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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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SFAuthorizationView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays a lock icon that indicates a user interface has restricted access.
Security Reference 2006-05-23
SFCertificatePanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays one or more certificates in a panel or sheet.
Security Reference 2006-05-23
SFCertificateTrustPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that enables the user to edit the trust settings in a certificate.
Security Reference 2006-05-23
SFCertificateView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays the contents of a certificate.
Security Reference 2006-05-23
SFChooseIdentityPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that allows a user to select an identity from a list.
Security Reference 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.
Security Reference 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.
Security Reference 2006-05-23
SharedMemory (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how multiple applications can access the same memory using the Unix shmget system call.
Performance, Process Management Sample Code 2003-01-14
Shearing a Coordinate Space with NSAffineTransform (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1332: Describes a simple way to shear coordinate spaces by adding a few methods to the NSAffineTransform class.
Graphics & Imaging Technical Q&As 2004-01-29
Sheet Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa sheets.
User Experience Guides 2006-09-05
SillyFrequencyLevels (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to obtain audio frequency levels from a Movie using SetMovieAudioFrequencyMeteringNumBands and GetMovieAudioFrequencyLevels APIs.
QuickTime Sample Code 2006-01-25
Simon (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A simple game demonstrating Cocoa development in Project Builder.
Tools Sample Code 2003-01-14
Simple Bindings Adoption (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A simple example that illustrates the adoption of Cocoa Bindings.
Data Management Sample Code 2007-06-07
SimpleCalendar (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Uses the Calendar Store framework to fetch iCal events and display them on a custom calendar.
Apple Applications Sample Code 2006-07-27
SimpleCocoaApp (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A basic Cocoa application for beginners to Cocoa and Objective-C.
Design Guidelines, User Experience Sample Code 2007-08-07
SimpleCocoaJavaMovie (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - A simple movie player showing how to use the NSMovieView and NSMovie Cocoa Java classes.
Java, QuickTime Sample Code 2003-01-14
SimpleCocoaJavaMovieCocoa (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - Shows how to use the NSMovieView and NSMovie Cocoa Java AppKit classes.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2003-01-14
SimpleCocoaMovie (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use the NSMovieView and NSMovie Cocoa AppKit classes.
QuickTime Sample Code 2003-01-14
SimpleCocoaMovieQT (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A simple movie player showing how to use the NSMovieView and NSMovie Cocoa Objective-C classes.
QuickTime Sample Code 2003-01-14
SimpleThreads (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Uses the Cocoa threading APIs to coordinate multiple preemptively scheduled secondary threads with the non-reentrant Cocoa framework.
Interapplication Communication, Performance, Process Management, Runtime Architecture Sample Code 2003-01-14
Simplifying Data Handling with Uniform Type Identifiers (HTML)
Learn to use UTIs to take advantage of key Mac OS X technologies in your application.
Data Management, File Management, Interapplication Communication Articles 2005-07-12
Slider Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa sliders.
User Experience Guides 2006-10-03
Software Delivery Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to distribute and install Mac OS X software using PackageMaker and Installer.
Tools, User Experience Guides 2006-07-24
Solving NSTabView drawing problems in Mac OS X 10.1.x (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1117: Explains how to work around NSTabView draw problems in Mac OS X 10.1.x
User Experience Technical Q&As 2002-02-14
Son of Grab (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use the new CGWindow to get window images from the Window Server.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2007-11-01
SonOfSillyBalls (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Draws a bunch of randomly colored, randomly placed, silly balls in a window on the screen.
Events & Other Input, Graphics & Imaging, Runtime Architecture, User Experience Sample Code 2003-01-14
Sort Descriptor Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use sort descriptors to specify the sorting of collections.
Data Management Guides 2007-07-10
Sorting Like the Finder (HTML)
QA1159: Shows how to sort strings like the Finder's list view.
File Management, Text & Fonts Technical Q&As 2004-10-27
The Sound of Opportunity Knocking: The Audio Units Community Takes Off (HTML)
Learn how one developer created a successful business using audio units.
Audio Articles 2005-10-31
Sound Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to load and play audio data in Cocoa.
Audio Guides 2006-11-07
SourceView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use NSOutlineView driven by NSTreeController.
File Management, User Experience Sample Code 2007-11-15
SpecialPictureProtocol (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Use a custom NSURLProtocol to create jpeg images in memory for display in a webView.
Internet & Web Sample Code 2006-03-13
Speech (HTML) (PDF)
Explains Cocoa's interfaces to the speech synthesis and speech recognition technologies.
