18 Commits

Author SHA1 Message Date
Michael Roitzsch
add57def1e internals: update for macOS 13.5 Ventura 2023-08-20 20:55:46 +02:00
Michael Roitzsch
4ed7ef68db flake: update for Xcode 14.3.1
makeSetupHook parameters changed
2023-08-20 20:55:46 +02:00
Michael Roitzsch
9d57a5527f Makefile: catch Nix build errors early 2023-08-20 20:55:46 +02:00
Michael Roitzsch
afaa4c55e5 Makefile: fix wildcard resolution 2023-08-20 20:55:38 +02:00
Michael Roitzsch
9db223a1dc flake: fix sandboxed builds
disable sandboxing when we symlink the platform Xcode
2023-04-29 16:02:22 +02:00
Michael Roitzsch
af5c420f43 internals: update for macOS 13.4 Ventura 2023-04-02 15:25:56 +02:00
Michael Roitzsch
eeab6a8bfa Makefile: scan Xcode templates for extensions
extension definitions and their extension point names appear in Xcode
project templates
• scan all of Xcode’s Developer directory, not just selected subdirs
• extract plist part regarding extensions from TemplateInfo.plist files
• check for macOS and iOS extension keys
2023-04-02 12:04:55 +02:00
Michael Roitzsch
4d8f14e4a6 Makefile: silence Nix git dirty warning 2023-04-02 09:06:16 +02:00
Michael Roitzsch
04d82534d8 flake: update for Xcode 14.3 2023-04-02 09:05:36 +02:00
Michael Roitzsch
9542568442 internals: update for macOS 13.2 Ventura 2022-12-26 18:33:03 +01:00
Michael Roitzsch
05eed46555 flake: update for Xcode 14.2 2022-12-26 10:02:28 +01:00
Michael Roitzsch
72af1896ec flake: update for Xcode 14.1 2022-11-06 20:37:58 +01:00
Michael Roitzsch
40b2576d55 internals: update for macOS 12.4 Monterey 2022-06-06 21:45:17 +02:00
Michael Roitzsch
909ec8a160 flake: update for Xcode 13.4 2022-05-25 18:45:24 +02:00
Michael Roitzsch
b92ed8e175 internals: update for macOS 12.3 Monterey 2022-03-25 08:20:11 +01:00
Michael Roitzsch
e33fabd772 flake: update for Xcode 13.3 2022-03-25 08:19:46 +01:00
Michael Roitzsch
b494b38956 flake: update for Xcode 13.2 2022-01-02 15:02:24 +01:00
Michael Roitzsch
8d62d3e215 formally conform to the TSV file format
• move internals.txt to internals.tsv (bonus: GitHub built-in rendering)
• add a header in the first line
• ignore first line for sort checking
• ignore first line for HTML rendering
2022-01-02 15:02:24 +01:00
5 changed files with 141 additions and 82 deletions

View File

@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ CHECK_TARGETS = check_files check_binaries check_manifests check_services
all: $(DB).lz check
ifneq ($(wildcard $(MY_INTERNALS)),)
internals.txt: $(MY_INTERNALS)
textutil -cat txt "$<" -output $@
internals.tsv: $(MY_INTERNALS)
printf 'Term\tDescription\n' > $@
textutil -cat txt $@ "$<" -output $@
xattr -c $@
endif
@@ -27,8 +28,8 @@ $(DB).lz: $(DB)
rm -rf dyld
endif
check: internals.txt
@LANG=en sort --ignore-case $< | diff -uw $< -
check: internals.tsv
@(head --lines=1 ; LANG=en sort --ignore-case) < $< | diff -uw $< -
@$(MAKE) --silent --jobs=1 $(CHECK_TARGETS)
define VIEW
@@ -49,12 +50,17 @@ sqlite: $(DB)
# MARK: - data extraction helpers
ACEXTRACT = $(shell nix build --no-write-lock-file .\#acextract && \
ACEXTRACT = $(shell nix build --no-write-lock-file --no-warn-dirty .\#acextract && \
readlink result && rm result)/bin/acextract
DSCEXTRACTOR = $(shell nix build --no-write-lock-file .\#dsc-extractor && \
DSCEXTRACTOR = $(shell nix build --no-write-lock-file --no-warn-dirty .\#dsc-extractor && \
readlink result && rm result)/bin/dyld-shared-cache-extractor
dyld: /System/Library/dyld/dyld_shared_cache_$(shell uname -m) /System/DriverKit/System/Library/dyld/dyld_shared_cache_$(shell uname -m)
$(DB_TARGETS)::
# evaluate helper tools to catch Nix build errors early
: $(ACEXTRACT)
: $(DSCEXTRACTOR)
dyld: /System/Cryptexes/OS/System/Library/dyld/dyld_shared_cache_x86_64h /System/Cryptexes/OS/System/DriverKit/System/Library/dyld/dyld_shared_cache_x86_64h
if ! test -x $(DSCEXTRACTOR) ; then \
printf '\033[1mdscextractor tool unavailable\033[m\n' >&2 ; \
echo 'FAIL;' ; \
@@ -69,18 +75,18 @@ prefix = $$(case $(1) in \
(macOS) ;; \
(macOS-dyld) echo $(dir $(realpath $(firstword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))/dyld ;; \
(iOS) echo $(XCODE)/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneOS.platform/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes/iOS.simruntime/Contents/Resources/RuntimeRoot ;; \
(tvOS) echo $(XCODE)/Contents/Developer/Platforms/AppleTVOS.platform/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes/tvOS.simruntime/Contents/Resources/RuntimeRoot ;; \
(watchOS) echo $(XCODE)/Contents/Developer/Platforms/WatchOS.platform/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes/watchOS.simruntime/Contents/Resources/RuntimeRoot ;; \
(tvOS) echo $(wildcard /Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Volumes/tvOS_*/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes/tvOS*.simruntime/Contents/Resources/RuntimeRoot) ;; \
(watchOS) echo $(wildcard /Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Volumes/watchOS_*/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes/watchOS*.simruntime/Contents/Resources/RuntimeRoot) ;; \
esac)
find = \
{ \
$(2) find /Library /System /bin /dev /private /sbin /usr ! \( -path /System/Volumes/Data -prune \) $(1) 2> /dev/null | sed 's/^/macOS /' ; \
cd $(XCODE)/Contents/Developer ; find Library Toolchains Tools usr $(1) | sed 's|^|macOS /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/|' ; \
$(2) find /Library /System /bin /dev /private /sbin /usr ! \( -path /Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Volumes -prune \) ! \( -path /System/Volumes/Data -prune \) $(1) 2> /dev/null | sed 's/^/macOS /' ; \
cd $(XCODE)/Contents/Developer ; find * ! \( -path '*/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator' -prune \) $(1) | sed 's|^|macOS /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/|' ; \
test -d "$(call prefix,macOS-dyld)" && cd "$(call prefix,macOS-dyld)" && find . $(1) | sed '1d;s/^\./macOS-dyld /' ; \
cd $(call prefix,iOS) ; find . $(1) | sed '1d;s/^\./iOS /' ; \
cd $(call prefix,tvOS) ; find . $(1) | sed '1d;s/^\./tvOS /' ; \
cd $(call prefix,watchOS) ; find . $(1) | sed '1d;s/^\./watchOS /' ; \
cd "$(call prefix,iOS)" ; find . $(1) | sed '1d;s/^\./iOS /' ; \
cd "$(call prefix,tvOS)" ; find . $(1) | sed '1d;s/^\./tvOS /' ; \
cd "$(call prefix,watchOS)" ; find . $(1) | sed '1d;s/^\./watchOS /' ; \
}
file = SELECT id, $(1) FROM files WHERE os = '$$os' AND path = '$$(echo "$$path" | sed "s/'/''/g")'
@@ -134,6 +140,17 @@ db_manifests::
test -r "$(call prefix,$$os)$$path" && plutil -convert json "$(call prefix,$$os)$$path" -o - | \
sed "/: invalid object/d;s/'/''/g;s|.*|INSERT INTO info $(call file,json('&'));\n|" ; \
done
$(call find,-type f -name 'TemplateInfo.plist') | while read -r os path ; do \
test -r "$(call prefix,$$os)$$path" && { \
echo '<dict>' ; \
PlistBuddy -c 'Print Definitions:Info.plist\:NSExtension' "$(call prefix,$$os)$$path" ; \
PlistBuddy -c 'Print Definitions:Info.plist\:EXAppExtensionAttributes' "$(call prefix,$$os)$$path" ; \
PlistBuddy -c 'Print Options:0:Units:Swift:Definitions:Info.plist\:NSExtension' "$(call prefix,$$os)$$path" ; \
PlistBuddy -c 'Print Options:0:Units:Swift:Definitions:Info.plist\:EXAppExtensionAttributes' "$(call prefix,$$os)$$path" ; \
echo '</dict>' ; \
} 2> /dev/null | plutil -convert json - -o - | \
sed "/Property List error:/d;s/'/''/g;s|.*|INSERT INTO info $(call file,json('&'));\n|" ; \
done
db_assets::
if ! test -x $(ACEXTRACT) ; then \
@@ -163,15 +180,15 @@ $(DB_TARGETS)::
echo 'COMMIT TRANSACTION;'
# MARK: - check targets for internals.txt
# MARK: - check targets for internals.tsv
check_files: internals.txt $(DB)
check_files: internals.tsv $(DB)
printf '\033[1mchecking files...\033[m\n' >&2
