---
title: Introduction to CFNetwork Programming Guide
framework: networking
role: article
path: apple-archive/documentation/Networking/Conceptual/CFNetwork/Introduction
---

# Introduction to CFNetwork Programming Guide

Explains how to use Core Foundation networking functions to work with low-level BSD sockets.

## Organization of This Document

This book contains the following chapters:

- [CFNetwork Concepts](../Concepts/Concepts.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30001132-CH4-SW10) describes each of the CFNetwork APIs and how they interact. - [Working with Streams](../CFStreamTasks/CFStreamTasks.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30001132-CH6-SW1) describes how to use the CFStream API to send and receive network data. - [Communicating with HTTP Servers](../CFHTTPTasks/CFHTTPTasks.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30001132-CH5-SW2) describes how to send and receive HTTP messages. - [Communicating with Authenticating HTTP Servers](../CFHTTPAuthenticationTasks/CFHTTPAuthenticationTasks.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30001132-CH8-SW1) describes how to communicate with secure HTTP servers. - [Working with FTP Servers](../CFFTPTasks/CFFTPTasks.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30001132-CH9-SW1) describes how to upload and download files from an FTP server, and how to download directory listings. - [Using Network Diagnostics](../UsingNetworkDiagnostics/UsingNetworkDiagnostics.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30001132-CH7-SW1) describes how to add network diagnostics to your application.

## See Also

For more information about the networking APIs in OS X, read:

- *Getting Started With Networking*

Refer to the following reference documents for CFNetwork:

- *CFFTPStream Reference* is the reference documentation for the CFFTPStream API. - *CFHTTPMessage Reference* is the reference documentation for the CFHTTPMessage API. - *CFHTTPStream Reference* is the reference documentation for the CFHTTPStream API. - *CFHTTPAuthentication Reference* is the reference documentation for the CFHTTPAuthentication API. - *CFHost Reference* is the reference documentation for the CFHost API. - *CFNetService Reference* is the reference documentation for the CFNetServices API. - *CFNetDiagnostics Reference* is the reference documentation for the CFNetDiagnostics API.

In addition to the documentation provided by Apple, the following is the reference book for socket-level programming:

- *UNIX Network Programming, Volume 1* (Stevens, Fenner and Rudoff)

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

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