Apple Frameworks

Comprehensive reference guide for Apple Developer frameworks

Framework Name Description Link
Accelerate Perform large-scale mathematical computations and image calculations optimized for high performance and low energy consumption link
Accessibility Make your apps accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities link
AccessorySetupKit Seamlessly set up Bluetooth and Wi-Fi accessories in your app link
Account & Organizational Data Sharing Share account and organizational data across apps link
Account Data Transfer Transfer user account data between apps link
Accounts Access and manage user accounts for various services link
ActivityKit Display live activities on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island link
AdAttributionKit Measure advertising campaign effectiveness while preserving user privacy link
AdServices Access Apple Search Ads attribution API for campaign performance link
AdSupport Access advertising identifier for tracking link
Address Book Access and manage the user’s contacts (deprecated, use Contacts framework) link
Address Book UI Provide UI for contacts management (deprecated, use ContactsUI framework) link
Advanced Commerce API Build advanced commerce experiences in your apps link
AlarmKit Create and manage alarms on Apple Watch link
Analytics Reports Access App Analytics data programmatically link
App Clips Create lightweight app experiences for instant access link
App Data Transfer Transfer app data between devices link
App Intents Make your app’s functionality available to Siri, Shortcuts, and other system features link
App License Delivery SDK Manage app license delivery for enterprise distribution link
App Store Connect API Automate App Store Connect workflows and integrate with your build process link
App Store Receipts Validate App Store receipts for in-app purchases and subscriptions link
App Tracking Transparency Request user permission to track them across apps and websites link
AppKit Construct and manage your app’s user interface on macOS link
Apple Archive Create and extract archive files with compression link
Apple CryptoKit Perform cryptographic operations securely and efficiently link
Apple Music API Integrate Apple Music into your apps and services link
Apple News Publish and deliver content through Apple News link
Apple Pencil Support Apple Pencil interactions in your app link
Apple silicon Optimize your apps for Apple silicon processors link
AppleScript Automate repetitive tasks and control scriptable apps on macOS link
Application Services Access core graphics, color management, and printing services on macOS link
ARKit Create augmented reality experiences for iOS and iPadOS link
Assignables Manage and track assignable content in educational apps link
Assets Library Access photos and videos from the user’s photo library (deprecated, use Photos framework) link
AudioToolbox Record, play back, and process audio content link
AudioUnit Create and use audio processing plug-ins link
AuthenticationServices Integrate Sign in with Apple and manage passwords link
Automator Create workflows and automate tasks on macOS link
AVFoundation Work with audiovisual media, including playback, capture, editing, and export link
AVKit Display video content with playback controls link
AVRouting Discover and connect to AirPlay devices link
BackgroundAssets Download essential content in the background before app launch link
BackgroundTasks Schedule background work for your app link
BrowserEngineKit Create custom web browser engines for iOS and iPadOS link
Business Chat Enable customers to communicate with your business through Messages link
Business Chat REST API Integrate Business Chat programmatically into your services link
CallKit Integrate your calling services with the native phone UI link
CarPlay Create audio, communication, and navigation apps for CarPlay link
Charts Create beautiful and informative charts with Swift link
ClassKit Share educational content with teachers and provide progress reports link
ClassKit Catalog API Share educational app content with Apple School Manager link
ClockKit Design watch faces and complications for Apple Watch link
CloudKit Store structured data in iCloud containers link
CloudKit JS Access CloudKit data from web apps using JavaScript link
Combine Process values over time with declarative Swift API link
Compression Compress and decompress data using industry-standard algorithms link
Contacts Access and manage the user’s contacts link
ContactsUI Display and edit contacts using system-provided interfaces link
Core Animation Render, animate, and compose visual content link
Core Audio Record, play back, and process audio with low-level APIs link
Core Audio Kit Design custom interfaces for audio units link
Core Audio Types Use data types common to Core Audio frameworks link
Core Bluetooth Communicate with Bluetooth Low Energy devices link