grep -ow '~\?/[^,;]*' $< | sed -E 's/ \(.*\)$$//;s/^\/(etc|var)\//\/private&/' | \
sed "s/'/''/g;s|.*|SELECT count(*), '&' FROM files WHERE path GLOB '&';|" | \
sqlite3 $(DB) | sed -n "/^0|/{s/^0|//;p;}"
check_binaries: internals.txt $(DB)
check_binaries: internals.tsv $(DB)
printf '\033[1mchecking command line tools...\033[m\n' >&2
grep -o 'command line tools\?: [^;]*' $< | sed 's/^[^:]*: //;s/ //g;s/([^)]*)//g' | tr , '\n' | \
sed "s/'/''/g;s|.*|SELECT count(*), '&' FROM files WHERE executable = true AND path GLOB '*/&';|" | \
@@ -185,13 +202,13 @@ check_binaries: internals.txt $(DB)
sed "s/'/''/g;s/.*/SELECT count(*), '&' FROM strings WHERE string GLOB '*&*';/" | \
sqlite3 $(DB) | sed -n "/^0|/{s/^0|//;p;}"
check_manifests: internals.txt $(DB)
check_manifests: internals.tsv $(DB)
printf '\033[1mchecking extension points...\033[m\n' >&2
grep -o 'extension points\?: [^;]*' $< | sed 's/^[^:]*: //;s/ //g;s/([^)]*)//g' | tr , '\n' | \
sed "s/'/''/g;s|.*|SELECT count(*), '&' FROM info, json_each(plist, '$$.NSExtension') WHERE key = 'NSExtensionPointIdentifier' AND value = '&';|" | \
sed "s/'/''/g;s|.*|SELECT count(*), '&' FROM (SELECT value FROM info, json_each(plist, '$$.NSExtension') WHERE key = 'NSExtensionPointIdentifier' UNION SELECT value FROM info, json_each(plist, '$$.EXAppExtensionAttributes') WHERE key = 'EXExtensionPointIdentifier') WHERE value = '&';|" | \
sqlite3 $(DB) | sed -n "/^0|/{s/^0|//;p;}"
check_services: internals.txt $(DB)
check_services: internals.tsv $(DB)
printf '\033[1mchecking launchd services...\033[m\n' >&2
grep -o 'launchd services\?: [^;]*' $< | sed 's/^[^:]*: //;s/ //g;s/([^)]*)//g' | tr , '\n' | \
sed "s/'/''/g;s|.*|SELECT count(*), '&' FROM services, json_each(plist) WHERE key = 'Label' AND value = '&';|" | \

25
flake.lock generated
View File

@@ -35,11 +35,11 @@
"dsc-extractor": {
"flake": false,
"locked": {
"lastModified": 1628793863,
"narHash": "sha256-AOwiwoEE8xYzxhkX7RCkLaiArNZAV2GJWbpqLbKOaXY=",
"lastModified": 1688099356,
"narHash": "sha256-NaPFOiPwGdwVxxZr5eRklhD41IKw8DvYoZg0kLReY5k=",
"owner": "keith",
"repo": "dyld-shared-cache-extractor",
"rev": "9ef13238a8f5717165c91291212d6f32617ab67e",
"rev": "ac746c15a62f51e1ff32e4d101b5d8c70f2cb2fe",
"type": "github"
},
"original": {
@@ -50,16 +50,15 @@
},
"nixpkgs": {
"locked": {
"lastModified": 1633422745,
"narHash": "sha256-gA6Ok64nPbkjHk3Oanq4641EeYkjcKhisDF9wBjLxEk=",
"lastModified": 1692494774,
"narHash": "sha256-noGVoOTyZ2Kr5OFglzKYOX48cx3hggdCPbXrYMG2FDw=",
"owner": "NixOS",
"repo": "nixpkgs",
"rev": "8e1eab9eae4278c9bb1dcae426848a581943db5a",
"rev": "3476a10478587dec90acb14ec6bde0966c545cc0",
"type": "github"
},
"original": {
"id": "nixpkgs",
"ref": "nixpkgs-unstable",
"type": "indirect"
}
},
@@ -76,11 +75,11 @@
"snap-util": {
"flake": false,
"locked": {
"lastModified": 1630855703,
"narHash": "sha256-r89y29BL/U6LEWhdLPn1TUvFz4IyEg0FexkD3UNdAUU=",
"lastModified": 1647211082,
"narHash": "sha256-zQ/0Cpo6CCeKXafeERjBCQ2gv9396c7UZU+VmViQVIc=",
"owner": "ahl",
"repo": "apfs",
"rev": "1cb945d598534bd3a0e26cae04a626993b5e6941",
"rev": "2bcf604966949f618e6a6ce33ca8ae1721494e6d",
"type": "github"
},
"original": {
@@ -92,13 +91,13 @@
"snapshot-header": {
"flake": false,
"locked": {
"narHash": "sha256-Y/DTtpnT8JQZO5Ijr+tW0IrIOuECcJ+ZvFLCgwrFt2M=",
"narHash": "sha256-/2aR6n5CbUobwbxkrGqBOAhCZLwDdIsoIOcpALhAUF8=",
"type": "tarball",
"url": "https://opensource.apple.com/tarballs/xnu/xnu-6153.141.1.tar.gz"
"url": "https://github.com/apple/darwin-xnu/archive/refs/tags/xnu-6153.141.1.tar.gz"
},
"original": {
"type": "tarball",
"url": "https://opensource.apple.com/tarballs/xnu/xnu-6153.141.1.tar.gz"
"url": "https://github.com/apple/darwin-xnu/archive/refs/tags/xnu-6153.141.1.tar.gz"
}
}
},

View File

@@ -14,26 +14,30 @@
flake = false;
};
snapshot-header = {
url = "https://opensource.apple.com/tarballs/xnu/xnu-6153.141.1.tar.gz";
url = "https://github.com/apple/darwin-xnu/archive/refs/tags/xnu-6153.141.1.tar.gz";
flake = false;
};
snap-util = {
url = "github:ahl/apfs";
flake = false;
};
nixpkgs.url = "flake:nixpkgs/nixpkgs-unstable";
};
outputs = { self, nixpkgs, acextract, command-line, dsc-extractor, snapshot-header, snap-util }: {
packages.x86_64-darwin = {
packages.x86_64-darwin = let
xcode = (nixpkgs.legacyPackages.x86_64-darwin.xcodeenv.composeXcodeWrapper {
version = "14.3.1";
}).overrideAttrs (attrs: { __noChroot = true; });
in {
acextract =
with import nixpkgs { system = "x86_64-darwin"; };
let xcode = makeSetupHook {
deps = [ (xcodeenv.composeXcodeWrapper { version = "13.1"; }) ];
let xcodeHook = makeSetupHook {
name = "xcode-hook";
propagatedBuildInputs = [ xcode ];
} "${xcbuildHook}/nix-support/setup-hook";
in stdenv.mkDerivation {
name = "acextract-${lib.substring 0 8 self.inputs.acextract.lastModifiedDate}";
src = acextract;
nativeBuildInputs = [ xcode ];
nativeBuildInputs = [ xcodeHook ];
preBuild = "LD=$CC";
# FIXME: want to have submodule support for Nix flakes, workaround by explicit instantiation
postUnpack = "rmdir source/CommandLine ; ln -s ${command-line} source/CommandLine";
@@ -76,20 +80,21 @@
cp Products/Release/acextract $out/bin/
'';
dontStrip = true;
__noChroot = true;
};
dsc-extractor =
with import nixpkgs { system = "x86_64-darwin"; };
rustPlatform.buildRustPackage {
stdenv.mkDerivation {
name = "dsc-extractor-${lib.substring 0 8 self.inputs.dsc-extractor.lastModifiedDate}";
src = dsc-extractor;
cargoHash = "sha256-Z405Q9gV/mJL2WtCstZ+Y9rEw32zgwU1RiYaAjkIcfw=";
nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake ];
};
snap-util =
with import nixpkgs { system = "x86_64-darwin"; };
stdenv.mkDerivation {
name = "snap-util-${lib.substring 0 8 self.inputs.snap-util.lastModifiedDate}";
src = snap-util;
nativeBuildInputs = [ (xcodeenv.composeXcodeWrapper { version = "13.1"; }) ];
nativeBuildInputs = [ xcode ];
preBuild = "NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE='-idirafter ${snapshot-header}/bsd'";
installPhase = ''
mkdir -p $out/bin
@@ -123,6 +128,7 @@
EOF
codesign -s - --entitlement snapUtil.entitlements $out/bin/.snapUtil-wrapped
'';
__noChroot = true;
};
};
};

View File

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class Converter {
generate() {
const dl = document.createElement("dl");
dl.setAttribute("class", "row");
for (const rowText of this.text.split("\n"))
for (const rowText of this.text.split("\n").slice(1))
if (rowText.length && rowText.toLowerCase().includes(this.filter.toLowerCase()))
dl.append.apply(dl, this.generateRow(rowText));
return dl;
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class Converter {
document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", event => {
// load main content
fetch("internals.txt").then(function(response) {
fetch("internals.tsv").then(function(response) {
if (!response.ok) return "";
return response.text();
}).then(function(text) {

View File

@@ -1,18 +1,21 @@
Term Description
1TR One True Recovery; booting into macOS recovery on Apple Silicon by holding the power button to verify physical presence; enables interaction with SEP to change Boot Policy
AA Apple account
AA Apple Archive, see also Apple Encrypted Archive; command line tools: aa, aea, compression_tool
AAC Automatic Assessment Configuration; AutomaticAssessmentConfiguration.framework; puts device in a locked mode for exam-style test applications
AAT Apple Advanced Typography; font format and rendering engine
Accounts launchd service: com.apple.accountsd; /System/Library/Accounts
ACDE Apple Connect Device External? ACDEClient.framework, old two-step verification, derived from a company-internal AppleConnect system? server: appleconnect.apple.com
ACDE Apple Connect Device External? ACDEClient.framework, old two-step verification, derived from a company-internal AppleConnect system?
