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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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CAMediaTimingFunction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that encapsulates the pacing of an animation as a timing curve.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2008-07-11
File System Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and guidelines describing the structure and usage of the Mac OS X file system.
File Management Guides 2008-07-11
Foundation Functions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions defined in the Foundation framework.
Data Management Reference 2008-07-11
NSExpression Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to represent expressions in a predicate.
Data Management Reference 2008-07-11
NSNotificationCenter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to synchronously broadcast notifications within a task.
Events & Other Input Reference 2008-07-11
NSPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that implements a lightweight, easy-access window.
Events & Other Input, Graphics & Imaging, User Experience Reference 2008-07-11
NSSavePanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to present a dialog that allows users to browse the file system before saving files.
Events & Other Input, File Management, User Experience Reference 2008-07-11
The Objective-C 2.0 Programming Language (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces object-oriented programming and describes the main programming language used for Cocoa development.
Objective-C Language, Tools Guides 2008-07-08
Xcode Project Management Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides practical descriptions of the major development tasks developers perform with Xcode.
Tools Guides 2008-07-08
Debugging with GDB (HTML)
Open-source document that explains how to use GDB to debug programs.
Tools Guides 2008-06-19
Web Kit Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the types and constants found in the Web Kit framework.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-19
WebBackForwardList Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for tracking a list of visited pages with relation to the most recent page.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-19
WebFrame Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for encapsulating the data displayed within a WebFrameView object.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-19
WebFrameLoadDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol adopted by WebView frame load delegates to be notified while frame loads are in progress.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-19
WebFrameView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for displaying the actual web content contained in a frame.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-19
WebPreferences Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for the preferences you can change per WebView object, such as font, text encoding, and image settings.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-19
WebResourceLoadDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to be notified on the progress of loading individual resources.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-19
WebScripting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol that defines methods that classes can implement to expose their interfaces to a WebScript environment.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-19
WebScriptObject Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for bridging a web view's scripting environment and the Objective-C runtime.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-19
WebUIDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to control user interface-related aspects, such as opening windows and augmenting default menus.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-19
WebView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for embedding web content in a window.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-19
Apple Human Interface Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the Mac OS X user experience and explains how to design an application for Aqua.
Accessibility, Design Guidelines, User Experience Guides 2008-06-09
Core Image Kernel Language Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the symbols for writing image-processing kernels.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2008-06-09
Core Image Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview and explains how to use and create image filters and image units.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-06-09
Image Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to support browsing, viewing, editing, and processing images.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-06-09
Image Unit Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to write image processing kernels and package them for distribution.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-06-09
NSArray Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manage an immutable ordered collection of objects.
Data Management Reference 2008-06-09
NSCalendar Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to define and operate on the divisions of a year.
Data Management, Internationalization Reference 2008-06-09
NSDate Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to define and operate on specific and relative time values.
Data Management Reference 2008-06-09
NSDatePicker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a control for displaying and editing a date.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-09
NSDatePickerCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a cell for displaying and editing a date.
User Experience Reference 2008-06-09
NSGarbageCollector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa class used to interact with the garbage collection system.
Objective-C Language Reference 2008-06-09
NSObject Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the root class of most Objective-C class hierarchies, including methods for object creation, life-cycle management, and intropsection.
Design Guidelines, Objective-C Language Reference 2008-06-09
NSOpenGLContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the OpenGL drawing environment.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2008-06-09
NSPropertyListSerialization Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to convert property list objects to and from several serialized formats.
Data Management Reference 2008-06-09
QTCoreVideo102 (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
An application demonstrating the use of QTKit, CoreVdeo, and OpenGL.
Graphics & Imaging, QuickTime Sample Code 2008-06-06
QTCoreVideo103 (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to render a QuickTime Movie using OpenGL texture range and the Core Video pixel buffer pipeline.
Graphics & Imaging, QuickTime Sample Code 2008-06-06
QTCoreVideo201 (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to render a QuickTime Movie using OpenGL FBO and the Core Video texture pipeline.
