implementing an authorization plug-in.
Security Reference 2007-05-15
CTGlyphInfo Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type used to override a font's mapping from Unicode to glyph ID.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-05-09
Open Scripting Architecture Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for compiling and executing scripts in applications and writing scripting components.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation Reference 2007-05-07
Core Text String Attributes Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the string attributes recognized by Core Text.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-05-01
CTFrame Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a multiline text frame.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-05-01
CTTextTab Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a tab in a paragraph style.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-05-01
CTTypesetter Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that performs line layout.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-05-01
Core Text Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes general Core Text functions and data types.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-04-21
CTFramesetter Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type that generates text frames.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-04-21
CTParagraphStyle Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes paragraph or ruler attributes in an attributed string.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-04-21
QLPreviewRequest Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type for handling requests for Quick Look document previews.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-20
HIView Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating view-based controls and menus in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2007-04-13
Quick Look Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for creating plug-ins that generate Quick Look previews and thumbnails.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-13
Image I/O Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for reading and writing image data.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-04-09
Icon Services and Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for manipulating and drawing icons in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2007-04-06
Thread Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating cooperatively scheduled threads in Carbon applications.
Process Management Reference 2007-04-04
Control Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating Carbon controls.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2007-03-26
Fonts Panel Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for providing a Fonts window in a Carbon application.
Graphics & Imaging, Text & Fonts, User Experience Reference 2007-02-26
Multilingual Text Engine Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting Unicode text editing.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts Reference 2007-02-19
Appearance Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for coordinating the look of the standard Mac OS human interface.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2007-01-23
Quartz 2D Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for the native two-dimensional drawing engine in Mac OS X.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2006-12-18
Alias Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and managing persistent references to file system objects.
File Management Reference 2006-12-05
Finder Interface Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes several C data types used by the Finder to contain information about file system objects.
File Management, Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2006-10-31
Date, Time, and Measurement Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for manipulating the locale-specific data of the battery-operated clock.
Internationalization Reference 2006-09-29
Menu Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and managing an application's menus.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2006-09-15
Navigation Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for presenting a user interface for opening, saving, and navigating files.
File Management, User Experience Reference 2006-08-16
ABPerson C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that encapsulates information about a person in Address Book.
Apple Applications Reference 2006-07-26
Component Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an interface for using shared code resources.
Runtime Architecture Reference 2006-07-17
Apple Game Sprockets Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the programming interface defined by Game Sprockets. Replaced by Quartz Display Services.
Games, Graphics & Imaging Reference 2006-07-13
Find By Content Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for performing relevance-ranked searches. Replaced by Search Kit.
Data Management, Text & Fonts, User Experience Reference 2006-07-13
HTML Rendering Library Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for drawing HTML text and images in a window. Replaced by the Web Kit.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2006-07-13
Launch Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an API for opening documents, other applications, and URLs, in a way similar to the Finder or the Dock.
File Management, Interapplication Communication Reference 2006-07-13
Low Memory Accessors Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for obtaining information stored in low-memory variables.
Resource Management Reference 2006-07-13
MDLineage Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for tracking versions of a file.
File Management Reference 2006-07-13
Palette Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API used to select colors for display devices limited to an 8-bit pixel depth.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2006-07-13
Picture Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for reading and modifying image data stored in PICT-formatted files. Replaced by Quartz2D.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2006-07-13
Power Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy C API for controlling power to the internal hardware devices of battery-powered Macintosh computers.
Resource Management Reference 2006-07-13
QuickDraw Text Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for measuring and drawing text. Replaced by ATSUI.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-07-13
Spotlight Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API used to define Apple's desktop search technology, Spotlight.
File Management Reference 2006-07-13
TextEdit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the deprecated technology replaced by the Multilingual Text Engine (MLTE).
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-07-13
URL Access Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for transferring data to and from a URL from within an application. Replaced by CFNetwork.
File Management, Internet & Web, Networking Reference 2006-07-13
Apple Help Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for finding and displaying help content using Apple's HTML-based help system.
User Experience Reference 2006-07-12
Drag Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for dragging objects within the user interface.
Interapplication Communication, User Experience Reference 2006-07-12
Folder Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for finding and accessing directories, including common Mac OS X system locations.
File Management Reference 2006-07-12
Memory Management Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for accessing global variables and managing the operating-system queue.
Resource Management Reference 2006-07-12
Pascal String Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for manipulating Pascal strings in Carbon applications.
Runtime Architecture, Text & Fonts Reference 2006-07-12
SCSI Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the C API for accessing SCSI devices in Classic Mac OS. Replaced by the I/O Kit.
Resource Management Reference 2006-07-12
Translation Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for handling data and documents between applications, including applications from another operating system.
File Management Reference 2006-07-12
MDItem Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the metadata attributes for a file.
File Management Reference 2006-06-28
Address Book C Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting and working with Address Book.
Apple Applications Reference 2006-05-23
Byte-Order Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Core Foundation byte-order functions.
Intel-Based Macs Reference 2006-05-23
QuickTime Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for QuickTime.
QuickTime Reference 2006-05-23