ACFS Apple Clustered File System; deprecated file system for Xsan; acfs.framework
Acoustic ID Siri feature to recognize songs
Activation cryptographic check-in with iCloud to lock devices reported by the user as lost; verified by iBoot; MobileActivationMacOS.framework; launchd service: com.apple.mobileactivationd; servers: humb.apple.com, albert.apple.com
Activity jobs, coarse-grained work units of applications; tracked by the system across XPC, bears a QoS class for scheduling; low-level mechanism not to be confused with User Activity
AE Apple Events; messaging system to invoke application functionality; CoreServices.framework/AE.framework; launchd services: com.apple.coreservices.appleevents, com.apple.AEServer (AE over network)
AEA Apple Encrypted Archive; command line tool: aea
Aegir astronomy watch face and lock screen; /System/Library/CoreServices/AegirProxyApp.app
AGC Apple Graphics Control, management of multiple displays and display port connections; launchd service: com.apple.displaypolicyd
AHAP Apple Haptic Audio Pattern; file format for simultaneous audio and haptic data; CoreHaptics.framework
AIR Apple Intermediate Representation; synthetic bytecode architecture target for GPU binary toolchain
ALF Application-Level Firewall, launchd service: com.apple.alf (socketfilterfw)
ALF Application-Layer Firewall, launchd service: com.apple.alf (socketfilterfw)
Alloy substrate for communication between user devices over Bluetooth and devices to iCloud, implemented over IDS; /System/Library/IdentityServices/ServiceDefinitions; launchd service: com.apple.identityservicesd
ALS Ambient Light Sensor, AmbientDisplay.framework
Amber Swift UI; SwiftUI.framework
@@ -21,6 +24,7 @@ AMP Apple Media Protocol? former parts of iTunes for iPod and iOS device access
AMP Asynchronous Multiprocessing; performance and power-efficiency cores on Apple Silicon
AMS Apple Media Services; formerly the iTunes stores and media services: App Stores, Apple Music, Apple TV, iCloud media library, Apple Podcasts, Podcast sync, Books Store, Books sync; AppleMediaServices.framework; server: phobos.apple.com
AMX Apple Matrix Extension; ARM instruction set extension for matrix operations
ANE Apple Neural Engine, hardware accelerator for neural network operations; ANECompiler.framework, ANEServices.framework; launchd service: com.apple.aned
Anisette two-factor authentication creates security codes on trusted devices using TOTP, probably using Circle keys, checked by HSA; AuthKit.framework; launchd service: com.apple.akd
AOP Always On Processor, part of Apple SoCs, runs RTKit as operating system
AOS Apple Online Services? historical name for iCloud
@@ -36,17 +40,19 @@ ASR Apple Software Restore; restore entire volumes from sources like disk images
Assertions power state management allowing applications to prevent sleeping; launchd service: com.apple.powerd; command line tools: caffeinate, pmset
Assessment checking of System Policy; term also used for AAC
Asset Cache discretionary caching server for Mobile Assets, Packages, iOS updates, App Store content, ODR, MMCS data; launchd services: com.apple.AssetCache.builtin, com.apple.AssetCacheLocatorService, com.apple.AssetCacheManagerService, com.apple.AssetCacheTetheratorService; command line tools: AssetCacheLocatorUtil, AssetCacheManagerUtil, AssetCacheTetheratorUtil
Assistant Siri; dictation and semantic understanding, Intent is communicated to and enacted on the client, uses TTS; /System/Library/Assistant, AssistantServices.framework; server: *.siri.apple.com
Assistant Siri; dictation and semantic understanding, Intent is communicated to and enacted on the client, uses TTS for output, Snippets to embed mini UIs into responses; /System/Library/Assistant, /System/Library/Snippets, AssistantServices.framework; server: *.siri.apple.com
ATS App Transport Security, sandbox mechanism only allowing TLS-secured connections
ATSUI Apple Type Services for Unicode Imaging; rendering engine superseded by CoreText.framework, font management; ApplicationServices.framework/ATS.framework; launchd service: com.apple.xtyped (fontd); command line tools: atsutil
ATT App Tracking Transparency; apps declare user tracking on app store
Attestation cryptographic proof of a genuine SEP; used for web authentication and app attestation; DeviceCheck.framework; online service signs a GID-based challenge response? used to pair RemoteXPC channel? stripped down variant used to securely identify Touch ID keyboards
Attestation cryptographic proof of a genuine SEP; used for web authentication and app attestation; DeviceCheck.framework; SEP responds to challenge using hardware-key (GID, PKA), online service verifies; used to pair Touch ID keyboards, used to pair RemoteXPC channel?
Authorization discretionary access control policies for high-level services; similar to PAM; policy stored in /var/db/auth.db
Avatar Memoji and Animoji (face tracking); AvatarKit.framework
Avatar Memoji and Animoji, including pre-rendered iMessage stickers; AvatarKit.framework
AVB Audio Video Bridging, low-latency audio over Ethernet; launchd service: com.apple.avbdeviced; command line tool: avbdiagnose, avbutil
AWD Apple Wireless Diagnostics, sends system telemetry to Apple; CoreAnalytics.framework, WirelessDiagnostics.framework; launchd services: com.apple.awdd, com.apple.analyticsd
AWDL Apple Wireless Direct Link; secondary WiFi interface that runs in parallel to an active WiFi access point connection, similar to WiFi Direct (p2p interface), uses a randomized MAC, used for peer-to-peer networking: AirDrop, AirPlay; DeviceToDeviceManager.framework
Background Assets assets that an app extension loads without the app being launched; BackgroundAssets.framework; extension point: com.apple.background-asset-downloader-extension; launchd service: com.apple.backgroundassets.user
Bezel on-screen overlays for hardware volume buttons, screen brightness, Bluetooth HID, and others; /Library/Application Support/Apple/BezelServices, launchd services: com.apple.loginwindow, com.apple.OSDUIHelper
Bifrost emergency satellite connectivity; /System/Library/LocationBundles/Bifrost.bundle
Biome CloudKit-based datastream and sync engine; BiomeStreams.framework, BiomeSync.framework; launchd services: com.apple.BiomeAgent, com.apple.biomesyncd
Blast Door sandboxed sanitization process for untrusted iMessage input; BlastDoor.framework
BOM Bill of Materials; format to store contents of installer Packages; command line tool: lsbom
@@ -62,9 +68,12 @@ CAML Core Animation Markup Language; XML file format for layers, shapes and anim
Carousel derivative of SpringBoard for Watch home screen, watch face, and notification center
Celestial media streaming used by ReplayKit for game broadcasts; Celestial.framework
Certificates validity checked using CRLs, OCSP stapling, and transparency logs; /System/Library/Security/Certificates.bundle; launchd services: com.apple.trustd, com.apple.trustd.agent, com.apple.ocspd; command line tool: crlrefresh
Circle cryptographic primitive to exchange public keys of all trusted devices of one user, signed by all Circle peers; iCloud identity keypair as an additional Circle peer, triggers countersigning from all trusted devices, private key synced across all trusted devices, new devices can pull this key from Secure Backup to join the Circle; used by CKKS; KeychainCircle.framework; command line tools: tpctl, otctl (Octagon trust is newer?)