Graphics & Imaging, QuickTime Sample Code 2008-06-06
QTCoreVideo202 (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to render a QuickTime Movie using OpenGL PBO and the Core Video pixel buffer pipeline.
Graphics & Imaging, QuickTime Sample Code 2008-06-06
QTCoreVideo301 (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates adding of effects & filters to QuickTime Movies in realtime using GLSL shaders and the Core Video texture pipeline.
Graphics & Imaging, QuickTime Sample Code 2008-06-06
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
NSDictionaryController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used with Cocoa bindings to manage a dictionary of objects.
Data Management, Design Guidelines Reference 2008-06-05
NSDictionaryControllerKeyValuePair Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used by the Cocoa bindings NSDictionaryController class.
Data Management Reference 2008-06-05
URL CacheInfo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates resource caching behavior using the Cocoa URL loading system.
Networking, Performance Sample Code 2008-06-05
Xcode Quick Tour Guide 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 2008-06-05
DerivedProperty (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Illustrates use of Core Data derived properties to make searching against string data more efficient.
Data Management, Performance, Text & Fonts Sample Code 2008-06-04
Getting a Packet Trace (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1176: Lists tools available for looking at the network packets on the wire.
Internet & Web, Networking Technical Q&As 2008-06-03
Mountains (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates localization and internationalization techniques and APIs
Internationalization Sample Code 2008-06-02
MyMovieFilter (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
How to play a movie into a layer-backed QTMovieView and apply a Core Image filter while the movie plays.
QuickTime Sample Code 2008-06-02
Xcode Overview (HTML) (PDF) (日本語 HTML) (日本語 PDF)
Describes the Xcode IDE and its major components, and provides and overview of the development process.
Tools Guides 2008-05-27
Xcode Workspace Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the Xcode workspace, and shows how to use its components and features.
Tools Guides 2008-05-22
QTKit Capture - Disabling Audio Or Video When Capturing From a Muxed Device (HTML)
QA1607: Describes the use of the setEnabled: method to disable audio or video capture from muxed devices.
QuickTime Technical Q&As 2008-05-19
AlbumToSlideshow (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates using CF and NSXML to create Final Cut Pro XML.
Objective-C Language 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
Audio, QuickTime Sample Code 2008-05-09
Core Animation Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the main components and services of Core Animation.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-05-06
NSText Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that declares the most general programmatic interface for objects that manage text.
Text & Fonts Reference 2008-05-06
URL Loading System (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to manipulate URLs and transfer URL contents.
Internet & Web, Networking Guides 2008-05-06
NSCalendarDate Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to define dates and perform date computations based on the Gregorian calendar.
Data Management Reference 2008-05-04
Xcode Unit Testing Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to incorporate unit tests into your development process using Xcode.
Design Guidelines Guides 2008-05-02
CARenderer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that allows Core Animation rendering to a CGContext.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2008-04-30
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
QTCoreVideo101 (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates (with very little code) how to render a QuickTime Movie using CoreVideo and OpenGL.
QuickTime Sample Code 2008-04-24
QTKit Frequently Asked Questions (HTML)
TN2138: Provides answers to many frequently asked QTKit questions.
QuickTime Technical Notes 2008-04-24
Using QTPixelBufferContextCreate with NewMovieFromProperties (HTML)
QA1443: Discusses using a QuickTime pixel buffer visual context and NewMovieFromProperties to output frames to pixel buffers.
QuickTime Technical Q&As 2008-04-24
Xcode Design Tools for Class Modeling (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode Design Tools for Class Modeling.
Design Guidelines, Tools Guides 2008-04-15
Xcode Tools for Core Data (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode modeling tools for Core Data.
Data Management, Tools Guides 2008-04-15
Determining console user login status (HTML)
QA1133: How to determine whether a user is logged in on the console, and be notified of changes.
Process Management Technical Q&As 2008-04-14
View Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to design and implement Cocoa views in applications.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-04-10
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
Animation Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the animation facilities provided by Mac OS X.
Games, Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-04-08
Animation Types and Timing Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the animation and timing classes used by both Core Animation and Cocoa Animation proxies.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-04-08
Disc Recording Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the Objective-C and C API for burning audio and data CDs and DVDs.
