---
title: Introduction
framework: cocoa
role: article
path: apple-archive/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/CocoaFundamentals/Introduction
---

# Introduction

Introduces the basic concepts, terminology, architectures, and design patterns of the Cocoa and Cocoa Touch frameworks and development environment.

## Organization of This Document

*Cocoa Fundamentals Guide* has the following chapters:

- [What Is Cocoa?](../WhatIsCocoa/WhatIsCocoa.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40002974-CH3-SW16) introduces Cocoa from a functional and broadly architectural perspective, describing its features, frameworks, and development environment. - [Cocoa Objects](../CocoaObjects/CocoaObjects.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40002974-CH4-SW31) explains the advantages and basic use of Objective-C, plus the common behavior, interface, and life cycle of all Cocoa objects. - [Adding Behavior to a Cocoa Program](../AddingBehaviortoaCocoaProgram/AddingBehaviorCocoa.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40002974-CH5-SW1) describes what it's like to write a program using a Cocoa framework and explains how to create a subclass. - [Cocoa Design Patterns](../CocoaDesignPatterns/CocoaDesignPatterns.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40002974-CH6-SW6) describes the Cocoa adaptations of design patterns, especially Model-View-Controller and object modeling. - [Communicating with Objects](../CommunicatingWithObjects/CommunicateWithObjects.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40002974-CH7-SW15) discusses the programming interfaces and mechanisms for communication between Cocoa objects, including delegation, notification, and bindings.

## See Also

You can find several excellent third-party introductions to Cocoa in technical book stores. You can use these books to supplement what you learn in *Cocoa Fundamentals Guide*. In addition, there are a few other Apple publications that you should read when starting out as a Cocoa developer:

- *[The Objective-C Programming Language](../../ObjectiveC/Introduction/introObjectiveC.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30001163)* describes the Objective-C programming language and runtime environment. - *Model Object Implementation Guide* discusses basic issues of subclass design and implementation. - *Developing Cocoa Objective-C Applications: A Tutorial* shows you how to build a simple Cocoa application for OS X using the Xcode development environment, the Cocoa frameworks, and Objective-C. *Your First iOS App* is a tutorial that guides you through the creation of a simple iOS application, showing you along the way the basics of the Xcode development environment, Objective-C, and the Cocoa frameworks. - *[App Programming Guide for iOS](../../../../iPhone/Conceptual/iPhoneOSProgrammingGuide/Introduction/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40007072)* presents information specific to the frameworks used to develop applications for devices running iOS.

[Next](../WhatIsCocoa/WhatIsCocoa.html)

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