CKKS CloudKit Key Sync, end-to-end secure syncing for credentials, seeded by Circle, transferred items stored ephemerally using OTR protocol; currently includes ApplePay, AutoUnlock, CreditCards, DevicePairing, Engram, Health, Home, Manatee, SOS, WiFi and other keys; launchd service: com.apple.secd; command line tool: ckksctl
Classroom launchd service: com.apple.studentd
Chamois Stage Manager
CHIP Connected Home over IP; Matter; integrated into HomeKit; CHIPPlugin.framework
Circle cryptographic primitive to exchange public keys of trusted devices of a user, signed by Circle peers; iCloud identity added as additional Circle peer, private key synced across all trusted devices, new devices can pull this key from Secure Backup to join the Circle; per-device Circles stored in CKKS for two-factor accounts (Octagon); KeychainCircle.framework; command line tools: otctl (Octagon)
CKKS CloudKit Key Sync, end-to-end secure syncing for credentials, seeded by Circle; currently includes ApplePay, AutoUnlock, CreditCards, DevicePairing, Engram, Health, Home, Manatee, SOS, WiFi and other keys; launchd service: com.apple.secd; command line tool: ckksctl
Clarity customizable accessibility mode for simplified UI; ClarityFoundation.framework
Classroom school teachers can create assignments for student iPads and track progress in Schoolwork app; ClassKit.framework; launchd service: com.apple.studentd
Cloud Pairing part of Alloy, Bluetooth out-of-band pairing over iCloud for Continuity; launchd service: com.apple.BTServer.cloudpairing (cloudpaird)
CMAS Commerial Mobile Alert System, now known as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
Commpage user-mapped kernel data, like vdso/vsyscall on Linux; mapped at 0x7fffffe00000
@@ -74,33 +83,38 @@ Continuity umbrella term for Handoff, Sidecar, SMS relay, Universal Clipboard, W
Control Center icons in menu/status bar and Bento Box controls UI, gradually replaces SystemUIServer on macOS; handles incoming AirPlay content; launchd services: com.apple.controlcenter, com.apple.SystemUIServer.agent
CPML CorePrediction Machine Learning; CPMLBestShim.framework
CRD Conference Room Display; Apple TV mode
Cryptex Cryptographically sealed Extension of SSV, mount-invisible extension of the root volume, allows lightweight updates as part of Rapid Security Response; /System/Cryptexes (mountpoint), /System/Volumes/Preboot/*/cryptex1/current/*.dmg (disk images)
CSR Configurable Security Restrictions; XNU subsystem that is the basis for SIP
CTK Crypto Token Kit; smart card management, also for the Secure Element on iOS? launchd service: com.apple.ctkd; command line tool: sc_auth
CTS Centralized Task Scheduling; execution of DAS tasks; /System/Library/UserEventPlugins/com.apple.cts.plugin
CVMS Core VM Server/Service? compilation of GPU shaders; launchd service: com.apple.cvmsServ
DAAP Digital Audio Access Protocol; used by Home Sharing (with Rapport token) and by the Remote app to control Apple TV (with pairing token); payload unencrypted; DAAPKit.framework; Bonjour services: _atc._tcp, _home-sharing._tcp, _mediaremotetv._tcp, _touch-able._tcp
Daily Briefing Siri giving an overview of information for the day; SiriDailyBriefingInternal.framework
DART DMA Address Relocation Table; IOMMU implementation in Apple silicon, positioned in front of peripheral devices, offers sub-page protection; SART: streaming variant for high-throughput devices (like NVMe)
DART DMA Address Relocation Table; IOMMU implementation in Apple silicon, positioned in front of every DMA-capable co-processor and peripheral, offers sub-page protection; SART: streaming variant for high-throughput devices (like NVMe)
DAS Duet Activity Scheduler; scheduling policy engine behind NSBackgroundActivityScheduler and XPC activities; /System/Library/DuetActivityScheduler; launchd service: com.apple.dasd
Data Detectors text analysis to highlight phone numbers, street addresses, and the like; DataDetectors.framework
Data Vault directories with the UF_DATAVAULT special flag; CSR limits access to one application
DAV Distributed Authoring and Versioning; network protocol on top of HTTP for syncing calendars (CalDAV), contacts (CardDAV), and formerly also bookmarks (BookmarkDAV)
DCP Display Co-Processor
DDE Device Discovery Extension; detects devices on local network without app access to local network; DeviceDiscoveryExtension.framework, DeviceDiscoveryUICore.framework; extension point: com.apple.discovery-extension
DEP Device Enrollment Program; devices check in with Apple during Setup Assistant to query for their enrollment status, retrieve MDM server URL to fetch initial configuration profile
Developer Mode enables launching of self-compiled apps in iOS, rough equivalent to System Policy; command line tool: devmodectl
DFR Dynamic Function Row?, TouchBar; /System/Library/CoreServices/ControlStrip.app; DFRFoundation.framework
DFU Device Firmware Update; special boot mode where iOS has not booted and the system can be installed over the Lightning connection
Differential Privacy crowdsourcing without user tracking; privacy budget for management of anonymity set; used for keyboard words, emoji, Spotlight searches, Parsec deep links, HealthKit usage, Safari telemetry; /System/Library/DifferentialPrivacy; stored in /var/db/DifferentialPrivacy; launchd service: com.apple.dprivacyd
Digital Separation safety check feature to inhibit sharing relationships; DigitalSeparation.framework
DMC Disk Mount Conditioner; simulates slow IO devices; command line tool: dmc
DND Do Not Disturb
Domain Association signed files in .well-known directory on websites; equivalent to Entitlements for websites
DSID Destination Signaling Identifier, unique ID for IDS login on a specific device
DTrace system-wide tracing infrastructure, command line tools: dtrace, *.d, dappprof, dapptrace, dtruss, errinfo, execsnoop, fddist, fs_usage, imptrace, iopattern, iopending, iosnoop, iotop, lastwords, latency, opensnoop, plockstat, rwsnoop, sampleproc, sc_usage, topsyscall, topsysproc
Duet telemetry collection engine for system and user events, forecasting by machine learning, backend for DAS, Proactive, Relevance, Screen Time, thermal and battery management; /System/Library/DuetKnowledgeBase; CoreDuet.framework, CoreKnowledge.framework, CorePrediction.framework; launchd services: com.apple.coreduetd, com.apple.knowledge-agent
Dyld Shared Cache dynamic linker cache, stores all system libraries in prelinked form, original library files are removed; /System/Library/dyld; command line tool: update_dyld_shared_cache
Duet telemetry collection engine for system and user events, forecasting by machine learning, backend for DAS, Proactive, Relevance, Screen Time, thermal and battery management; /System/Library/DuetKnowledgeBase; CoreDuet.framework, CoreKnowledge.framework, CorePrediction.framework; launchd services: com.apple.coreduetd, com.apple.knowledge-agent, com.apple.ospredictiond
Dyld Shared Cache dynamic linker cache, stores all system libraries in prelinked form, original library files are removed; /System/Volumes/Preboot/Cryptexes/OS/System/Library/dyld; command line tools: dyld_info, dyld_usage, update_dyld_shared_cache
EAS Exchange Active Sync; network protocol for accessing Microsoft Exchange servers
EDR Extended Dynamic Range; rendering with transfer function extending beyond sRGB white; implemented natively on XDR displays and by backlight modulation on others; HDRProcessing.framework
Energy Impact unitless metric for per-application energy consumption, machine-specific coefficients; /usr/share/pmenergy, /usr/share/kpep; launchd services: com.apple.sysmond, com.apple.thermald; command line tool: powermetrics
Engram Messages in iCloud; devices store received iMessages in CloudKit; Engram.framework
Entitlements capability-like attributes bound to executables by code signing; some entitlements like App Sandbox restrict ambient authority, some gradually relieve those restrictions (using Seatbelt), some services or system calls grant privilege based on caller entitlements
ESS IDS user directory, public key distribution for iMessage and CloudKit sharing, uses Transparency; server: *.ess.apple.com; launchd service: com.apple.identityservicesd
Event Monitor simple rules engine for running commands on various systen events; apparently not used by default; /etc/emond.d, /var/db/emondClients; launchd service: com.apple.emond
FaceTime video calls, employs the ICE (establishing peer-to-peer connection), STUN (session credential exchange) and SRTP (encrypted media streaming) protocols; FTServices.framework; launchd services: com.apple.videoconference.camera (avconferenced)
FairPlay DRM system used by app and media stores; CoreADI.framework, CoreFP.framework, CoreLSKD.framework; launchd services: com.apple.adid, com.apple.fairplayd (invoked by kernel through host special port 17), com.apple.lskdd; credentials stored in /var/db/fpsd
