Jump To:
Reference Library
Carbon is a set of C APIs offering developers an advanced user interface tool kit, event handling, the Quartz 2D graphics library, and multiprocessing support. Developers have access to other C and C++ APIs, including the OpenGL drawing system and the Mach microkernel.

A guided introduction and learning path for developers new to Carbon.   Essential information for developers using procedural C.   C API references organized by framework.
Document Descriptions
On Off
Display

Sort by
Title
Sort by
Topic
Sorted by
Resource Type
Sort by
Date
QuickTime Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for QuickTime.
QuickTime Reference 2006-05-23
Security Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for protecting information and controlling access to software.
Security Reference 2006-05-23
Time Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for scheduling routines for execution at a later time.
Resource Management Reference 2006-03-08
Web Kit C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for displaying web content in windows.
Internet & Web, User Experience Reference 2006-03-08
Carbon Accessibility Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for making Carbon applications accessible to assistive technologies.
Accessibility Reference 2006-02-07
Ink Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the C API for customizing handwriting recognition.
Events & Other Input Reference 2006-01-10
Unicode Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that allows applications and input methods to operate on Unicode text.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts Reference 2006-01-10
CFAttributedString Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for representing an immutable character string and associated set of attributes.
Data Management, Text & Fonts Reference 2005-12-06
CFAttributedString Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for representing an immutable character string and associated set of attributes.
Data Management, Text & Fonts Reference 2005-12-06
CFMutableAttributedString Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for representing a mutable character string and associated set of attributes.
Data Management, Text & Fonts Reference 2005-12-06
Mac OS X ABI Dynamic Loader Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions used to access Mach-O files.
Runtime Architecture Reference 2005-11-09
Mathematical and Logical Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for mathematical and logical data manipulation.
Data Management Reference 2005-11-09
Text Services Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for communicating between client applications and provider modules.
Events & Other Input, Text & Fonts Reference 2005-11-09
Authorization Services C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for adding fine-grained control of privileged operations in an application.
Security Reference 2005-11-08
HIToolbar Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating toolbars in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2005-09-08
HIArchive Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for storing and retrieving data in HIArchives.
Human Interface Toolbox, Interapplication Communication, User Experience Reference 2005-08-11
HIObject Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating human interface objects in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2005-08-11
Code Fragment Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for loading and preparing PEF binaries.
Runtime Architecture Reference 2005-07-07
Keychain Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy C API for managing passwords for multiple users and databases. Replaced by Keychain Services.
Security Reference 2005-07-07
Open Transport Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon compatibility library for accessing TCP/IP networks at the transport level.
Networking Reference 2005-07-07
Text Encoding Conversion Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for transferring text across other platforms or over the Internet.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts Reference 2005-07-07
ColorSync Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for ColorSync, the platform-independent color management system in Mac OS X.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2005-06-04
MDQuery Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for creating and executing metadata queries.
File Management Reference 2005-06-04
ABRecord C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that represents a generic Address Book record.
Apple Applications Reference 2005-04-29
Keychain Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for storing passwords, certificates, keys, and other security related items.
Security Reference 2005-04-29
MDImporter Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the plug-in architecture and callbacks required by a document metadata importer.
File Management Reference 2005-04-29
MDSchema Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that allow inspection of a metadata schema.
File Management Reference 2005-04-29
Certificate, Key, and Trust Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for managing certificates, public and private keys, and trust policies.
Security Reference 2005-03-03
Secure Transport Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating a Secure Sockets Layer session over any transport layer.
Security Reference 2004-08-31
HIShape Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon API for manipulating HIShape objects.
Graphics & Imaging, Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2004-06-28
Carbon Help Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for providing help tags in an application's user interface.
User Experience Reference 2004-03-01
Interface Builder Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for unarchiving interface objects.
Tools, User Experience Reference 2004-02-17
ABGroup Reference for C (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type used to group Address Book records.
Apple Applications Reference 2003-08-20
ABMultiValue Reference for C (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for accessing Address Book properties with multiple values.
Apple Applications Reference 2003-08-20
Printing Plug-in Interfaces Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the various callback interfaces that Mac OS X printing plug-ins implement in Carbon.
