Core Foundation provides the fundamental data types and essential services that underlie both the Cocoa and Carbon environments on Mac OS X. To accomplish this, Core Foundation defines a set of C-based programming interfaces derived
conceptually from the Cocoa Foundation framework. Implementing a simple object
model in C, Core Foundation defines opaque types that encapsulate data and
functions as system-managed objects. The Core Foundation interfaces are designed
to be more object-oriented than pure C data structures, so the opaque types in Core
Foundation operate seamlessly with Cocoa Foundation interfaces. These abstractions also make possible a large degree of operating-system independence as well as
code and data sharing between applications. With Core Foundation, you get solid
interfaces built on a stable core to help you deliver world-class products on Mac OS X.
The Core Foundation interfaces are organized into a framework that provides fundamental software
services to applications, runtime environments, and system frameworks.
You can easily build cross-platform applications that share code and data seamlessly
among frameworks, libraries, and applications across different environments. For
example, Core Foundation includes types that encapsulate strings, dates, and
locales, so you can manipulate Unicode strings, deal with time conversion, and internationalize your
application. Core Foundation also offers a
memory management model, abstractions for common data types, and a suite of
utilities such as plug-in support, XML property lists, URL handling and networking, and
preferences.
Core Services is the Mac OS X system layer that lies immediately above the core
operating system and below the services, frameworks, and libraries used in
application development. A subsystem of Core Services, the Core Foundation
framework offers most of the low-level features in Core Services for developing
both Cocoa and Carbon applications, making operating-system independence and
code and data sharing possible.
Core Foundation also provides "toll-free bridging" between many of its types and
the Cocoa Foundation framework, giving you the ability to substitute Cocoa objects for
Core Foundation objects in function parameters and vice versa. Core Foundation
enables Cocoa and Carbon applications to interact seamlessly, sharing
information through copy and paste, drag and drop, and other services.
Through its CFString objects, Core Foundation facilitates easy, robust, and
consistent internationalization across all Mac OS X programming interfaces. A
CFString instance represents an array of 16-bit Unicode characters. A CFString
object is flexible enough to hold megabytes worth of characters, and yet simple
and low level enough for use in all programming interfaces that communicate
character data.
Core Foundation provides date and number types that abstract time utilities and offer facilities for converting between absolute
and Gregorian measures of time. In addition, non-Carbon applications can take advantage of inter-process notification and run-loop
services.
For memory management, Core Foundation has several built-in features that help
you write code that doesn't leak. These features include allocators, reference-counting,
and an object ownership policy.
Core Foundation provides rock-solid fundamental building
blocks for applications and low-level system services across the multiple
environments supported in Mac OS X. Designed for use and reuse, the programming interfaces in Core
Foundation help your applications run smoothly on Mac OS X, offering
advanced features such as a plug-in architecture, protected memory, a
preferences-settings mechanism, and code and data sharing. You can deliver the
innovative and easy-to-use applications that Apple is famous for, knowing that this dependable infrastructure lies beneath.
For news, updates and links to other ADC content related to Core Foundation on Mac OS X,
return to the Core Foundation topic page.
Updated: 2007-10-26
|