Family Circle Family Sharing; launchd services: com.apple.familycircled, com.apple.askpermissiond
@@ -108,13 +122,14 @@ FDE Full Disk Encryption, FileVault; command line tool: fdesetup, sysadminctl
FDR Factory Data/Device Reset? ensures that no downgrades are performed? servers: skl.apple.com, gg.apple.com; /System/Library/FDR
Feldspar Apple News; Silex.framework
FiDES Fi? Distributed Evaluation Service? aggregates Differential Privacy data for unlinkability? maybe private federated learning? used for emoji, Suggestions, Dictation; /System/Library/DistributedEvaluation; DistributedEvaluation.framework; server: fides-pol.apple.com
File Provider infrastructure and extension system for syncing with cloud providers; placeholder files based on SF_DATALESS attribute in APFS; FileProvider.framework; locally stored in ~/Library/CloudStorage; command line tool: fileproviderctl
Find My … location sharing by explicitly querying devices remotely or collateral beacon detection using Search Party; FMCore.framework, FMF.framework; launchd service: com.apple.icloud.fmfd (find my friends)
Firmlink bi-directional non-symbolic link between the read-only system volume and the data volume, additional symlinks and mountpoints in the root directory are virtually allocated; /usr/share/firmlinks, /etc/synthetic.conf
Focus restriction modes for notification presentation; Focus.framework, DoNotDisturb.framework; local settings in ~/Library/DoNotDisturb
Focus restriction modes for notification presentation; focus filters for in-app display restrictions, communicat by Intents; Focus.framework, DoNotDisturb.framework; local settings in ~/Library/DoNotDisturb
FollowUp user interaction for Secure Backup wrapping with device passcode, CoreFollowUp.framework; launchd service: com.apple.followupd
FoundationDB fundamental iCloud storage database, marketed as CloudKit, separated into containers; records, blobs, and large asset storage with MMCS, server-side continuous queries can trigger push notifications, user management by IDS, sharing between users; PCS keys used for hierarchical zone, record, and asset encryption; CloudKitDaemon.framework; launchd service: com.apple.cloudd; locally stored in ~/Library/Caches/CloudKit, ~/Library/Containers/*/Data/CloudKit; command line tool: cktool
FPR Fast Permission Restrictions; Apple CPU registers to downgrade (old APRRs do bitmasking) or remap (SPRRs since M1) actual permissions of memory pages per thread; used for JIT protection and by AMFI to freeze user code after checking
FUD Firmware Update Daemon; /var/db/fud; launchd service: com.apple.MobileAccessoryUpdater
FPR Fast Permission Restrictions; Apple CPU registers to downgrade (old APRRs do bitmasking) or remap (SPRRs since M1) actual permissions of memory pages (the CTRR region) per thread; used for JIT protection and by AMFI to freeze user code after checking
FUD Firmware Update Daemon; /var/db/fud; launchd service: com.apple.accessoryupdaterd
GID group ID key, shared across all devices of the same SoC generation, derived keys are used to prove device type over the network, only accessible by SEP
Gizmo Apple Watch; watch settings managed by Companion; /Applications/Bridge.app, /System/Library/BridgeManifests
Group Activities SharePlay; sharing of media content and programmatic state over FaceTime calls; GroupActivities.framework, CopresenceCore.framework; launchd service: com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd
@@ -126,7 +141,7 @@ HDI Hard Disk Image; command line tool: hdiutil
HeadBoard derivative of SpringBoard for tvOS home screen; /Applications/HeadBoard.app, /Applications/PineBoard.app
HLS HTTP Live Streaming
HSA Hardware Security Architecture; version 1 used for two-step verification, SOS with iCSC; version 2 for two-factor authentication, CKKS and Secure Backup with iCDP
HSM Hardware Security Module; HSM fleet runs escrow service for Secure Backup; public keys for authenticating the HSM services in /System/Library/Security/Certificates.bundle/Contents/Resources/AppleESCertificates.plist
HSM Hardware Security Module; HSM fleet runs escrow service for Secure Backup
Hyperion iCloud Photos, uses CloudKit; launchd service: com.apple.cloudphotod; command line tool: cpldiagnose
IAP iPod Accessory Protocol; IAP.framework
iBoot boot loader stage after boot ROM or UEFI (macOS on Intel); intermediate Low-Level Bootloader (LLB); DFU mode is implemented here; /System/Library/CoreServices/boot.efi
@@ -135,16 +150,17 @@ iCloud umbrella term for a conglomerate of services, consists of FoundationDB co
iCSC iCloud Security Code, credential wrapping for Secure Backup, previously used a separate code, with HSA2/iCDP uses device passcodes
IDAM Inter-Device Audio and MIDI; audio connection between devices
IDS Identity Service, also IDMS, Apple ID identity management for all of Apples online services; APNS topics for signaling and messaging, see also Alloy, ESS, FaceTime, iMessage; authentication to services with Kerberos
IDV Identity Verification? Touch ID and Face ID; /System/Library/AccessibilityBundles/CoreIDVUI.axbundle
IM Instant Messaging; usually means iMessage and FaceTime
IMG4 boot files (Mach-O binaries or configuration data) with ASN.1 signature, contains RemotePolicy certificate constraints to restrict Boot Policy evaluation
Intent use-case-driven interaction with 3rd-party apps from a host app; used for Siri, Maps, Widgets (configuration); extension points: com.apple.intents-service, com.apple.intents-ui-service
Intent use-case-driven interaction with 3rd-party apps from a host app; used for Siri, Maps, Shortcuts, Widgets (configuration); definition file or programmatically using AppIntents.framework; command line tool: appintentsmetadataprocessor (Xcode extracts Intent definition at compile time); extension points: com.apple.intents-service, com.apple.intents-ui-service
IOKit device driver subsystem for in-kernel and DriverKit drivers, command line tool: ioreg
Ironwood dictation, customized on server with selected user data (contacts, app names, music titles, HomeKit names, Siri Shortcut phrases), not tied to Apple ID; SpeechRecognitionCore.framework; server: guzzoni.apple.com
ISP Image Signal Processor; camera imaging circuit in iPhones
ITML iTunes Markup Language; metdata tagging for media services; ITMLKit.framework
ITP Intelligent Tracking Prevention, cross-site tracking defenses in Safari, statistics and user interaction classify sites, cookies are partitioned and access is restricted
JARVIS Just A Rather Very Intelligent Scheduler, Mesos cluster manager for Siri, iCloud, AMS
Jellyfish Animoji
Jellyfish Animoji; /Applications/Jellyfish.app
Jetsam reclaiming of purgeable memory and termination of apps during memory pressure
JSC JavaScript Core; JavaScriptCore.framework; command line tool: jsc
Kalamata codename for the transition from x86 to ARM-based Apple Silicon
@@ -155,14 +171,16 @@ Keybag storage of protection class keys for Keychain and filesystem, protected b
Keychain storage for credentials; launchd service: com.apple.securityd; command line tools: certtool, security, systemkeychain
KIP Kernel Integrity Protection, locking of physical memory pages to prevent changes to kernel
Launch Services management for application launches, association of UTIs to apps, uses Spotlight to update cached info; launchd services: com.apple.coreservices.launchservicesd, com.apple.lsd; CoreServices.framework/LaunchServices.framework; command line tools: lsappinfo, lsregister
Live Files user mode filesystems, currently FAT, ExFAT, NTFS on external storage; UserFS.framework, UVFSXPCService.framework; launchd service: com.apple.filesystems.userfsd
Liverpool PCS codename for CloudKit
LKDC Local Key Distribution Center, Kerberos on client machines
LSM Latent Semantic Mapping, text analysis, used for spam filtering, command line tool: lsm
Mac Buddy historic name for Setup Assistant
MAC Policy Mandatory Access Control subsystem in XNU, based on TrustedBSD, implements policy hooks for restricted kernel operations; current policies: AMFI, Seatbelt, Quarantine, CSR
Machine Learning Vision.framework, Espresso.framework, Futhark.framework, PhotoAnalysis.framework
Machine Learning Vision.framework, Espresso.framework, Futhark.framework, PhotoAnalysis.framework; used for Live Text and Visual Lookup; launchd service: com.apple.mediaanalysisd
Madrid iMessage; /System/Library/Messages
Manatee PCS key for some CloudKit containers are synced via CKKS, so data is unreadable to Apple (credential management codenames: Plesio, Stingray, Cuttlefish)
Mandrake emergency siren on Apple Watch Ultra; /Applications/Mandrake.app
Mangrove transfering UI tiles over XPC; Mangrove.framework, IOSurface.framework
Marco Marco.framework, something about IDS and communication (iMessage, Calls), logging?