Printing Reference 2003-07-31
Internet Config Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for centralized management of Internet preferences in Classic Mac OS.
Networking Reference 2003-05-01
Collection Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for implementing an abstract data type that stores related pieces of information.
Data Management Reference 2003-04-01
Language Analysis Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon shared library that performs morphological analysis for Japanese text.
Internationalization Reference 2003-04-01
Mixed Mode Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that supports PowerPC computers running 680x0 code.
Runtime Architecture Reference 2003-04-01
Speech Recognition Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for recognizing and accepting spoken input.
Accessibility, Events & Other Input, User Experience Reference 2003-02-01
Debugger Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for standard exception-handling and assertion functions used in Carbon applications.
Performance Reference 2003-01-01
Error Handler Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for a Mac OS 9 service that assumes control when certain low-level system errors occur.
Performance Reference 2003-01-01
Notification Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used by background applications to communicate information to the user.
Events & Other Input Reference 2002-12-01
Keyboard Layout Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for managing key-to-character mappings used to support various languages.
Events & Other Input, Internationalization, Text & Fonts Reference 2002-11-18
Ticket Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used by printer modules and PDEs to communicate printing information to the system.
Printing Reference 2002-10-23
FontSync Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for content-based font identification and comparison.
Text & Fonts Reference 2002-10-01
MIDI File Format (HTML)
Describes the QuickTime implementation of the MIDI file standard.
Audio Reference 2002-09-17
Locale Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting conventions of a specific language or region.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts Reference 2002-01-24
Sound Manager 3.3 (HTML)
Deprecated - Summary of Sound Manager legacy releases 3.1, 3.2.1, and 3.3.
Audio Reference 2001-11-15
Carbon Result Codes Index (HTML)
An alphabetic list of result codes in the Carbon application environment, with links to their API reference pages.
General Reference
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 3.3 Compiler (HTML)
Explains how to use the GNU compilers from the command line.
Tools Reference
2D Graphics Release Notes for Mac OS X v10.5 (HTML)
Describes the changes and issues related to Core Image and Quartz 2D in Mac OS X v10.5.
Graphics & Imaging Release Notes 2008-04-08
High Level Toolbox Release Notes (10.5.2) (HTML)
Describes HIToolbox enhancements for Mac OS X v10.5.2.
Human Interface Toolbox Release Notes 2008-03-11
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
Carbon Core Release Notes (HTML)
File Management, Internationalization, Resource Management, Text & Fonts Release Notes 2007-10-31
Carbon Developer Tools Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for Mac OS X v10.5
Tools Release Notes 2007-10-31
Code Signing Release Notes (HTML)
Security Release Notes 2007-10-31
CoreFoundation Framework Release Notes (HTML)
Core Foundation Release Notes 2007-10-31
DiscRecording Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for Mac OS X v10.5
Audio, File Management, User Experience Release Notes 2007-10-31
High Level Toolbox Release Notes (10.5) (HTML)
Describes new HIToolbox features and enhancements for Mac OS X v10.5.
Human Interface Toolbox Release Notes 2007-10-31
Launch Services Release Notes (HTML)
File Management Release Notes 2007-10-31
OS Services Framework Release Notes (HTML)
General, Networking, Security Release Notes 2007-10-31
Speech Release Notes (HTML)
New document that describes new features, notes, and known issues for speech synthesis on Mac OS X v10.5.
User Experience Release Notes 2007-10-31
AppleScript Terminology and Apple Event Codes Reference (HTML)
Lists terms used in AppleScript, AppleScript Studio, and Standard Additions with their matching codes.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation Release Notes 2006-06-28
High Level Toolbox Release Notes (10.4) (HTML)
Human Interface Toolbox Release Notes 2006-01-10
High Level Toolbox Release Notes (10.4.2) (HTML)
Human Interface Toolbox Release Notes 2006-01-10
High Level Toolbox Release Notes (10.4.3) (HTML)
Human Interface Toolbox Release Notes 2006-01-10
Carbon Resolution Independence Release Notes (HTML)
Graphics & Imaging Release Notes 2005-04-29
Resolution Independent UI Release Notes (HTML)
Graphics & Imaging Release Notes 2005-04-29
SearchKit Release Notes (HTML)
User Experience Release Notes 2005-04-29
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 Sample Code 2008-06-06
AlbumToSlideshow (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates using CF and NSXML to create Final Cut Pro XML.
