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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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NSGlyphStorage Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface between a glyph generator and glyph storage.
Text & Fonts Reference 2009-01-06
NSIgnoreMisspelledWords Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for a spelling checker's ignored words list.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSInputManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used by text views to communicate with the text input management system.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-04-01
NSInputServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that interprets text view events and communicates them to the text input management system.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-04-01
NSInputServerMouseTracker Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol implemented by text input servers to handle mouse events.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-04-02
NSInputServiceProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol implemented by text input servers to handle application and text field events.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-04-02
NSLayoutManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for controlling text layout.
Text & Fonts Reference 2008-12-20
NSMutableAttributedString Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for setting attributes of mutable attributed strings.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSMutableAttributedString Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable character string with attributes.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-06-28
NSMutableParagraphStyle Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable paragraph style.
Text & Fonts Reference 2008-10-15
NSParagraphStyle Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an immutable paragraph style.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSRulerMarker Class Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a marker on a ruler, such as a tab setting.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSRulerView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a ruler, with markers, that adjoins a scroll view's document view.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSSecureTextField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text field that hides its text.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSSecureTextFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a secure text field.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-10-31
NSSimpleHorizontalTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the deprecated technology replaced by NSATSTypesetter.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSSpeechSynthesizer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa parser that converts text to speech.
Text & Fonts Reference 2009-01-06
NSSpellChecker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface to the Cocoa spell-checking service.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-04-27
NSSpellServer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an application-defined spell-checking service.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-04-27
NSString Application Kit Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for drawing strings.
Text & Fonts Reference 2009-02-04
NSText Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a basic interface for text-bearing objects.
Text & Fonts Reference 2008-05-06
NSTextAttachment Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text attachment for an attributed string.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextAttachmentCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface for a text attachment.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextBlock Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a block of text laid out in a subregion of a text container.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextContainer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an area where text is laid out.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextInput Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Descibes the formal protocol that text views implement to receive input from the user's keyboard and mouse.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextInputClient Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving keyboard input as properly formed text.
Text & Fonts Reference 2008-10-15
NSTextList Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a section of text that forms a single list.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextStorage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the text storage system.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextTab Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a tab in a paragraph style.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextTable Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a block of text that represents a table.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-04-11
NSTextTableBlock Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a block of text that appears as a cell within a table.
Text & Fonts Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that displays editable text.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-04-27
NSTypesetter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for typesetter objects that perform text line layout.
Text & Fonts Reference 2007-03-26
PasteboardPeeker (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Using pasteboards for Copy and Paste, Drag and Drop, service support and filter services.
Text & Fonts Sample Code 2005-08-10
Rulers and Paragraph Styles (HTML) (PDF)
Explains paragraph styles and how to work with the rulers that enable users to manipulate them.
Text & Fonts Guides 2007-09-04
Search Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Search Kit architecture and workflow, and how to add search capabilities to Carbon and Cocoa applications.
Text & Fonts Guides 2005-12-06
Search Kit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for supporting user searches of textual content.
Text & Fonts Reference 2009-05-06
Sorting Like the Finder (HTML)
QA1159: Shows how to sort strings like the Finder's list view.
Text & Fonts Technical Q&As 2004-10-27
Spell Checking (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the spell-checking facilities in the Cocoa text system.
Text & Fonts Guides 2004-02-09
String Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create, search, concatenate, and draw strings in Cocoa.
Text & Fonts Guides 2008-10-15
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 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.
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 Guides 2006-06-28
Text Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text views.
Text & Fonts Guides 2004-02-09
TextLayoutDemo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Customizing NSTextView with NSLayoutManager and a custom NSTextContainer.
Text & Fonts Sample Code 2007-06-01
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
TipWrapper (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to wrap long tool tips into multiple lines in Cocoa.
Text & Fonts Sample Code 2003-12-18
AppleScript Studio Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create script-driven applications with complex user interfaces based on Cocoa UI classes. Includes tutorials.
Tools Guides 2006-04-04
AppleScript Studio Release Notes (HTML)
Describes late-breaking news and highlights of new or changed features in the latest release of AppleScript Studio.
Tools Release Notes 2007-10-31
AppleScript Studio Terminology Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the scripting terminology for AppleScript Studio, through version 1.4.
Tools Reference 2007-10-31
Automator Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the concepts and tasks for developing actions, which are bundles loaded by the Automator application.
Tools Guides 2007-12-11
Automator Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for changes in Mac OS X version 10.5.
Tools Release Notes 2007-10-31
Connecting the Font Menu in Interface Builder 3 (HTML)
QA1571: How to connect and configure the Font/Format menus in Interface Builder 3.
Tools Technical Q&As 2008-01-21
Cross-Development Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to build software for versions of Mac OS X other than the one the development tools are running on.
Tools Guides 2006-11-07
Debugging with GDB (HTML)
Open-source document that explains how to use GDB to debug programs.
