Jump To:
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.
Document Descriptions
On Off
Display

Sort by
Title
Sorted by
Topic
Sort by
Resource Type
Sort by
Date
NSDatePicker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for displaying and editing a date.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-09
NSDatePickerCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell for displaying and editing a date.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-09
NSDockTile Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for customizing an application's dock tiles
User Experience Reference 2009-03-04
NSDrawer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a retractable user interface element that displays view objects.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSErrorRecoveryAttempting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for attempting recovery from runtime errors.
User Experience Reference 2007-02-23
NSFontPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the panel for font selection.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-06
NSFontPanelValidation Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for validating fonts.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-06
NSForm Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a vertical matrix of NSFormCell objects.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSFormatter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for formatter objects.
User Experience Reference 2007-07-09
NSFormCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a title and text entry field in an NSForm object.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSHelpManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an application-level help system.
User Experience Reference 2009-02-04
NSImageCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that displays an image in a frame, usually in a control.
User Experience Reference 2009-01-06
NSImageView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that displays an image.
User Experience Reference 2007-01-22
NSInputManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used by text views to communicate with the text input management system.
User Experience 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.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-01
NSInputServerMouseTracker Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol implemented by text input servers to handle mouse events.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-02
NSInputServiceProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol implemented by text input servers to handle application and text field events.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-02
NSLevelIndicator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for displaying a rank or amount along a linear scale.
User Experience Reference 2007-03-01
NSLevelIndicatorCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell used for displaying a rank or amount along a linear scale.
User Experience Reference 2007-03-01
NSLocale Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a locale.
User Experience Reference 2008-02-08
NSMatrix Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a group of cell objects that work together in various ways.
User Experience Reference 2008-10-15
NSMenu Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an application menu.
User Experience Reference 2008-02-08
NSMenuItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a menu item.
User Experience Reference 2008-02-08
NSMenuItem Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes a deprecated protocol replaced by the NSMenuItem class.
User Experience Reference 2007-02-08
NSMenuItemCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated class replaced by the NSMenuItem class.
User Experience Reference 2007-03-07
NSMenuValidation Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for enabling and disabling menu items.
User Experience Reference 2007-03-02
NSMenuView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated class replaced by the NSMenu class.
User Experience Reference 2009-02-04
NSNumberFormatter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a number formatter.
User Experience Reference 2008-11-19
NSOpenGLView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view for OpenGL drawing.
User Experience Reference 2007-01-26
NSOpenPanel - Choosing any file and ignoring packages (HTML)
QA1468: Explains how to configure NSOpenPanel to filter only files and ignoring packages.
User Experience Technical Q&As 2007-01-25
NSOpenPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the panel that a user employs to locate and open a file.
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
NSOutlineViewDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface used by an outline view to retrieve data and, optionally, to update data values.
User Experience Reference 2007-02-19
NSPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a window for performing auxiliary functions in an application.
User Experience Reference 2009-01-06
NSPasteboard Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a pasteboard.
User Experience Reference 2008-10-15
NSPathCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a path control object.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-11
NSPathCellDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface used to customize a pop-up-style control that represents a path.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-11
NSPathComponentCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a component of a path control.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-11
NSPathControl Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control representing a file path or virtual path.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-11
NSPathControlDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface used to support dragging and pop-up menu customization in path controls.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-11
NSPopUpButton Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for displaying pull-down or pop-up lists of items.
User Experience Reference 2008-10-15
NSPopUpButtonCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell used in the display of pull-down or pop-up menus.
User Experience Reference 2008-10-15
NSPredicateEditor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a graphical predicate editor.
User Experience Reference 2008-10-15
NSPredicateEditorRowTemplate Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a row in a graphical predicate editor.
User Experience Reference 2007-01-12
NSPreferencePane Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the interface for subclasses to provide preference panes to System Preferences or other applications.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSPrintPanelAccessorizing Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for configuring accessory panes for the print panel.
User Experience Reference 2007-03-09
NSProgressIndicator animation and redraw (HTML)
QA1473: Discusses why NSProgressIndicator does not redraw during progress loops.