Marklar codename from the PowerPC era for the port to x86, served the transition to Intel CPUs
@@ -182,39 +200,45 @@ Mondrian photo collage arrangement in Photos.app; Mondrian.framework
MRT Malware Removal Tool; /Library/Apple/System/Library/CoreServices/MRT.app
Multipeer Connectivity ad-hoc networking; Bonjour for discovery; WiFi, AWDL, Bluetooth, or Ethernet as transport; optional encryption and certificate-based authentication; MultipeerConnectivity.framework
Nano prefix for watchOS
Neural Engine hardware accelerator for neural network operations; ANECompiler.framework, ANEServices.framework; launchd service: com.apple.aned
Nearby Interaction proximity-based interaction between devices; proximity measured using ultra wideband or derived from other technologies; used for Universal Control; NearbyInteraction.framework, Proximity.framework; launchd service: com.apple.nearbyd
Newton fall detection on watchOS
NLP Natural Language Processing; NLP.framework; related to mecabra libraries, a linguistic engine for Chinese and Japanese; /usr/share/mecabra, /usr/share/tokenizer
Notarization app security scan by Apple; cryptographic proof stapled to code signature, tested at launch by System Policy; for non-notarized apps sends code hash to Apple; command line tools: altool, notarytool, stapler
Notarization app security scan by Apple; cryptographic proof stapled to code signature, tested at launch by System Policy; for non-notarized apps sends code hash to Apple; command line tools: notarytool, altool, stapler
Noticeboard User Notifications for Software Update and App Store, Noticeboard.framework; launchd services: com.apple.noticeboard.state (nbstated), com.apple.noticeboard.agent (nbagent)
Notifications system notification bus, unrelated to the local/remote push notifications; launchd service: com.apple.notifyd, com.apple.kuncd (invoked by kernel through host special port 10); command line tool: notifyutil; complemented by framework-level notification system (CFNotification, NSNotification); launchd services: com.apple.distnoted.xpc.daemon, com.apple.distnoted.xpc.agent
NSP Network Service Proxy; per-app VPN and proxy settings, implements Private Relay; launchd service: com.apple.networkserviceproxy
OAH Rosetta; /usr/libexec/rosetta
OAH Rosetta; ahead-of-time compiler for Intel code on Apple Silicon, usable from Linux VMs by way of a custom binformat; /usr/libexec/rosetta
ODR On-Demand Resources; loaded from App Store; launchd service: com.apple.appstored
Onboarding data protection splash screen shown by service-connected apps; /System/Library/OnBoardingBundles; OnBoardingKit.framework
Open Directory directory service for user, group, and machine management; plugin-based to use different backend stores (LDAP, Active Directory), local accounts in /private/var/db/dslocal; launchd service: com.apple.opendirectoryd; command line tools: dscacheutil, dscl, dsconfigad, dsconfigldap, dseditgroup, dsenableroot, dserr, dsexport, dsimport, dsmemberutil, odutil
OpenBSM Open Basic Security Module; deprecated security audit subsystem; /etc/security, /var/audit; launchd service: com.apple.auditd; command line tool: audit
Opus create slide shows from photos; Slideshows.framework
OSA Open Scripting Architecture; scripting of applications from different fontend languages (currently AppleScript and JavaScript); backed by Apple Events; command line tools: osacompile, osadecompile, osalang, osascript, sdef, sdp
OTUT One-Time Unlock Token; security mechanism to allow keybag unwrapping after updates
PAC Pointer Authentication Codes; pointers signed in unused bits to prevent ROP attacks
Packages unit of software installation; command line tools: pkgutil, installer, softwareupdate; launchd services: com.apple.softwareupdated, com.apple.bootinstalld, com.apple.installd, com.apple.system_installd, com.apple.uninstalld; /var/db/softwareupdate, /Library/Apple/System/Library/Receipts (system), /System/Library/Receipts (read-only), /private/var/db/receipts (App Store)
Packet Filter network traffic filtering subsystem from OpenBSD; command line tool: pfctl
Parsec Spotlight web results and searching of crowdsourced User Activity deep links; server: *.smoot.apple.com; launchd services: com.apple.parsecd, com.apple.parsec-fbf (Feedback Flush to Differential Privacy)
Passkey keypair used for authentication instead of password, synced via SOS, implements WebAuthn standard; keys can be used to login on separate device via QR code and Bluetooth proximity proof; AuthenticationServices.framework
Password Breach monitoring of Keychain passwords against a breach database; round-robin matching in fixed-size batches, local match against common leaks, remote match using hash prefix; launchd service: com.apple.Safari.passwordbreachd
Pasteboard storage for cut, copy, and paste; type of content remembered as UTI; launchd service: com.apple.pboard; command line tools: pbcopy, pbpaste
PAT Private Access Tokens; blind challenge-response authentication; Apple server attests user validity to token issuer, issuer performs blind signature, websites receiving the token cannot identify user; used for Private Relay, can replace CAPTCHAs
PCS Protected Cloud Storage; key management for separate iCloud storage compartments (PCS calls them views), each can contain FoundationDB plus bulk data stored by MMCS; see also iCDP, CKKS, Manatee; ProtectedCloudStorage.framework; /System/Library/Preferences/ProtectedCloudStorage; command line tool: pcsstatus
PCSC Personal Computer Smart Card; PCSC.framework, uses CTK
PDE Print Dialog Extension; old name, not a proper Extension
Pegasus picture-in-picture video playback; Pegasus.framework (iOS), PIP.framework (macOS)
Pegasus meaning 1: picture-in-picture video playback; Pegasus.framework (iOS), PIP.framework (macOS); meaning 2: online search query engine for visual lookup; PegasusKit.framework
Pepper UI elements for Watch home screen and Chat, like Quickboard (canned replies), Animoji; PepperUICore.framework
Persona separation of sub-user-identities, like when using a private and managed Apple account; PersonaKit.framework; ~/Library/Personas; /System/Library/UserManagement; command line tool: umtool
PHASE spatial audio processing; PHASE.framework
PHASE Physical Audio Spatialization Engine; 3D sound rendering engine; Apple devices map audio sources (even mono and stereo) to virtual speakers in a 3D sound stage, which is simulated by the physical speakers via a head-related transfer function; PHASE.framework
Piano Mover Mail Drop; bulk mail attachments transfered over PCS; not to be confused with storage for iMessage attachments, which uses a CloudKit container
Plugin Extensions, XPC services bundled with apps or frameworks, discovery by Launch Services; launchd service: com.apple.pluginkit.pkd; command line tool: pluginkit
PMP Port Mapping Protocol; Apple alternative to UPnP, Bonjour service: _acp-sync._tcp
Poster iPhone lock screen; PosterBoard.framework, PosterKit.framework
PowerUI battery management like smart charge and power save, learns from Duet and other data; PowerUI.framework; /var/db/PowerUI; launchd service: com.apple.PowerUIAgent
Preferences storage for user-configurable settings; launchd services: com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon, com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent; stored in Library/Preferences, command line tool: defaults; interaction with Synced Defaults per /System/Library/DefaultsConfigurations
Private Relay two-hop onion routing with one entry and one exit node; Apple operates entry, third-party services operate exit nodes; approximate IP geolocation via Waldo
Private Relay two-hop onion routing with one entry and one exit node; Apple operates entry, third-party services operate exit nodes; QUIC for payload, ODoH for DNS, approximate IP geolocation via Waldo, authentication via PAT
Proactive umbrella term for suggestions and completions based on Duet forecasting and User Activity context, also marketed as Siri features; PersonalizationPortrait.framework
Provenance per-file origin tracking, extended attribute com.apple.provenance stores ID into /var/db/SystemPolicyConfiguration/ExecPolicy
QoS Classes inheritable property for Activities; semantic priorities, influences scheduling parameters; initially set at user-level, priority inheritance within GCD queues and across XPC in kernel?