Core Data Persist or cache data and support undo and redo operations link
Core Foundation Access fundamental data types and services link
Core Graphics Create and manipulate 2D graphics and images link
Core Haptics Compose and play haptic patterns to customize your app’s feedback link
Core Image Apply filters and effects to images and video link
Core Location Obtain the geographic location and orientation of a device link
Core Media Represent and manipulate time-based audio-visual media link
Core Media IO Create virtual audio and video devices link
Core MIDI Communicate with MIDI devices and process MIDI data link
Core ML Integrate machine learning models into your app link
Core Motion Process accelerometer, gyroscope, pedometer, and environment-related events link
Core NFC Detect NFC tags, read messages, and write data link
Core Services Access core system services and data types link
Core Spotlight Index your app content for Spotlight search link
Core Telephony Access information about the user’s cellular service provider link
Core Text Lay out text and handle fonts with fine-grained control link
Core Transferable Enable drag and drop, copy and paste, and share sheet support link
Core Video Process and manipulate digital video link
Core WLAN Manage Wi-Fi networks on macOS link
CreateML Train custom machine learning models on your Mac link
CreateMLComponents Build custom Create ML components link
CryptoKit Perform cryptographic operations securely link
CryptoTokenKit Develop drivers for smart card readers and smart cards link
Darwin Access low-level Unix and C APIs on Apple platforms link
DarwinNotify Use Darwin notification center for inter-process communication link
DeveloperToolsSupport Access Swift Macros and other developer tool features link
DeviceActivity Monitor and restrict app and website usage with Screen Time API link
DeviceCheck Access per-device information without compromising user privacy link
DeviceDiscoveryExtension Discover and configure accessories using your app link
DeviceDiscoveryUI Display system UI for device discovery link
Disk Arbitration Monitor and control disk mounting on macOS link
Dispatch Execute code concurrently on multicore hardware link
Distributed Build distributed actor systems in Swift link
DriverKit Develop device drivers that run in user space link
dnssd Use DNS Service Discovery (Bonjour) to discover network services link
DocC Document your Swift code with rich documentation link
Embedded Develop software for embedded systems using Swift link
EndpointSecurity Monitor and control system events for security purposes link
EventKit Access and manage calendar events and reminders link
EventKitUI Display system interfaces for creating and editing calendar events link
ExceptionHandling Handle Objective-C exceptions on macOS link
ExecutionPolicy Manage code execution policies on macOS link
ExtensionFoundation Create app extensions using Swift and modern patterns link
ExtensionKit Build app extensions for iOS, macOS, and other platforms link
External Accessory Communicate with Made for iPhone/iPad accessories link
FamilyControls Implement parental controls and Screen Time features link
FileProvider Provide and manage files stored by your app link
FileProviderUI Display custom actions in the file provider interface link
FinderSync Extend Finder with custom badges, contextual menus, and toolbar buttons link
FinanceKit Access financial data with user permission link
FinanceKitUI Display financial data with system-provided UI link
FlexibleHybridEngine Build flexible hybrid rendering engines link
ForceFeedback Control force-feedback devices on macOS link
Foundation Access essential data types, collections, and operating system services link
FWAUserLib Access FireWire audio device functionality link
Game Controller Support game controllers in your app link
Game Center Integrate leaderboards, achievements, and multiplayer gaming link
GameKit Add Game Center features to your app link
GameplayKit Implement common gameplay mechanics and behaviors link
GLKit Build OpenGL ES-based apps (deprecated, use Metal) link
GroupActivities Enable shared experiences with SharePlay link
GSS Use Generic Security Services API for authentication link
HealthKit Access and share health and fitness data link
HealthKitUI Display health data with system-provided interfaces link
HomeKit Control and communicate with home automation accessories link
HTTPTypes Work with HTTP requests and responses using modern Swift types link
HWKeyboard Support hardware keyboards on iOS link
Hypervisor Create and manage virtual machines on macOS link
iAd Display iAd advertising in your app (deprecated) link
IdentityLookup Identify and block spam calls and messages link
IdentityLookupUI Provide UI for call and message blocking link
ImageCaptureCore Browse and control scanners and cameras link
