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Leopard Reference Library
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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Binary Data Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create and use Cocoa data objects, object-oriented wrappers for byte buffers.
Data Management Guides 2009-05-06
CFNetwork Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Core Foundation networking functions to work with low-level BSD sockets.
Networking, Security Guides 2009-05-06
Foundation Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes constants in the Foundation framework.
Data Management, Objective-C Language Reference 2009-05-06
Image Unit Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to write image processing kernels and package them for distribution.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2009-05-06
IMKServerInput Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to receive text events.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts Reference 2009-05-06
Key-Value Observing Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the Cocoa key-value observing protocol.
Data Management, Design Guidelines Guides 2009-05-06
Memory Management Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to allocate and deallocate objects in Cocoa.
Design Guidelines, Objective-C Language Guides 2009-05-06
NSAnimatablePropertyContainer Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for an animatable proxy for views and windows.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2009-05-06
NSCountedSet Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an unordered collection of possibly identical elements.
Data Management Reference 2009-05-06
NSData Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable byte buffer.
Data Management Reference 2009-05-06
NSError Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a runtime error.
Design Guidelines Reference 2009-05-06
NSSegmentedCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an action cell that provides appearance and behavior for an NSSegmentedControl object.
User Experience Reference 2009-05-06
NSSegmentedControl Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a horizontal button divided into multiple segments
User Experience Reference 2009-05-06
The Objective-C 2.0 Programming Language (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces object-oriented programming and describes the main programming language used for Cocoa development.
Objective-C Language, Tools Guides 2009-05-06
Predicate Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to specify queries in Cocoa.
Data Management, Design Guidelines Guides 2009-05-06
QTCaptureDevice Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that represents a connected physical media capture device, such as a camera or microphone.
QuickTime Reference 2009-05-06
Search Kit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for supporting user searches of textual content.
Data Management, Text & Fonts, User Experience Reference 2009-05-06
Stream Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the Cocoa stream classes to read data from and write data to streams.
Data Management, Networking Guides 2009-05-06
Driving OpenGL Rendering Loops (HTML)
QA1385: Using Core Video display links (CVDisplayLink) or Cocoa timers (NSTimer) to drive an OpenGL rendering loop
Events & Other Input, Games, Graphics & Imaging Technical Q&As 2009-05-01
File Wrappers with Core Data Documents (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
This sample demonstrates how directory file wrappers can be used with NSPersistentDocument.
Data Management, File Management Sample Code 2009-04-29
CalCalendarStore Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to retrieve calendar objects, including calendars, events and tasks.
Apple Applications Reference 2009-04-08
NSButtonCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell that responds to mouse clicks.
Events & Other Input, User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
NSDictionary Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable collection of key-value pairs.
Data Management, Design Guidelines Reference 2009-04-08
NSNetService Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a network service that an application publishes or uses as a client.
Interapplication Communication, Internet & Web, Networking Reference 2009-04-08
NSNetServiceBrowser Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a query for published network services.
Interapplication Communication, Internet & Web, Networking Reference 2009-04-08
NSScroller Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for scrolling a document view within a scroll view.
User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
NSSplitView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a container for subviews with a user-controlled portion of each visible.
User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
NSUserDefaults Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for managing preference information.
Data Management, User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
QTCaptureAudioPreviewOutput Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an output destination used to preview audio being captured.
QuickTime Reference 2009-04-08
QTCaptureDeviceInput Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a wrapper for a QTCaptureDevice object.
QuickTime Reference 2009-04-08
QTCaptureInput Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an input source connection for a capture session object.
QuickTime Reference 2009-04-08
QTCaptureView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that displays a video preview of a capture session.
QuickTime Reference 2009-04-08
QTDataReference Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the location of a QuickTime movie or other media data.
QuickTime Reference 2009-04-08
Text System Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system works. Includes a tutorial.
Text & Fonts Guides 2009-04-08
WebArchive Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for archiving a web page and all of its related resources.
User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
WebEditingDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol adopted by WebView objects to change the view's default editing behavior.
User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
WebFrame Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for encapsulating the data displayed within a WebFrameView object.
User Experience Reference 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 Reference 2009-04-08
WebJavaPlugIn Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol for running Java applets from within a WebView.
User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
WebOpenPanelResultListener Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol adopted by WebView delegates to communicate with an Open dialog.
User Experience Reference 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 Reference 2009-04-08
WebPlugInContainer Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol that enables a plug-in to send messages to an application.
User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
WebPlugInViewFactory Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to create an NSView object for a plug-in.
User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
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 Reference 2009-04-08
WebResource Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for downloaded data and its related properties, such as its URL and MIME type.
User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
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 Reference 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 Reference 2009-04-08
WebView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for embedding web content in a window.
User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
QTCoreVideo202 (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to render a QuickTime Movie using OpenGL PBO and the Core Video pixel buffer pipeline.
Graphics & Imaging, QuickTime Sample Code 2009-04-07
QTCoreVideo301 (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates adding of effects & filters to QuickTime Movies in realtime using GLSL shaders and the Core Video texture pipeline.
Graphics & Imaging, QuickTime Sample Code 2009-04-07
Keychain Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
This document explains how to use Keychain Services to store and retrieve passwords.
