---
title: Introduction
framework: userexperience
role: article
path: apple-archive/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/AddressBook
---

# Introduction

Explains how to add, search, remove, and customize Address Book records.

## Who Should Read This Document?

This document is designed for anyone who wants to leverage the abilities of the OS X Address Book technology in their application. You should read it to learn how to access a user’s address book, add new properties to the address book database, and create action plug-ins for the Address Book application.

It is expected that you are already familiar with Xcode and the basics of Mac app development.

**Note:** Developers who have used the Address Book technology on iOS should be aware that the programming interface for this technology is different on OS X.

## Organization of This Document

The document contains the following articles:

- [About the Address Book](Concepts/WhatsInAB.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001021-BAJGJJAH) describes what’s in the Address Book database and what you can do with it. - [Managing Address Book Records](Tasks/ManagingGroups.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001022-BABHHIHC) describes how to add and remove people and groups, how to arrange people into groups, and how to find the record for the logged-in user. - [Accessing Address Book Records](Tasks/AccessingData.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001023-BABHHIHC) describes how to access data in a person or group record. - [Searching an Address Book](Tasks/Searching.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001024-BABHHIHC) describes how to perform searches on a user’s address book. - [Using Address Book Groups as Distribution Lists](Tasks/CreatingMailingLists.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001025-BABHHIHC) describes how to set up a group so you can use it as a mailing list, or other type of distribution list. - [Adding Properties to Address Book Records](Tasks/AddingProperties.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001026-BABHHIHC) describes how to customize an address book for your own applications by adding properties to it. - [Creating and Using Address Book Action Plug-ins](Tasks/Actions.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001681-BCIDFHFI) describes how to create action plug-ins which allow users to perform custom actions on address book data viewed within the Address Book application. - [Importing and Exporting Person and Group Records](Tasks/ImportingExportingPeople.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001027-BCIDFHFI) describes how to import and export person records by using the vCard standard. - [Using the Address Book C API](Concepts/ForCarbonDev.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001690-BAJGJJAH) contains special information for those using the Address Book C API.

## See Also

- *[Identity Services Programming Guide](../../../Networking/Conceptual/IdentityServices_ProgGuide/Introduction/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40004490)* discusses a way to manage groups of users on a local system, including standard login accounts and sharing accounts.

[Next](Concepts/WhatsInAB.html)

Copyright © 2002, 2013 Apple Inc. All Rights Reserved. [Terms of Use](http://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](http://www.apple.com/privacy/) | Updated: 2013-04-23