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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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Objective-C 2.0 Runtime Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data structures and functions of the Objective-C runtime support library.
Objective-C Language Reference 2007-12-11
PDEPanel Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to implement custom panes in a printing dialog.
Printing Reference 2007-12-11
PDEPlugIn Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to add custom panes to a printing dialog.
Printing Reference 2007-12-11
PDEPlugInCallbackProtocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to access information about the current print job.
Printing Reference 2007-12-11
PDF Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces basic PDF concepts and describes how to use PDF Kit to display PDF documents in your application.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2007-12-11
PDF Kit Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for viewing, navigating, and editing PDF content.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for representing an action in a PDF document.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFActionGoTo Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating the destination of a go-to action in a PDF document.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFActionNamed Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for working with actions that have defined names, such as "Go back."
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFActionRemoteGoTo Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating the destination of a go-to action that targets another PDF document.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFActionResetForm Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for getting and clearing fields in a PDF form.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFActionURL Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the URL associated with a URL action.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describe the class for creating and managing annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationButtonWidget Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating button annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationChoiceWidget Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating pop-up menu and list annotations in a PDF document.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationFreeText Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating free text annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationLine Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating line annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationPopup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating pop-up menu annotations in a PDF document.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationStamp Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for displaying content to look as if it is "stamped" onto a PDF page.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationText Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating text annotations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationTextWidget Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating editable text fields in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFDestination Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for describing specific destinations in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFDocument Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and manipulating PDF files.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFOutline Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and manipulating structure outlines in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFPage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for handling specific pages in PDF documents.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
PDFThumbnailView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the thumbnail view in a PDF document.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-12-11
Quartz Composer Custom Patch Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to create custom patches for distribution.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2007-12-11
Text Layout Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system lays out text on pages.
Text & Fonts Guides 2007-12-11
Token Field Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to set up and programatically manage a token field.
User Experience Guides 2007-12-11
NSAttributedString Application Kit Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes extensions to Foundation's NSAttributedString class that add support for document types, text attributes, and string handling.
Data Management, Text & Fonts Reference 2007-12-04
SBSetFinderComment (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Set/Get Finder Comments using Scripting Bridge
Scripting & Automation Sample Code 2007-12-04
SourceView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use NSOutlineView driven by NSTreeController.
File Management, User Experience Sample Code 2007-11-15
StillMotion (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the QTKit Capture APIs to build a simple application that creates stop motion animations.
QuickTime Sample Code 2007-11-14
BoingX (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows off using Quartz Extreme to provide borderless OpenGL content on the desktop.
Games, Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2007-11-06
Daemons and Agents (HTML)
TN2083: Describes the most common problems encountered with daemons and agents, and suggests detailed solutions.
Process Management Technical Notes 2007-11-05
CocoaSlides (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
An image browser written using AppKit's Core Animation-based compositing and animation functionality
Games, Graphics & Imaging, User Experience Sample Code 2007-11-02
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
Apple Applications Schema Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the schemas used by Apple Applications to sync records such as contacts, calendars, and bookmarks.
Apple Applications, Data Management, Internet & Web, Syncing Reference 2007-10-31
Apple Help Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to author, package, and display user help content in Mac OS X.
Apple Applications, User Experience Guides 2007-10-31
AppleScript Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the technology for writing scripts to control applications. Useful for scripters and application developers.
Scripting & Automation Guides 2007-10-31
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.
Scripting & Automation, Tools Reference 2007-10-31
Application Kit Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the constants defined in the Application Kit framework not described in individual classes.
Objective-C Language Reference 2007-10-31
Application Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa Objective-C API for the Application Kit framework.
General, Objective-C Language, User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
Application Kit Release Notes (10.5) (HTML)
New document that describes new features, notes, and known issues for the Application Kit Framework on Mac OS X v10.5.
Design Guidelines Release Notes 2007-10-31
Archives and Serializations Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to put Cocoa objects into and remove them from a representation suitable for archiving.
Data Management Guides 2007-10-31
Audio Codec Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for configuring audio codecs and for encoding and decoding audio data.
Audio Reference 2007-10-31
Audio Queue Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to play and record audio using Audio Queue Services.
Audio Guides 2007-10-31
Audio Unit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Core Audio frameworks and the Core Audio SDK to create audio units.
Audio Guides 2007-10-31
Automator Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for changes in Mac OS X version 10.5.
Apple Applications, Tools Release Notes 2007-10-31
CAAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the abstract class that manages the timing and pacing of an animation.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-10-31
Calendar Store Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to access iCal data.
Apple Applications, Data Management, General Guides 2007-10-31
CalTask Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to get properties about a task.
Apple Applications Reference 2007-10-31
Carbon-Cocoa Integration Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use both Carbon and Cocoa in developing an application.
