# CFArray ``` class CFArray ``` ## Overview CFArray and its derived mutable type, [`CFMutableArray`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFMutableArray), manage ordered collections of values called arrays. CFArray creates static arrays and CFMutableArray creates dynamic arrays. You create a static array object using either the [`CFArrayCreate(_:_:_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayCreate(_:_:_:_:)) or [`CFArrayCreateCopy(_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayCreateCopy(_:_:)) function. These functions return an array containing the values you pass in as arguments. (Note that arrays can’t contain `NULL` pointers; in most cases, though, you can use the [`kCFNull`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/kCFNull) constant instead.) Values are not copied but retained using the retain callback provided when an array was created. Similarly, when a value is removed from an array, it is released using the release callback. CFArray’s two primitive functions [`CFArrayGetCount(_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayGetCount(_:)) and [`CFArrayGetValueAtIndex(_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayGetValueAtIndex(_:_:)) provide the basis for all other functions in its interface. The [`CFArrayGetCount(_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayGetCount(_:)) function returns the number of elements in an array; [`CFArrayGetValueAtIndex(_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayGetValueAtIndex(_:_:)) gives you access to an array’s elements by index, with index values starting at 0. A number of CFArray functions allow you to operate over a range of values in an array, for example [`CFArrayApplyFunction(_:_:_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayApplyFunction(_:_:_:_:)) lets you apply a function to values in an array, and [`CFArrayBSearchValues(_:_:_:_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayBSearchValues(_:_:_:_:_:)) searches an array for the value that matches its parameter. Recall that a range is defined as `{start, length}`, therefore to operate over the entire array the range you supply should be `{0, N}` (where `N` is the count of the array). CFArray is “toll-free bridged” with its Cocoa Foundation counterpart, . This means that the Core Foundation type is interchangeable in function or method calls with the bridged Foundation object. Therefore, in a method where you see an `NSArray *` parameter, you can pass in a `CFArrayRef`, and in a function where you see a `CFArrayRef` parameter, you can pass in an NSArray instance. This also applies to concrete subclasses of NSArray. See [Toll-Free Bridged Types](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/CoreFoundation/Conceptual/CFDesignConcepts/Articles/tollFreeBridgedTypes.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40010677) for more information on toll-free bridging. ## Topics ### Creating an Array [`CFArrayCreate(_:_:_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayCreate(_:_:_:_:)) Creates a new immutable array with the given values. [`CFArrayCreateCopy(_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayCreateCopy(_:_:)) Creates a new immutable array with the values from another array. ### Examining an Array [`CFArrayBSearchValues(_:_:_:_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayBSearchValues(_:_:_:_:_:)) Searches an array for a value using a binary search algorithm. [`CFArrayContainsValue(_:_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayContainsValue(_:_:_:)) Reports whether or not a value is in an array. [`CFArrayGetCount(_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayGetCount(_:)) Returns the number of values currently in an array. [`CFArrayGetCountOfValue(_:_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayGetCountOfValue(_:_:_:)) Counts the number of times a given value occurs in an array. [`CFArrayGetFirstIndexOfValue(_:_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayGetFirstIndexOfValue(_:_:_:)) Searches an array forward for a value. [`CFArrayGetLastIndexOfValue(_:_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayGetLastIndexOfValue(_:_:_:)) Searches an array backward for a value. [`CFArrayGetValues(_:_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayGetValues(_:_:_:)) Fills a buffer with values from an array. [`CFArrayGetValueAtIndex(_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayGetValueAtIndex(_:_:)) Retrieves a value at a given index. ### Applying a Function to Elements [`CFArrayApplyFunction(_:_:_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayApplyFunction(_:_:_:_:)) Calls a function once for each element in range in an array. ### Getting the CFArray Type ID [`CFArrayGetTypeID()`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayGetTypeID()) Returns the type identifier for the CFArray opaque type. ### Callbacks [`CFArrayApplierFunction`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayApplierFunction) Prototype of a callback function that may be applied to every value in an array. [`CFArrayCopyDescriptionCallBack`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayCopyDescriptionCallBack) Prototype of a callback function used to get a description of a value in an array. [`CFArrayEqualCallBack`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayEqualCallBack) Prototype of a callback function used to determine if two values in an array are equal. [`CFArrayReleaseCallBack`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayReleaseCallBack) Prototype of a callback function used to release a value before it’s removed from an array. [`CFArrayRetainCallBack`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayRetainCallBack) Prototype of a callback function used to retain a value being added to an array. ### Data Types [`CFArrayCallBacks`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFArrayCallBacks) Structure containing the callbacks of a CFArray. ### Constants [Predefined Callback Structures](/documentation/CoreFoundation/predefined-callback-structures) CFArray provides a predefined callback structure appropriate for use when the values in a CFArray are all CFType-derived objects. ## See Also [Property List Programming Topics for Core Foundation](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/CoreFoundation/Conceptual/CFPropertyLists/CFPropertyLists.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/10000130i) [Collections Programming Topics for Core Foundation](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/CoreFoundation/Conceptual/CFCollections/CFCollections.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/10000124i) --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. 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