Tools Guides 2008-06-19
Getting NSWindow's toolbar actions to show up in Interface Builder (HTML)
QA1030: How to add the missing -toggleToolbarShown: and -runToolbarCustomizationPalette actions to Interface Builder.
Tools Technical Q&As 2001-05-03
Help Book Caching During Software Development (HTML)
QA1409: Development situations that can potentially confuse Help Viewer
Tools Technical Q&As 2005-03-30
IBDocument Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an Interface Builder document, which visually represents a nib file.
Tools Reference 2009-01-06
IBInspector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for managing inspector views in Interface Builder.
Tools Reference 2007-07-11
IBPlugin Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for managing plug-ins in Interface Builder.
Tools Reference 2007-04-02
Including a custom NSWindow in a nib file (HTML)
QA1511: Shows how to create a custom NSWindow and instantiate it in a nib file.
Tools Technical Q&As 2007-03-21
Interface Builder Kit Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the constants declared in the Interface Builder Kit framework.
Tools Reference 2007-04-02
Interface Builder Kit Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types declared in the Interface Builder Kit framework.
Tools Reference 2007-04-02
Interface Builder Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for implementing Interface Builder plug-ins.
Tools Reference 2007-04-18
Interface Builder Plug-In Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the process for creating custom Interface Builder palettes.
Tools Guides 2007-07-18
Interface Builder User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and tasks explaining how to use the Interface Builder application to design user interfaces.
Tools Guides 2008-11-19
JDragNDrop (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - Demonstrates building a simple view to implement Drag-and-Drop functionality in Cocoa-Java.
Tools Sample Code 2003-01-14
Leopard Technology Series for Developers: Leopard Developer Tools Overview (HTML)
Learn how Leopard developer tools make it easier than ever to create exciting applications.
Tools Articles 2006-11-15
Leopard Technology Series for Developers: Objective-C 2.0 Overview (HTML)
Describes features and capabilities introduced in Objective-C 2.0.
Tools Articles 2007-12-11
Mac OS X 10.2 (HTML)
TN2053: Describes software development-related changes provided in system software update Mac OS X 10.2.
Tools Technical Notes 2002-09-04
Mac OS X: v10.1.1 - v10.1.3 (HTML)
TN2043: Describes changes provided by system software updates 10.1.1 through 10.1.3.
Tools Technical Notes 2002-03-06
NSObject Interface Builder Kit Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions, used by Interface Builder plug-ins, for inspecting objects.
Tools Reference 2007-05-10
NSView Interface Builder Kit Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions, used by Interface Builder plug-ins, for manipulating views.
Tools Reference 2007-05-10
The Objective-C 2.0 Programming Language (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces object-oriented programming and describes the main programming language used for Cocoa development.
Tools Guides 2009-05-06
Ruby and Python Programming Topics for Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Ruby and Python on Mac OS X, and especially the bridges between them and Objective-C and OSA (AppleScript).
Tools Guides 2007-10-31
Setting environment variables for user processes (HTML)
QA1067: Tells how to set environment variables for user processes.
Tools Technical Q&As 2001-10-25
Simon (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A simple game demonstrating Cocoa development in Project Builder.
Tools Sample Code 2003-01-14
Software Delivery Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to distribute and install Mac OS X software using PackageMaker and Installer.
Tools Guides 2006-07-24
Sync Services Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to debug multiple syncing applications using the Syncrospector development tool.
Tools Guides 2007-07-11
Using PyObjC for Developing Cocoa Applications with Python (HTML)
Learn how to build a sample Cocoa app using the Cocoa-Python bridge PyOjbC.
Tools Articles 2005-08-15
Xcode Design Tools for Class Modeling (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode Design Tools for Class Modeling.
Tools Guides 2009-02-04
Xcode Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode IDE and its major components, and provides and overview of the development process.
Tools Guides 2009-01-06
Xcode Project Management Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides practical descriptions of the major development tasks developers perform with Xcode.
Tools Guides 2009-01-06
Xcode Quick Tour for Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Provides a hands-on introduction to Xcode, Apple's comprehensive suite of software development tools for Mac OS X.
Tools Guides 2008-10-15
Xcode Tools for Core Data (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode modeling tools for Core Data.
Tools Guides 2008-04-15
Xcode Workspace Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the Xcode workspace, and shows how to use its components and features.
Tools Guides 2009-01-06
AbstractTree (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Using NSTreeController with NSOutlineView, Bindings, and Core Data.
User Experience Sample Code 2008-03-17
Accessibility Programming Guidelines for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Cocoa applications make their user interface available to external assistive applications.
User Experience Guides 2007-02-08
Adding and removing a submenu from a menu in Cocoa (HTML)
QA1420: Explains how to dynamically add and remove menus in a Cocoa application.
User Experience Technical Q&As 2007-09-10
AnimatedSlider (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates the use of an NSTimer to animate a control in Cocoa.
User Experience Sample Code 2003-01-14
Apple Help Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to author, package, and display user help content in Mac OS X.
User Experience Guides 2007-10-31