Audio, File Management Reference 2008-04-08
Disc Recording UI Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the Objective-C and C API for presenting a user interface when burning audio and data CDs and DVDs.
Audio, File Management, User Experience Reference 2008-04-08
IKImageView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display images efficiently at the same time it supports image editing.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2008-04-08
Message Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the Objective-C API for sending email messages through the Mail application.
Apple Applications Reference 2008-04-08
Publication Subscription Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the Cocoa framework for publishing and subscribing to RSS and Atom feeds.
Internet & Web Reference 2008-04-08
QCCompositionRenderer Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods for passing and retrieving data from the ports of a composition.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2008-04-08
QCPlugIn Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to write custom patches for Quartz Composer.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2008-04-08
Uniform Type Identifiers Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Describes uniform type identifiers and how to use them.
File Management, Interapplication Communication Guides 2008-04-08
Bonjour Printer Subtype for HTTP (HTML)
QA1555: Describes how printer vendors can register their bonjour service such that Safari can see them.
Networking Technical Q&As 2008-03-25
Drawing attributed strings that are both filled and stroked (HTML)
QA1531: Describes how the value of NSStrokeWidthAttributeName indicates fill, stroke, or both, in attributed strings.
Text & Fonts Technical Q&As 2008-03-25
AbstractTree (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Using NSTreeController with NSOutlineView, Bindings, and Core Data.
Data Management, User Experience Sample Code 2008-03-17
NumberInput_IMKit_Sample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Illustrates an input method that uses the Mac OS X 10.5 InputMethodKit framework.
Events & Other Input, Internationalization Sample Code 2008-03-17
QTKit Capture - Extracting SMPTE Timecode information from a QTSampleBuffer (HTML)
QA1600: Describes how to use the QTSampleBufferSMPTETimeAttribute with a sample buffer.
QuickTime Technical Q&As 2008-03-17
Accessibility Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the accessibility features built into Mac OS X.
Accessibility Guides 2008-03-11
AppleScript Language Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the AppleScript scripting language. Includes many brief sample scripts.
Scripting & Automation Guides 2008-03-11
CAAnimationGroup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that groups multiple animations into a single animation.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2008-03-11
CAOpenGLLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a context for rendering OpenGL in a layer.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2008-03-11
CFNetwork Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Core Foundation networking functions to work with low-level BSD sockets.
Networking, Security Guides 2008-03-11
Cocoa Scripting Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create scriptable Cocoa applications that use the scripting definition (sdef) format.
Design Guidelines, Scripting & Automation Guides 2008-03-11
Core Animation Cookbook (HTML) (PDF)
Demonstrates common Core Animation tasks.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-03-11
Cursor Management (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to set the cursor and handle cursor-update events in Cocoa applications.
Events & Other Input, User Experience Guides 2008-03-11
Foundation Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types defined in the Foundation framework not described in individual classes.
Data Management, Objective-C Language Reference 2008-03-11
Garbage Collection Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the garbage collection system for Cocoa.
Design Guidelines, Objective-C Language, Performance, Runtime Architecture Guides 2008-03-11
Managing QTCompressionOptions - An overview of the QTCompressionOptionsWindow sample (HTML)
TN2219: Introductory overview of the QTCompressionOptionsWindow sample demonstrating one way to manage QTCompressionOptions objects.
QuickTime Technical Notes 2008-03-11
NSDocument Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the abstract class that defines the interface for documents, objects that manage data displayed in windows.
Design Guidelines Reference 2008-03-11
NSDocumentController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manage an application's documents.
Design Guidelines Reference 2008-03-11
NSFontDescriptor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a mechanism to describe a font with a dictionary of attributes.
Objective-C Language Reference 2008-03-11
NSMethodSignature Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class whose instances record type information for the arguments and return value of a method.
Objective-C Language Reference 2008-03-11
NSPersistentStoreCoordinator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to mediate between persistent stores and managed object contexts in a Core Data application.
Data Management Reference 2008-03-11