ImageI/O Read and write most image file formats link
IMServicePlugIn Create instant messaging service plug-ins for Messages link
InputMethodKit Develop input methods for macOS link
Instant Test changes instantly with dynamic replacement link
Intents Make your app’s functionality available to Siri and Shortcuts link
IntentsUI Provide custom UI for Siri and Shortcuts link
IOBluetooth Communicate with Bluetooth devices on macOS link
IOBluetoothUI Display UI for Bluetooth device pairing and selection link
IOKit Access hardware devices and drivers on macOS link
IOSurface Share hardware-accelerated buffer data between processes link
IOUSBHost Develop user-space USB drivers link
iTunesLibrary Access information about the user’s iTunes library link
JavaScriptCore Evaluate JavaScript code and interact with JavaScript environments link
Kernel Develop kernel extensions (deprecated, use DriverKit) link
LinkPresentation Generate rich previews for URLs and attachments link
LiveActivity Create and update Live Activities link
LocalAuthentication Authenticate users with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode link
LocalAuthenticationEmbeddedUI Embed authentication UI in your app link
LockerKit Securely store and access user data link
MapKit Embed maps and location features in your app link
MapKit JS Embed interactive maps in your web apps link
Matter Support Matter-compatible smart home devices link
Matter Support Configure and control Matter accessories link
MediaAccessibility Provide accessible media experiences link
MediaPlayer Display and play audio and video content link
MediaSetup Onboard devices for media streaming link
MediaToolbox Work with media files and streams at a low level link
MessageUI Compose and send email and SMS messages link
Messages Create stickers, iMessage apps, and message extensions link
Metal Access the GPU for graphics and compute workloads link
MetalFX Apply upscaling and anti-aliasing to your Metal content link
MetalKit Simplify Metal setup and rendering tasks link
MetalPerformanceShaders Optimize common image processing and machine learning operations link
MetalPerformanceShadersGraph Build compute graphs for complex machine learning workflows link
MetricKit Collect and analyze metrics about your app’s performance and stability link
MLCompute Train and deploy machine learning models using CPU and GPU link
Model I/O Import, export, and manipulate 3D model assets link
MusicKit Integrate Apple Music into your app link
NaturalLanguage Analyze natural language text and identify features like language and sentiment link
NearbyInteraction Enable device-to-device spatial awareness link
Network Implement networking using modern protocols and secure connections link
NetworkExtension Customize and extend core networking features link
NetworkingDriverKit Develop network drivers for macOS link
NewsstandKit Deliver magazine and newspaper content (deprecated) link
NotificationCenter Create widgets for Notification Center on macOS link
ObjectiveC Use Objective-C runtime features link
Observation Track changes to your model data automatically link
OpenAL Process spatial audio (deprecated, use AVFoundation) link
OpenCL Write programs that execute across CPUs and GPUs (deprecated, use Metal) link
OpenDirectory Access directory services on macOS link
os Access low-level operating system functionality link
OSAKit Execute AppleScript and JavaScript for Automation link
OSLog Record informative messages for debugging and performance analysis link
PassKit Integrate Apple Pay and manage passes in Wallet link
PCIDriverKit Develop PCI device drivers for macOS link
PDFKit Display and manipulate PDF documents link
PencilKit Incorporate hand-drawn content into your app link
PHASE Create immersive spatial audio experiences link
PhotoKit Work with photo and video assets managed by the Photos app link
Photos Access and modify photo library content link
PhotosUI Display system interfaces for selecting and editing photos link
PlaygroundBluetooth Access Bluetooth devices in Swift Playgrounds link
PlaygroundSupport Display results and get input in Swift Playgrounds link
PluginKit Discover and use app extensions on macOS link
PushKit Receive push notifications for VoIP and other specialized apps link
PushToTalk Add push-to-talk functionality to your app link
QTKit Work with QuickTime media (deprecated, use AVFoundation) link
Quartz Access 2D graphics and imaging capabilities on macOS link
QuartzCore Animate and composite visual elements link
Quick Look Preview documents and other content link
QuickLook Thumbnailing Generate thumbnails for files link
QuickLookUI Display previews with custom interfaces link
RealityFoundation Build experiences for Apple Vision Pro link
RealityKit Create 3D content for augmented reality and Apple Vision Pro link
RegexBuilder Build regular expressions using result builder syntax link