User Experience Technical Q&As 2006-11-15
NSProgressIndicator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control that shows that a lengthy task is under way.
User Experience Reference 2008-03-11
NSRuleEditor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a graphical rule editor.
User Experience Reference 2008-02-08
NSSavePanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the panel that a user employs to set a file-system location and save a file.
User Experience Reference 2009-02-04
NSScroller Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for scrolling a document view within a scroll view.
User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
NSScrollView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view for displaying content larger than its bounds.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSSearchField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text field optimized for entering a search query.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSSearchFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a search field cell.
User Experience Reference 2008-03-11
NSSecureTextField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text field that hides its text.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSSecureTextFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a secure text field.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
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
NSSlider Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for selecting a value from a continuous range of values.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSSliderCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an action cell that provides appearance and behavior for an NSSlider object.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSSpeechRecognizer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa command-and-control voice recognition system.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-03
NSSpeechSynthesizer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa parser that converts text to speech.
User Experience Reference 2009-01-06
NSSplitView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a container for subviews with a user-controlled portion of each visible.
User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
NSStatusBar Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the collection of status items in the menu bar.
User Experience Reference 2007-03-05
NSStatusItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a status item in the menu bar.
User Experience Reference 2007-03-05
NSStepper Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control that can increment and decrement a value.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSStepperCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an action cell that provides appearance and behavior for an NSStepper object.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSTableColumn Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the display characteristics and attribute identifiers for a column in a table view.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
NSTableDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving table view data requests.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-10
NSTableHeaderCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a column header of a table view.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSTableHeaderView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a column header of a table view.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSTableView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that displays and manages tabular data.
User Experience Reference
NSTabView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that supports switching between subviews.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSTabViewItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a single view in a tab view.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSTextField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control that displays editable text.
User Experience Reference 2009-01-06
NSTextFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user interface of a text field.
User Experience Reference 2009-01-06
NSTokenField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a text field that provides tokenized editing.
User Experience Reference 2008-10-15
NSTokenFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a cell used in the conversion of entered text into tokens representing objects.
User Experience Reference 2007-03-05
NSToolbar Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a toolbar in a window's title bar.
User Experience Reference 2008-10-15
NSToolbarItem Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a single item in a window's toolbar.
User Experience Reference 2006-06-28
NSToolbarItemGroup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a group of items in a window's toolbar.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-11
NSToolbarItemValidation Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for providing customized enabling and disabling of a toolbar item.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSToolTipOwner Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving requests for tooltip text.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSUserDefaults Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object for managing preference information.
User Experience Reference 2009-04-08
NSUserInterfaceValidations Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for participating in automatic enabling and disabling of controls.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSViewAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an animation in a view or window.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
NSViewController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the manager of a view, usually a view stored in a nib file.
User Experience Reference 2007-05-02
NSWindow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a window.
User Experience Reference 2009-03-04
NSWindowScripting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category on NSWindow for scripting basic properties and commands of windows in scriptable applications.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
ObjectPath (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the NSPathControl class.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-05-22
Online Help (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to add help to a Cocoa application.
User Experience Guides 2006-06-28
OpenGL Screensaver (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to integrate OpenGL drawing into a standard Cocoa screen saver on Mac OS X.
User Experience Sample Code 2003-12-10
Outline View Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa outline views.
User Experience Guides 2006-06-28
Pasteboard Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to transfer data using pasteboard operations in Cocoa.
User Experience Guides 2007-07-13
PhotoSearch (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates advanced controls and cells. Custom drawing, hit testing, tracking, editing, expansion tooltips, tracking areas.
User Experience Sample Code 2008-03-05
PredicateEditorSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the NSPredicateEditor class.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-06-06
Preference Panes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create dynamically loaded plug-ins that provide a graphical interface to user preferences.
User Experience Guides 2006-10-03
Preference Panes Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for supporting and working with preference panes.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
Preference Panes Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Preference Panes framework.
User Experience Release Notes 2007-07-18
PrefsPane (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A Cocoa sample System Preferences bundle that demonstrates how to use the NSPreferencePane class.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-06-06