Design Guidelines Guides 2007-10-31
CATransition Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides transition animations to layers.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-10-31
CIImage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents an immutable Core Image image.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-10-31
Cocoa Application Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to build a simple Cocoa application using Xcode.
Objective-C Language Guides 2007-10-31
Cocoa Bindings Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the bindings, including options and placeholders, for classes that support Cocoa bindings.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
Cocoa Drawing Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa to draw your application's user interface.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2007-10-31
Cocoa Fundamentals Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the basic concepts, terminology, architectures, and design patterns of the Cocoa frameworks and development environment.
Design Guidelines Guides 2007-10-31
Code Signing Release Notes (HTML)
Security Release Notes 2007-10-31
Collections Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to group objects in arrays, sets, or dictionaries in Cocoa.
Data Management Guides 2007-10-31
Core Animation Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for Core Animation.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-10-31
Cryptographic Message Syntax Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for encrypting, signing, and decoding messages using Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS).
Security Reference 2007-10-31
DiscRecording Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for Mac OS X v10.5
File Management, User Experience Release Notes 2007-10-31
Foundation Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa Objective-C API for the Foundation framework.
General, Objective-C Language Reference 2007-10-31
Foundation Release Notes (HTML)
Describes new features, notes, and known issues for the Foundation framework in Mac OS X v10.5.
Design Guidelines, Scripting & Automation Release Notes 2007-10-31
Garbage Collection Release Notes (HTML)
Describes features, issues, and workarounds related to Mac OS X v10.5 and its support of garbage collection.
Objective-C Language Release Notes 2007-10-31
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 4.0.1 Compiler User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU 4.0.1 compiler.
Intel-Based Macs Reference 2007-10-31
IKFilterBrowserPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides the panel contained in a filter browser.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-10-31
IKPictureTaker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Descibes the class that provides a panel for choosing images.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-10-31
IKSlideshow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that encapsulates a data source and options for a slideshow.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-10-31
IMAVManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the object that controls the auxiliary audio and video source to iChat Theater.
Apple Applications Reference 2007-10-31
Instant Message Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to access iChat services and buddies and use iChat Theater through code samples.
Apple Applications, General, Internet & Web Guides 2007-10-31
Interface Builder User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and tasks explaining how to use the Interface Builder application to design user interfaces.
Tools Guides 2007-10-31
ISyncUIHelper Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
An informal protocol that provides user interface attributes to the iSync user interface.
Syncing Reference 2007-10-31
Launch Services Release Notes (HTML)
Interapplication Communication Release Notes 2007-10-31
Mac OS X Technology Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces Mac OS X and its technologies.
Accessibility Guides 2007-10-31
NSAnimatablePropertyContainer Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to provide an animatable proxy object for views and windows.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-10-31
NSAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the timing and progress of animations in the user interface.
Games, Graphics & Imaging, User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
NSAtomicStore Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Core Data class used to represent an atomic persistent store.
Data Management Reference 2007-10-31
NSAttributeDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to define attributes of an entity in a Core Data managed object model.
Objective-C Language Reference 2007-10-31
NSCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the base class for managing cells.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
NSDateComponents Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify and operate on the components of a date.
Data Management Reference 2007-10-31
NSDecimalNumber Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify an object-oriented wrapper for doing base-10 arithmetic.
Data Management Reference 2007-10-31
NSImage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing and drawing images.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-10-31
NSImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the base class for managing image data.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-10-31
NSIndexPath Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to represent a path to a node in a tree.
Data Management Reference 2007-10-31
NSKeyValueObserving Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol that allows objects to be notified of changes to the specified properties of other objects.
Data Management, Design Guidelines Reference 2007-10-31
NSManagedObject Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to represent model objects in Core Data.
Data Management Reference 2007-10-31
NSNumberFormatter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to convert between the textual representation of NSNumbers objects and their stored values.
Data Management, User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
NSPointerFunctions Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to define callout functions appropriate for managing a pointer reference held somewhere else.
Data Management Reference 2007-10-31
NSScriptKeyValueCoding Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to provide additional key-value coding capabilities in a scriptable application.
Scripting & Automation Reference 2007-10-31
NSSecureTextFieldCell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that implements the user interface of NSSecureTextField.
Text & Fonts, User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
NSSortDescriptor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used for specifying how an array of objects is sorted.
Data Management Reference 2007-10-31
NSTableColumn Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that encapsulates the display characteristics and attribute identifiers for a column in an table view.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
NSTableView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays and edits record-oriented data in a table.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
NSTextField Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display text that the user can select or edit.
User Experience Reference 2007-10-31
NSValue Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify an object container for a single C or Objective-C data item.
Data Management Reference 2007-10-31
NSWindow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manipulate windows and distribute window events to the appropriate view.
Events & Other Input, Graphics & Imaging, User Experience Reference 2007-10-31