The Objective-C Pocket Reference is a quick guide to the Objective-C programming language and some of its fundamental support libraries. This reference takes the form of brief explanations interspersed with examples and definitions. If you are experienced with Objective-C, this handbook will supply the definitions and examples you most often need to jog your memory. If you are coming to Objective-C from C++ or Java and prefer to jump right in and write code, this book will give you enough explanation to use the language’s features appropriately.

This handbook progresses in sequence as much as possible, with later sections building on earlier ones, but some parts are necessarily interrelated. For example, the section on objects needs to refer to classes and vice versa. Both use the terminology of inheritance. Where you see an unfamiliar term used, check the index: it is probably defined elsewhere in the book.

Although Objective-C is (apart from its C base) a small language, the implications of its modest set of extensions are substantial. To use Objective-C effectively, you should follow tested design patterns and make judicious use of libraries. The intent of this handbook is to provide a quick reference to the most commonly used features and idioms of the language. It should be like a fast cache, the first stop for frequently used data.

Because of its size, this handbook can present only an outline of the language, its libraries, and conventional patterns of usage. If you are interested in truly understanding the Objective-C way of thinking, you should also look at some of the texts listed in Section 1.17 at the end of this book.

For supplementary information and corrections to this handbook, see our web site at http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/objectcpr.