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Cocoa (API)
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<p>Cocoa is <a href="/facts/Apple_Inc./oTJYta3k">Apple</a>'s native <a href="/facts/Object-oriented_programming/TxNMEcao">object-oriented</a> <a href="/facts/Application_programming_interface/GMlN4vUr">application programming interface</a> (API) for its <a href="/facts/Desktop_computer/edFPINdK">desktop</a> <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> <a href="/facts/MacOS/Y93vVpTm">macOS</a>. </p><p>Cocoa consists of the <a href="/facts/Foundation_Kit/LcnWzx5R">Foundation Kit</a>, <a href="/facts/Application_Kit/zSnfGfyt">Application Kit</a>, and <a href="/facts/Core_Data/nFKtLml2">Core Data</a> frameworks, as included by the Cocoa.h header file, and the libraries and frameworks included by those, such as the C standard library and the Objective-C runtime. </p><p>Cocoa applications are typically developed using the development tools provided by Apple, specifically <a href="/facts/Xcode/glURdIVT">Xcode</a> (formerly <a href="/facts/Project_Builder/TRfWUJAr">Project Builder</a>) and <a href="/facts/Interface_Builder/IMK6EyVq">Interface Builder</a> (now part of Xcode), using the <a href="/facts/Programming_language/cWTYbgWa">programming languages</a> <a href="/facts/Objective-C/5mM557BW">Objective-C</a> or <a href="/facts/Swift_(programming_language)/A7qHQC32">Swift</a>. However, the Cocoa programming environment can be accessed using other tools. It is also possible to write Objective-C Cocoa programs in a simple <a href="/facts/Text_editor/jPCgtbvN">text editor</a> and build it manually with <a href="/facts/GNU_Compiler_Collection/t07jh01k">GNU Compiler Collection</a> (GCC) or <a href="/facts/Clang/MH7cjC67">Clang</a> from the command line or from a <a href="/facts/Make_(software)/5q1DQ4ot">makefile</a>. </p><p>For <a href="/facts/End_user/7IM9qu7N">end users</a>, Cocoa <a href="/facts/Application_software/YQuj7Kog">applications</a> are those written using the Cocoa programming environment. Such applications usually have a familiar look and feel, since the Cocoa programming environment provides a lot of common <a href="/facts/User_interface/e9sPEWVD">UI elements</a> (such as buttons, scroll bars, etc.), and automates many aspects of an application to comply with Apple's <a href="/facts/Human_interface_guidelines/U9WBXEQo">human interface guidelines</a>. </p><p>For <a href="/facts/IOS/mK5cggH5">iOS</a>, <a href="/facts/IPadOS/fClrmH7D">iPadOS</a>, <a href="/facts/TvOS/jDMqvvfI">tvOS</a>, and <a href="/facts/WatchOS/zH1fkn2R">watchOS</a>, APIs similar to Application Kit, named <a href="/facts/UIKit/GUGI8gsU">UIKit</a> and WatchKit, are available; they include <a href="/facts/Gesture_recognition/jly3YdnY">gesture recognition</a>, <a href="/facts/Animation/093f9nUg">animation</a>, and a different set of <a href="/facts/Graphical_control_element/SuVeScB2">graphical control elements</a> that are designed to accommodate the specific platforms they target. Foundation Kit and Core Data are also available in those operating systems. It is used in <a href="/facts/Application_software/YQuj7Kog">applications</a> for Apple devices such as the <a href="/facts/IPhone/h5WeKRl9">iPhone</a>, the <a href="/facts/IPod_Touch/PRJabx51">iPod Touch</a>, the <a href="/facts/IPad/Ql67x0Dw">iPad</a>, the <a href="/facts/Apple_TV/FHVJqBCw">Apple TV</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Apple_Watch/tJjbXQEa">Apple Watch</a>. </p>