Core Foundation Sample Code 2008-05-15
WhackedTV (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A Cocoa version of the venerable HackTV sample code, demonstrating usage of the Sequence Grabber API's
QuickTime Sample Code 2008-05-09
HID Config Save (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Human Interface Device Manager Configuration sample
Games Sample Code 2008-05-07
SampleScannerApp (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
This project implements a simple client accessing an ICA scanning device.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2008-05-07
CIColorTracking (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
An Objective-C applicaton that implements a GPU-based technique to find the location of a uniquely colored object in a scene
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2008-04-24
CarbonCocoaTempConverter (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to integrate Carbon and Cocoa user interfaces in the same Cocoa application.
Events & Other Input Sample Code 2008-03-10
FSMegaInfo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Prints information about various file system objects; helpful when debugging VFS plug-ins.
File Management Sample Code 2008-02-25
HackTV Carbon (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
HackTV Carbon shows how to use the sequence grabber to preview and record QuickTime movie files.
QuickTime Sample Code 2007-11-16
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
PreLoginAgents (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Pre-login launchd agents to display UI using AppKit and HIToolbox.
Process Management Sample Code 2007-10-26
MassiveImage (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use a CGDataProvider to save a very large image with Image IO
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2007-09-27
DTSCarbonShell (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Provides a modern Mac OS X Carbon Application Skeleton
Human Interface Toolbox, Text & Fonts, User Experience Sample Code 2007-09-20
Quartz 2D Shadings (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use CGShading and CGGradient objects to draw simple gradients.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2007-08-31
Cocoa PDE with Carbon Printing (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Application that uses a Cocoa PDE along with the Carbon Printing APIs.
Printing Sample Code 2007-07-27
Quartz 2D Transformer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use Quartz 2D to manipulate an image
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2007-06-21
CoreTextArc (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Illustrates the use of fonts, lines, and runs in a CoreText text drawing Carbon application.
Text & Fonts Sample Code 2007-06-04
CrossEvents (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to send CarbonEvents and NSNotifications between Carbon and Cocoa.
Design Guidelines, Events & Other Input, Porting, Process Management Sample Code 2007-05-31
HIView-NSView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to embed an NSView within an HIView in a Carbon window.
Design Guidelines, Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Sample Code 2007-05-29
StarMenu (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to create a Custom Star Shape menu using the new HIMenuView class.
Human Interface Toolbox Sample Code 2007-05-24
HIFleetingControls (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Implements fleeting controls such as seen in QuickTime Player full screen mode or iPhoto slideshow
Human Interface Toolbox Sample Code 2007-05-08
AESendThreadSafe (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to send Apple events from threads other than the main thread.
Interapplication Communication Sample Code 2007-03-09
RecordAudioToFile (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates recording audio to an AAC file using Core Audio
Audio Sample Code 2007-02-27
FSReplaceObject (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
FSReplaceObject is an example command line tool showing how to exercise the FSReplaceObject and FSPathReplaceObject related APIs.
File Management Sample Code 2007-02-14
Cocoa_With_Carbon_or_CPP (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to call Carbon routines and C++ code from within an Objective-C Cocoa program.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-02-05
CarbonCocoa_PictureCursor (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use NSCursor from a Carbon based application.
Human Interface Toolbox, Porting, User Experience Sample Code 2007-01-12
CoreTextTest (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to handle the CoreText objects to display text.
Text & Fonts Sample Code 2006-12-19
SetMouseAcclSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Find HID System Manager and get/set cursor acceleration
Events & Other Input Sample Code 2006-11-28
LittleArrowsShowcase (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
How to increment and decrement the LittleArrows value when the user clicks on the up and down buttons.
Human Interface Toolbox Sample Code 2006-11-09
TremoloUnit (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Audio unit sample demonstrating how to build an effect unit with a generic view.
Audio Sample Code 2006-10-26