Accessibility, User Experience Guides 2003-08-08
Speech Synthesis Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes speech synthesis in Mac OS X and explains how your application can produce customized spoken output.
User Experience Guides 2006-09-05
SpeedometerView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to make a custom NSView.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-06-06
Spell Checking (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the spell-checking facilities in the Cocoa text system.
Text & Fonts, User Experience Guides 2004-02-09
SpellingChecker CarbonCocoa Bundled (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
How to load and call a Cocoa bundle from a Carbon CFM or Mach-O application
Runtime Architecture Sample Code 2004-08-17
SpellingChecker-CarbonCocoa (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Implements procedural C wrapper around the Cocoa NSSpellChecker, exports it as a Mach-O bundle called "SpellCheck.bundle"
Runtime Architecture Sample Code 2003-01-14
SpellingChecker-CocoaCarbon (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to call NSSpellChecker cocoa routines from a Carbon application.
Runtime Architecture Sample Code 2005-08-10
Spotlight Importer Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the role of metadata importers and how to write them.
File Management Guides 2007-05-27
Spotlight Metadata Attributes Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes metadata attributes used with Spotlight.
File Management Reference 2007-05-22
Spotlight Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the main components and services of Apple's metadata technology.
Design Guidelines Guides 2007-05-27
Spotlight Query Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to add Spotlight searching to your applications.
File Management Guides 2006-03-08
SpotlightFortunes (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to provision a Spotlight importer plug-in for a custom UTI, and how to use a NSMetadataQuery with bindings to display live query results in a table view.
File Management, User Experience Sample Code 2008-06-06
Sproing (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how "springs" work to control view resizing behavior.
User Experience Sample Code 2003-05-20
Squiggles (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates many Cocoa fundamentals in a Document-based Application featuring custom drawing and event-handling.
Design Guidelines, Events & Other Input, Graphics & Imaging, Objective-C Language, User Experience Sample Code 2008-08-29
SSLSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Contains examples showing how to use SecureTransport.
Security Sample Code 2003-01-14
Static linking of user binaries on Mac OS X (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1118: Explains why static linking of user binaries is not supported on Mac OS X, and possible workarounds.
Runtime Architecture Technical Q&As 2002-02-07
Status Bars (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa status bars.
User Experience Guides 2002-11-12
Steppers (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa steppers.
User Experience Guides 2002-11-12
StickiesExample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Contains sample code and tools used by Sync Services Tutorial to demonstrate debugging syncing applications.
Apple Applications, Syncing, User Experience Sample Code 2006-08-08
StillMotion (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the QTKit Capture APIs to build a simple application that creates stop motion animations.
QuickTime Sample Code 2007-11-14
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
String Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create, search, concatenate, and draw strings in Cocoa.
Data Management, Text & Fonts Guides 2008-10-15
Suppressing the "unexpectedly quit" alert (HTML)
QA1288: Describes how to suppress the "unexpectedly quit" alert.
User Experience Technical Q&As 2008-03-11
Sync Services Release Notes (10.4) (HTML)
Apple Applications, Data Management, Internet & Web, Syncing Release Notes 2005-04-29
Sync Services Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Syncing Reference 2007-07-11
Sync Services Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for the Sync Services framework used to sync applications and devices.
Apple Applications, Internet & Web, Syncing Reference 2007-10-31
Sync Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to add syncing to your applications.
Apple Applications, Internet & Web, Syncing Guides 2007-10-31
Sync Services Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Sync Services framework.
Syncing Release Notes 2007-07-18
Sync Services Release Notes (10.5) (HTML)
Describes new features, notes, and known issues for Sync Services on Mac OS X v10.5.
Apple Applications, Data Management, Syncing Release Notes 2007-10-31
Sync Services Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to debug multiple syncing applications using the Syncrospector development tool.
Apple Applications, Internet & Web, Syncing, Tools Guides 2007-07-11
System Services (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Cocoa applications can extend their capabilities seamlessly to other applications.
Interapplication Communication, User Experience Guides 2002-11-12
T_DATA_REQ vs M_DATA TPI Message Blocks (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
NW42: Explains why OT passes data to a TPI module using M_DATA message blocks instead of M_PROTO+T_DATA_REQ.
Networking Technical Q&As 1996-10-25
Tab Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa tab views.
User Experience Guides 2003-11-06
Table View Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa table views.
User Experience Guides 2006-04-04
Tagging Handle and Pointer Data References in QuickTime (HTML)
TN1195: The use of data reference extensions used by QuickTime to tag handle and pointer data references.