Quagga framework for QR and barcode decoding; Quagga.framework
Quick Action extension type for quick interaction with foreign content within a host app; extension points: com.apple.services, com.apple.ui-services
@@ -223,10 +247,12 @@ RAOP Remote Audio Output Protocol, AirPlay; Bonjour service: _raop._tcp
Rapport device pairing by proximity using Alloy, with PIN entry, or using iCloud; once paired, devices can access services; used for HomeKit, HomePod, AirPlay, Home Sharing, SideCar; Rapport.framework; launchd service: com.apple.rapportd; Bonjour service: _companion-link._tcp
Recents recently used items (not files) in various applications, synced with Synced Defaults; CoreRecents.framework, /System/Library/Recents; launchd service: com.apple.recentsd
Relevance Engine backend for Siri suggestions (for example of Siri Shortcuts), Widget smart stacks (also Siri watch face); consumes Duet knowledge and app-provided timelines with relevance hints; /System/Library/RelevanceEngine; launchd service: com.apple.relevanced
Remote Pairing Mobile Device pairing without wired connection; RemotePairingDevice.framework; Bonjour services: _remotepairing._tcp, _remotepairing-manual-pairing._tcp
RemoteXPC connection to a non-SoC-integrated SEP like Bridge; uses HTTP/2 over a network interface, Bridge connected over USB, secured using Attestation; RemoteServiceDiscovery.framework, TrustedAccessory.framework; launchd service: com.apple.remoted, com.apple.tracd; command line tool: remotectl
Revisions document autosave and auto-versioning; stored in .DocumentRevisions-V100; GenerationalStorage.framework; launchd service: com.apple.revisiond
Routine frequently visited locations on iOS, interacts with Duet; launchd service: com.apple.routined
RTC Real-time Telemetry and Crash reporting; RTCReporting.framework; launchd service: com.apple.rtcreportingd
RTKit operating system used on Apple Silicon for firmware of co-processors
RunningBoard runtime management of apps, paradigm: app as service process invoked by system, check-in by frameworks, handles process assertions (frontmost app, see App Nap), memory pressure (see Jetsam) and compute resources (GPU), replacement for TAL?; launchd service: com.apple.runningboardd; /System/Library/LifecyclePolicy, /System/Library/RunningBoard
SBPL Sandbox Profile Language; a TinyScheme-based embedded DSL for Seatbelt profiles
SCIP System Coprocessor Integrity Protection; like KIP, but for SEP, ISP, Motion coprocessor
@@ -237,21 +263,27 @@ Search Party portion of Find My service for offline devices; devices emit public
Seatbelt process sandbox by filtering system calls; profiles written in SBPL; /System/Library/Sandbox/Profiles, /usr/share/sandbox; default file access policy asks for TCC confirmation before access to folders with user data (like Documents) is allowed; command line tool: sandbox-exec; launchd service: com.apple.sandboxd (invoked by kernel through host special port 14 for logging)
Secure Backup escrow part of CKKS; escrow key individually wrapped with passcodes of trusted devices, stored in HSM to prevent brute forcing, uses SRP so passcodes are not visible to iCloud, limited number of recovery attempts; protocol called Lakitu, uses FollowUp; launchd service: com.apple.SecureBackupDaemon (com.apple.sbd); CloudServices.framework
SEP Secure Enclave Processor; dedicated ARM core for security services, runs L4/Darbat-based sepOS, inline encryption to DRAM, manages AES keys in storage DMA engine, factory-paired channels to Touch ID/Face ID hardware, Secure Element, Neural Engine; SEP can use but not read UID and GID keys; credential verification performed by hardware lockbox with retry count enforcement
Sequoia translation; downloadable language models can run on-device; /Applications/SequoiaTranslator.app, Translation.framework
Seymour Apple Fitness+; workout videos integrated with Watch sensors; SeymourCore.framework
SF Symbols scalable UI symbols; rendered with various color treatments; SFSymbols.framework
Shared File List lists of recently opened files from apps that are stored with Launch Services; command line tool: sfltool; also manages login items and app-installed background daemons
Shared With You collaboration features between apps and iMessage; content shared via iMessage is surfaced in apps (Swift Transferable protocol), content in apps can be collaboratively edited and connected to an iMessage group; collaborations are expressed by keys derived from participant device keys, padded with a number of random keys to prevent tracking of device count, a merkle tree of those keys is used to prove inclusion of a specific device to an app; SharedWithYou.framework
Sharing umbrella term for wireless proximity services: AirDrop, Continuity, Instant Hotspot, WiFi sharing; used by loginwindow for Watch unlock; Sharing.framework; launchd service: com.apple.sharingd; also serves connection sharing and remote disk
Shazam music recognition service; ShazamKit.framework; launchd service: com.apple.shazamd
Shazam audio (especially music) recognition service; ShazamKit.framework; launchd service: com.apple.shazamd; command line tool: shazam
Shoebox Passbook
Sidecar using iPhone/iPad as Mac accessory: camera for photos and scanning, annotations, external display over low-latency WiFi (llw interface) using avconferenced encoding; SidecarCore.framework; launchd services: com.apple.sidecar-display-agent (SidecarDisplayAgent), com.apple.sidecar-relay (SidecarRelay)
Sidecar using iPhone/iPad as Mac accessory: external camera and microphone (ContinuityCapture), camera for photos and scanning (DocumentCamera.framework), external display over low-latency WiFi (llw interface) using avconferenced encoding; SidecarCore.framework; launchd services: com.apple.sidecar-display-agent (SidecarDisplayAgent), com.apple.sidecar-relay (SidecarRelay)
Signpost telemetry API to report points of interest in code; launchd service: com.apple.signpost.signpost_reporter
Simulator running an iOS/tvOS/watchOS personality on macOS, uses sandboxing and a separate Mach bootstrap namespace for container-like isolation, command line tool: simctl
Simulator running an iOS/tvOS/watchOS personality on macOS, uses sandboxing and a separate Mach bootstrap namespace for container-like isolation; installable simulators as disk images in /Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Images; command line tool: simctl
SIP System Integrity Protection or rootless mode; collection of kernel-level security restrictions regarding file system modification, unsigned Kexts, Taskport access, NVRAM access, DTrace; /System/Library/Sandbox/rootless.conf; command line tool: csrutil, rootless-init
Site Association signed files in .well-known directory on websites; equivalent to Entitlements for websites, associates domains with app IDs for Universal Links; command line tool: swcutil
SKP Sealed Key Protection; measurement of system state (boot chain IMG4 manifests, BPR, Boot Policy data, UID key, user passcode) to derive Keybag keys
SKS Secure Key Store; handling of keybag keys within the SEP
SkyLight WindowServer; SkyLight.framework
Skywalk network subsystem in XNU, links together actual technologies (Bluetooth, WiFi, Thunderbolt) and interfaces/tunnels; transacts in nexus (for conduits) and agent (for endpoints) objects; DriverKit network drivers use Skywalk; command line tool: skywalkctl
SLC System-Level Cache, architectural feature of Apple Silicon; cache located within SoC at controllers for external DRAM, serves all compute units and stages transfers between them
Social Gaming Game Center; multiplayer gaming services on top of CloudKit, shared storage and low-latency multicast for multiplayer sessions; launchd service: com.apple.gamed
Sock Puppet Watch interaction that requires Companion device
SOS Secure Object Sync; syncing backend for iCloud Keychain, not to be confused with the emergency call feature; transferred items previously staged in Synced Defaults, now uses CKKS; launchd services: com.apple.secd (access to local keychain), com.apple.security.cloudkeychainproxy3 (connects to Synced Defaults), com.apple.security.keychain-circle-notification
SOS Secure Object Sync; syncing backend for iCloud Keychain, not to be confused with the emergency call feature; transferred items previously staged in Synced Defaults, for two-factor accounts in CKKS; launchd services: com.apple.secd (access to local keychain), com.apple.security.cloudkeychainproxy3 (connects to Synced Defaults), com.apple.security.keychain-circle-notification
SPI System Private Interface; /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks
SpringBoard iOS home screen; like Dock (Launchpad, Mission Control, desktop picture), Control Center, SystemUIServer (menu extras icons), loginwindow (lock screen), and WindowServer (compositor) on macOS; /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app, /Applications/PreBoard.app, BaseBoard.framework, FrontBoard.framework, SplashBoard.framework; launchd service: com.apple.backboardd (compositor)
SPRR Shadow Permission Remap Register? feature of Apple Silicon to dynamically reintepret page permissions
@@ -262,12 +294,13 @@ Stark CarPlay
Stockholm Secure Element in Apple SoCs, a processor running crypto protocols on keys it protects; used for Apple Pay and Car Key; related codenames: Icefall, Warsaw
Storage Management freeing up disk space by managing bulky items; UI in System Information.app; StorageManagement.framework; launchd service: com.apple.diskspaced; extension point: com.apple.storagemanagement; extends Cache Delete service
Suggestions semantic analysis of mails and websites to suggest contacts, calendar events and the like; launchd services: com.apple.suggestd, com.apple.reversetemplated; custom JavaScript parsers in /System/Library/AssetsV2/com_apple_MobileAsset_CoreSuggestions
Symbols debug symbols for backtraces; CoreSymbolication.framework; launchd services: com.apple.coresymbolicationd; command line tools: symbols, symbolscache
Symbols debug symbols for backtraces; CoreSymbolication.framework; launchd services: com.apple.coresymbolicationd; command line tools: atos, symbols, symbolscache
Symptoms network diagnostics; Symptoms.framework; /var/networkd/db/netusage.sqlite; launchd service: com.apple.symptomsd (invoked by kernel through host special port 27)
Synced Defaults simple key-value store for applications, no user control over data; can use iCloud key-value backend (old) or Manatee container (new, marked as com.apple.kvs) as storage; launchd service: com.apple.syncdefaultsd; locally stored in ~/Library/SyncedPreferences
System Configuration SystemConfiguration.framework; launchd service: com.apple.configd; command line tool: scutil
System Extension user-level components formerly in the kernel; currently either a DriverKit, Network, or Endpoint Security extension; /System/DriverKit, /System/Library/DriverExtensions; command line tool: systemextensionsctl; launchd services: com.apple.sysextd, com.apple.nesessionmanager, com.apple.endpointsecurity.endpointsecurityd
System Extension system-wide components formerly implemented as insecure plugins or kexts; current extension types: DriverKit, Network, Endpoint Security, Core Media IO; /System/DriverKit, /System/Library/DriverExtensions; command line tool: systemextensionsctl; launchd services: com.apple.sysextd, com.apple.nesessionmanager, com.apple.endpointsecurity.endpointsecurityd; command line tool: eslogger
System Policy Gatekeeper; policy engine for application launches and kext loading, malware signatures from /Library/Apple/System/Library/CoreServices/XProtect.bundle; /var/db/SystemPolicy; launchd service: com.apple.security.syspolicy (invoked by kernel through host special port 29); command line tool: spctl
Tailspin sampling of process stack traces; launchd service: com.apple.tailspind; command line tool: tailspin
TAL Transparent App Lifecycle; process for macOS apps started and stopped independently of the user launching and quitting app; also handles session restore across reboots; ~/Library/Saved Application State; launchd service: com.apple.talagent
Taskport Mach kernel concept for ptrace-like access to task internals; access policy implemented by daemon; launchd service: com.apple.taskgated (invoked by kernel through task special port 9); command line tool: DevToolsSecurity
TCC Transparency, Consent, and Control; user control over app access to privacy-related services (kTCCService*); TCC.framework; launchd services: com.apple.tccd, com.apple.tccd.system; command line tool: tccutil; stored in /Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC, ~/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC, /var/db/locationd (for kTCCServiceLocation)
@@ -276,21 +309,25 @@ Tin Can Walkie Talkie on watchOS
Tones ringtones; ToneLibrary.framework
Translocation app binary copied on launch to dedicated location; initiated by Launch Services for security (prevents path traversal for apps quarantined by System Policy) or path normalization (iOS apps do not expect to be moved, but can be moved on macOS)
Transparency key transparency for ESS keys? Transparency.framework; launchd service: com.apple.transparencyd; server: init-kt.apple.com
TTS Text To Speech, command line tool: say; /System/Library/Speech; synthesizer engines: MacinTalk (historic), Polyglot (phoneme-based?), Gryphon (current, DNN-based?)
