---
title: Introduction
framework: musicaudio
role: article
path: apple-archive/documentation/MusicAudio/Conceptual/CoreAudioOverview/Introduction
---

# Introduction

Provides an overview of Core Audio and its programming interfaces.

## Organization of This Document

This document is organized into the following chapters:

- [What Is Core Audio?](../WhatisCoreAudio/WhatisCoreAudio.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40003577-CH3-SW1) describes the features of Core Audio and what you can use it for. - [Core Audio Essentials](../CoreAudioEssentials/CoreAudioEssentials.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40003577-CH10-SW1) describes the architecture of Core Audio, introduces you to its programming patterns and idioms, and shows you the basics of how to use it in your applications. - [Common Tasks in OS X](../ARoadmaptoCommonTasks/ARoadmaptoCommonTasks.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40003577-CH6-SW1) outlines how you can use Core Audio to accomplish several audio tasks in OS X.

This document also contains four appendixes:

- [Core Audio Frameworks](../CoreAudioFrameworks/CoreAudioFrameworks.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40003577-CH9-SW1) lists the frameworks and headers that define Core Audio. - [Core Audio Services](../WhatsinCoreAudio/WhatsinCoreAudio.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40003577-CH4-SW4) provides an alternate view of Core Audio, listing the services available in iOS, OS X, and on both platforms. - [System-Supplied Audio Units in OS X](../SystemAudioUnits/SystemAudioUnits.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40003577-CH8-SW2) lists the audio units that ship in OS X v10.5. - [Supported Audio File and Data Formats in OS X](../SupportedAudioFormatsMacOSX/SupportedAudioFormatsMacOSX.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40003577-CH7-SW1) lists the audio file and data formats that Core Audio supports in OS X v10.5.

## See Also

For more detailed information about audio and Core Audio, see the following resources:

- *[AVAudioPlayer Class Reference](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/avaudioplayer)*, which describes a simple Objective-C interface for audio playback in iOS applications. - *[Audio Session Programming Guide](../../../../Audio/Conceptual/AudioSessionProgrammingGuide/Introduction/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40007875)*, which explains how to specify important aspects of audio behavior for iOS applications. - *[Audio Queue Services Programming Guide](../../AudioQueueProgrammingGuide/Introduction/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40005343)*, which explains how to implement recording and playback in your application. - *[Core Audio Data Types Reference](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreaudio/core_audio_data_types)*, which describes the data types used throughout Core Audio. - *[Audio File Stream Services Reference](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/audiotoolbox/audio_file_stream_services)*, which describes the interfaces you use for working with streamed audio. - *[Audio Unit Programming Guide](../../AudioUnitProgrammingGuide/Introduction/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40003278)*, which contains detailed information about creating audio units for OS X. - *[Core Audio Glossary](../../../Reference/CoreAudioGlossary/Introduction/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40004453)*, which defines terms used throughout the Core Audio documentation suite. - *[Apple Core Audio Format Specification 1.0](../../../Reference/CAFSpec/CAF_intro/CAF_intro.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40001862)*, which describes Apple’s universal audio container format, the Core Audio File (CAF) format. - The Core Audio mailing list: [http://lists.apple.com/mailman/listinfo/coreaudio-api](http://lists.apple.com/mailman/listinfo/coreaudio-api) - The OS X audio developer site: [http://developer.apple.com/audio/](http://developer.apple.com/audio/) - The Core Audio SDK (software development kit), available at [http://developer.apple.com/sdk/](http://developer.apple.com/sdk/)

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

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