---
title: Introduction
framework: darwin
role: article
path: apple-archive/documentation/Darwin/Conceptual/FSEvents_ProgGuide/Introduction
---

# Introduction

Explains how applications can detect changes in the file system.

## Organization of This Document

This document is organized into the following chapters:

- [Technology Overview](../TechnologyOverview/TechnologyOverview.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40005289-CH3-SW1)—describes the file system events API and explains how it works at a high level. - [Using the File System Events API](../UsingtheFSEventsFramework/UsingtheFSEventsFramework.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40005289-CH4-SW4)—explains how to use the file system events API, from creating an event stream to writing a handler, including code examples to help you quickly get started. - [File System Event Security](../FileSystemEventSecurity/FileSystemEventSecurity.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40005289-CH6-SW1)—describes the security features of the file system events API. - [Kernel Queues: An Alternative to File System Events](../KernelQueues/KernelQueues.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40005289-CH5-SW2)—explains the kernel queues mechanism, describes when it may be appropriate to use the kernel queues API in lieu of the file system events API, and includes a brief code example to show you how to use it.

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

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