ReplayKit Record and broadcast video from your app’s screen link
RoomPlan Create parametric 3D models of interior spaces link
SafariServices Integrate web browsing into your app link
SafetyKit Provide safety features and location sharing link
SafetyKitUI Display safety-related interfaces link
SceneKit Create and render 3D scenes link
ScreenCaptureKit Capture screen content in high-performance workflows link
ScreenTime Request Screen Time permissions and restrictions link
ScriptingBridge Control scriptable applications from Swift and Objective-C link
Security Manage certificates, keys, and trust policies link
SecurityFoundation Provide cryptographic and authentication services link
SecurityInterface Display security-related interfaces link
SensitiveContentAnalysis Detect and warn about sensitive content link
SensorKit Access sensor and usage data for research purposes link
Sensors Access device sensor data link
SerialDriverKit Develop serial port drivers for macOS link
ServiceManagement Install and manage system services and login items link
SharedWithYou Integrate content shared through Messages into your app link
SharedWithYouCore Access shared content metadata and attribution link
ShazamKit Identify music and audio using audio recognition link
Social Share content to social networks (deprecated, use appropriate sharing APIs) link
SoundAnalysis Analyze audio streams to identify sounds link
Speech Perform speech recognition and text-to-speech link
SpriteKit Create 2D games and interactive graphics link
StoreKit Implement in-app purchases and subscriptions link
Swift Use the Swift programming language link
Swift Playgrounds Create interactive Swift learning experiences link
Swift Standard Library Access fundamental Swift types and protocols link
SwiftData Persist data using modern Swift syntax and patterns link
SwiftUI Declare your app’s user interface with Swift link
Symbols Access and customize SF Symbols link
Synchronization Implement low-level synchronization primitives in Swift link
System Access low-level system functionality link
System Configuration Access and modify network configuration settings link
System Extensions Extend system functionality without kernel extensions link
TabularData Work with tabular data in Swift link
Testing Write unit tests for your Swift code link
ThreadNetwork Manage Thread network credentials link
TipKit Highlight new and helpful features in your app link
Translation Translate text and speech between languages link
TunesToolbox Access iTunes-related functionality (deprecated) link
TVMLKit Build client-server TV apps using TVML link
TVMLKit JS Create TV app interfaces with JavaScript and TVML link
TVServices Provide TV content recommendations and Top Shelf items link
TVUIKit Create tvOS user interfaces link
Uniform Type Identifiers Identify file types and data formats link
UniformTypeIdentifiers Define and work with uniform type identifiers link
UIKit Construct and manage your app’s user interface on iOS and tvOS link
USBDriverKit Develop USB device drivers for macOS link
USBSerialDriverKit Develop USB serial device drivers for macOS link
UserNotifications Schedule and handle local and remote notifications link
UserNotificationsUI Customize the appearance of notifications link
VideoDecoderKit Implement custom video decoders link
VideoSubscriberAccount Access cable and satellite subscription information link
VideoToolbox Process video at a low level link
Virtualization Run Linux virtual machines on Apple silicon link
Vision Apply computer vision algorithms to images and video link
VisionKit Scan documents and recognize text in images link
visionOS Build apps and experiences for Apple Vision Pro link
VZEthernetNetworkDeviceAttachment Configure virtual network devices for virtualization link
WatchConnectivity Communicate between iPhone and Apple Watch apps link
WatchKit Build apps and complications for Apple Watch link
WeatherKit Access weather forecasts and historical data link
WebKit Embed web content and evaluate JavaScript link
WidgetKit Create Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets link
WorkoutKit Build custom workout experiences link
Xcode Develop apps using Apple’s integrated development environment link
XCTest Write unit tests and UI tests for your apps link

Total Frameworks Extracted: 277

Source: Apple Developer Documentation (https://developer.apple.com/documentation/)

Note: Apple’s documentation indicates there are 374 total framework/technology entries. This list represents the major frameworks extracted from the documentation. Some entries may represent collections, deprecated frameworks, or specialized APIs that were not fully captured in this extraction.

Descriptions: Brief descriptions have been provided for each framework based on Apple’s official documentation. These summaries highlight the primary purpose and functionality of each framework.

Last Updated: October 19, 2025