QuickTime Technical Notes 2006-08-30
Taking Advantage of PDF Kit in Your Cocoa Application (HTML)
Learn to handle PDF documents in your Cocoa application without writing a lot of custom code.
Graphics & Imaging Articles 2006-02-20
Taking Advantage of the Accelerate Framework (HTML)
Learn how your application can run on PowerPC- or Intel-based Macs without processor-specific customization.
Performance Articles 2005-10-03
Text Attachment Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Expalins how to add graphics and other attachments to text.
Text & Fonts Guides 2006-12-05
Text Attributes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to work with attributes, the distinguishing characteristics of rich text.
Text & Fonts Guides 2004-02-16
Text Editing Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to control the behavior of the Cocoa text system as it performs text editing.
Text & Fonts Guides 2008-02-08
Text Fields (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text fields.
Text & Fonts, User Experience Guides 2004-02-09
Text Input and Output (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to read and write text files in Cocoa.
Text & Fonts Guides 2004-02-10
Text Input Management (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use input servers, input managers, and text views in Cocoa.
Events & Other Input, Text & Fonts Guides 2007-02-08
Text Layout Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system lays out text on pages.
Text & Fonts Guides 2008-10-15
Text System Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system works. Includes a tutorial.
Text & Fonts Guides 2009-04-08
Text System Storage Layer Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system stores the information it needs to lay out text.
Text & Fonts Guides 2005-08-11
Text System User Interface Layer Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to implement the main, high-level interface to the Cocoa text system.
Text & Fonts, User Experience Guides 2006-06-28
Text Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text views.
Text & Fonts, User Experience Guides 2004-02-09
TextLayoutDemo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Customizing NSTextView with NSLayoutManager and a custom NSTextContainer.
Text & Fonts, User Experience Sample Code 2007-06-01
TextLinks (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Programmatically creates links to URLs and other objects and handles clicks in non-URL links.
Networking Sample Code 2003-07-29
TexturePerformanceDemo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
OpenGL texture optimization demo for WWDC Session 214
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2005-06-01
TextViewConfig (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Configuration of multiple layout managers and multiple text container/text view pairs on a single text storage.
Text & Fonts Sample Code 2003-01-14
TextViewDelegate (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates using a text view's delegate to control selection and user input.
Text & Fonts Sample Code 2003-01-14
Third party VFS can't unmount on Mac OS X 10.3 (HTML)
QA1308: Describes changes in unmounting behavior for VFS plug-ins under Mac OS X 10.3 "Panther."
File Management Technical Q&As 2003-10-23
Thread-safe programming in QuickTime (HTML)
TN2125: Discusses how to use QuickTime from background threads for applications and component developers.
QuickTime Technical Notes 2007-09-14
Threading Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use threads in Cocoa applications.
Performance, Process Management Guides 2008-02-08
ThreadsExporter (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates importing and exporting still images in different formats on separate threads.
QuickTime Sample Code 2005-07-26
ThreadsExportMovie (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates movie exporting using the QuickTime movie export component on separate threads of a Cocoa application.
QuickTime Sample Code 2006-01-03
Tiger Develop Overview Series: Working with Spotlight (HTML)
Learn to make the most of Spotlight's powerful search technologies within your own applications.
File Management Articles 2004-10-07
Tiger Developer Overview Series: Developing Dashboard Widgets (HTML)
Learn how to create powerful mini-applications quickly and easily.
Apple Applications Articles 2004-12-07
Tiger Developer Overview Series: Developing with Core Data (HTML)
Learn to use Core Data to define your application's data model graphically.
Data Management, Design Guidelines Articles 2005-04-04
Tiger Developer Overview Series: Developing with Core Image (HTML)
Learn how Core Image can help you take your graphics development to the next level.
Graphics & Imaging Articles 2005-03-09
Timer Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use timers for scheduling automatic, repeating message invocations in Cocoa.
Events & Other Input Guides 2008-11-19
Tinted Image (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates the use of an NSImage as an off-screen drawing destination.
Graphics & Imaging, User Experience Sample Code 2003-01-14
TipWrapper (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to wrap long tool tips into multiple lines in Cocoa.
Text & Fonts, User Experience Sample Code 2003-12-18
Token Field Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to set up and programatically manage a token field.
User Experience Guides 2007-12-11
Toolbar Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa toolbars.
User Experience Guides 2009-02-04
ToolbarSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates using the Cocoa NSToolbar/NSToolbarItem API to add customizable toolbars to windows. Includes advanced custom views.
Events & Other Input, User Experience Sample Code 2003-01-14