Security Guides 2009-03-12
Cocoa Bindings Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to rapidly develop sophisticated user interfaces using Cocoa binding technology.
Design Guidelines, User Experience Guides 2009-03-08
Low-Level File Management Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the low-level ways Cocoa applications can interact with files.
File Management Guides 2009-03-05
CalAlarm Class Reference (HTML)
Describes the class used to create and initialize alarms.
Apple Applications Reference 2009-03-04
CalEvent Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to get properties about an event.
Apple Applications Reference 2009-03-04
CalRecurrenceRule Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to initialize and get recurrence rules and properties.
Apple Applications Reference 2009-03-04
CAMediaTiming Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for the time behavior of an animation.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2009-03-04
Color Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how applications specify colors and how users choose colors in Cocoa.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2009-03-04
Core Data Overview (HTML)
Describes a roadmap for learning Core Data.
Data Management Getting Started 2009-03-04
Core Data Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to manage objects using the Core Data framework.
Data Management, Design Guidelines Guides 2009-03-04
Core Data Snippets (HTML) (PDF)
Snippets of code that you can use when writing a program that uses Core Data.
Data Management Guides 2009-03-04
Core Data Utility Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
A hands-on guide to creating a command-line utility using low-level features of Core Data.
Data Management, Design Guidelines Guides 2009-03-04
Dock Tile Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to provide an icon and contextual menu in Carbon applications.
User Experience Guides 2009-03-04
Error Handling Programming Guide For Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Describes NSError objects, related Application Kit support for error handling, and how to use these features in your code.
Design Guidelines, Objective-C Language Guides 2009-03-04
IKSlideshowDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods that a slideshow object uses to access the contents of its data source object.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2009-03-04
NSATSTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a typesetter that places glyphs for text layout.
Text & Fonts Reference 2009-03-04
NSDockTile Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for customizing an application's dock tiles
User Experience Reference 2009-03-04
NSPointerArray Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an ordered collection of pointers.
Data Management Reference 2009-03-04
NSWindow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a window.
Events & Other Input, Graphics & Imaging, User Experience Reference 2009-03-04
QTCaptureOutput Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for connecting capture output destinations to a capture session object.
QuickTime Reference 2009-03-04
QTCaptureVideoPreviewOutput Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for previewing a video stream that is being captured.
QuickTime Reference 2009-03-04
QTMedia Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a QuickTime media object.
QuickTime Reference 2009-03-04
QTTrack Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a QuickTime movie track.
QuickTime Reference 2009-03-04
WebDocumentText Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol adopted by document view objects to support working with text.
User Experience Reference 2009-03-04
WebFrameView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for displaying the actual web content contained in a frame.
User Experience Reference 2009-03-04
WebHistory Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for maintaining a set of pages visited by users.
User Experience Reference 2009-03-04
WebPolicyDecisionListener Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol for handling download decisions asynchronously.
User Experience Reference 2009-03-04
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 Reference 2009-03-04
64-Bit Transition Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to port Cocoa projects to 64-bit addressing.
Design Guidelines Guides 2009-03-03
PMPrinterTest (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates using the PMPrinter APIs to obtain information about the connected printers.
Printing Sample Code 2009-02-13
Archives and Serializations Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to put Cocoa objects into and remove them from a representation suitable for archiving.
Data Management Guides 2009-02-04
CALayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a node of animated visual content.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2009-02-04
Cocoa Event-Handling Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces event mechanisms and the types of events in Cocoa and describes how to handle events of each type.
Events & Other Input Guides 2009-02-04
Collections Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to group objects in arrays, sets, or dictionaries in Cocoa.
Data Management Guides 2009-02-04
Dashboard Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains Dashboard and WebKit technologies used in widgets.
Apple Applications Guides 2009-02-04
Dialogs and Special Panels (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create alert panels. Includes links to documents about other types of panels.
User Experience Guides 2009-02-04
DOMNode Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API added to the DOMNode class to facilitate communication between WebKit and the DOM API.
User Experience Reference 2009-02-04
Key-Value Coding Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information about how to access a Cocoa object's values using keys.
Data Management, Design Guidelines Guides 2009-02-04
Mac OS X ABI Function Call Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the function-calling conventions used in the architectures supported by Mac OS X.
Intel-Based Macs Guides 2009-02-04
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 Reference 2009-02-04
NSApplication Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the responder object that manages an application's events and resources.
Runtime Architecture Reference 2009-02-04
NSCalendar Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a calendar.
Data Management, Internationalization Reference 2009-02-04
NSCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for cell objects.
User Experience Reference 2009-02-04
NSEvent Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an input action such as a mouse click.
Events & Other Input Reference 2009-02-04
NSHelpManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an application-level help system.
Events & Other Input, Resource Management, User Experience Reference 2009-02-04
NSKeyValueCoding Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for accessing object properties indirectly by key name or key path.
Data Management, Design Guidelines Reference 2009-02-04
NSMenuView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated class replaced by the NSMenu class.
User Experience Reference 2009-02-04
NSObject Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa root class.
Design Guidelines, Objective-C Language Reference 2009-02-04
NSOpenPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the panel that a user employs to locate and open a file.
Events & Other Input, File Management, User Experience Reference 2009-02-04
NSOutlineView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a row-and-column format view for displaying hierarchical data.
User Experience Reference 2009-02-04