TSS Tatsu Signing Server; online verification for firmware signatures; server: gs.apple.com
TTS Text To Speech, neural-network-based synthesis engine (Gryphon); command line tool: say; /System/Library/Speech, /System/Library/TTSPlugins
TVML TV Markup Language; declarative UI language for TV apps; TVMLKit.framework
Ubiquity iCloud Drive; codename Bladerunner, uses CloudKit; CloudDocs.framework; command line tools: fileproviderctl; launchd service: com.apple.bird (iclouddrive-agent); locally stored in ~/Library/Mobile Documents (was supposed to move to Library/CloudStorage/iCloud Drive and iclouddrivectl but this was reverted)
Ubiquity iCloud Drive; codename Bladerunner, uses CloudKit; CloudDocs.framework; launchd service: com.apple.bird; locally stored in ~/Library/Mobile Documents (was supposed to move to Library/CloudStorage/iCloud Drive but this was reverted)
UID unique ID key, used as root key for cryptographic subsystems, generated during manufacturing by SEP and fused into hardware, only accessible by SEP
Unified Logging system-wide logging and Activity tracking; launchd service: com.apple.logd, com.apple.diagnosticd; command line tool: log; /dev/oslog; data stored in /var/db/diagnostics, support files in /var/db/uuidtext
User Activity abstraction behind deep-linking into apps with structured context data (people, places); used for Universal Links (with schema.org on websites), Handoff, Parsec, Siri Shortcuts, Proactive; UserActivity.framework; launchd service: com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd
USD Universal Scene Description; storage format for 3D assets; /usr/lib/usd
User Activity abstraction for deep-linking into apps with structured context (people, places); used for Universal Links (schema.org on websites), Handoff, Parsec (app links in search), Siri Shortcuts, Quick Note (context awareness), Proactive; UserActivity.framework; launchd service: com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd
User Notifications user interface for notification center; launchd service: com.apple.usernoted
UTI Uniform Type Identifiers; system for document types; file extensions and MIME types are mapped to UTIs, UTIs form a conformance graph, apps register their UTIs with Launch Services; /System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle; also Apples hardware devices are represented as UTIs
VA Video Acceleration; AppleGVA.framework, AppleVA.framework, AppleVPA.framework
Viceroy video conferencing used by FaceTime and ReplayKit; ViceroyTrace.framework
Virtualisation running virtual machines on macOS; Hypervisor.framework (for basic VMs and vCPUs), Virtualization.framework (brings a robust set of device models)
VSDB volume status database; /var/db/volinfo.database; command line tool: vsdbutil
Waldo selects edge servers based on approximate location, part of Private Relay, seen in NSP
WFS WebDAV File Sharing; built-in file sharing with Apache; /etc/wfs; command line tool: wfsctl
Widgets content excerpt from apps; provided via a timeline of view hierarchies, configuration uses Intents, technically very similar to complications on watch face; extension point: com.apple.widgetkit-extension
Widgets content excerpt from apps; provided via a timeline of view hierarchies, configuration uses Intents; visible on home screen, lock screen, as live activities, as watch complications; WidgetKit.framework; extension point: com.apple.widgetkit-extension
Willow HomeKit; end-to-end-encrypted communication protocol and API for IoT-accessories; pairing with SRP using code printed on device, credential sync by CKKS, transported over Alloy, remote access using Apple TV as proxy; launchd service: com.apple.homed
Workflow Shortcuts; user-programmable system-wide automation, built-in triggers and actions, extensible with User Activities and Intents; WorkflowKit.framework, ActionKit.framework; locally stored in ~/Library/Shortcuts; launchd service: com.apple.siriactionsd (voice-triggered shortcuts); command line tool: shortcuts
Window Manager implements Stage Manager; /System/Library/CoreServices/WindowManager.app
Workflow Shortcuts; user-programmable system-wide automation, built-in triggers cause a chain of actions to run; actions are synthesized from User Activities and Intents provided by apps; WorkflowKit.framework, ActionKit.framework; locally stored in ~/Library/Shortcuts; launchd service: com.apple.siriactionsd (voice-triggered shortcuts); command line tool: shortcuts
xART eXtended Anti-Replay Technology; persistent storage for SEP, used by Mesa; /System/Volumes/xarts; launchd service: com.apple.xartstorageremoted; command line tool: xartutil
XCS Xcode Server; continuous integration server; command line tools: xcscontrol, xcsdiagnose
1 1TR Term One True Recovery; booting into macOS recovery on Apple Silicon by holding the power button to verify physical presence; enables interaction with SEP to change Boot Policy Description
1 Term Description
2 1TR 1TR One True Recovery; booting into macOS recovery on Apple Silicon by holding the power button to verify physical presence; enables interaction with SEP to change Boot Policy One True Recovery; booting into macOS recovery on Apple Silicon by holding the power button to verify physical presence; enables interaction with SEP to change Boot Policy
3 AA AA Apple account Apple account
4 AA Apple Archive, see also Apple Encrypted Archive; command line tools: aa, aea, compression_tool
5 AAC AAC Automatic Assessment Configuration; AutomaticAssessmentConfiguration.framework; puts device in a locked mode for exam-style test applications Automatic Assessment Configuration; AutomaticAssessmentConfiguration.framework; puts device in a locked mode for exam-style test applications
6 AAT AAT Apple Advanced Typography; font format and rendering engine Apple Advanced Typography; font format and rendering engine
7 Accounts Accounts launchd service: com.apple.accountsd; /System/Library/Accounts launchd service: com.apple.accountsd; /System/Library/Accounts
8 ACDE ACDE Apple Connect Device External? ACDEClient.framework, old two-step verification, derived from a company-internal AppleConnect system? server: appleconnect.apple.com Apple Connect Device External? ACDEClient.framework, old two-step verification, derived from a company-internal AppleConnect system?
9 ACFS ACFS Apple Clustered File System; deprecated file system for Xsan; acfs.framework Apple Clustered File System; deprecated file system for Xsan; acfs.framework
10 Acoustic ID Acoustic ID Siri feature to recognize songs Siri feature to recognize songs
11 Activation Activation cryptographic check-in with iCloud to lock devices reported by the user as lost; verified by iBoot; MobileActivationMacOS.framework; launchd service: com.apple.mobileactivationd; servers: humb.apple.com, albert.apple.com cryptographic check-in with iCloud to lock devices reported by the user as lost; verified by iBoot; MobileActivationMacOS.framework; launchd service: com.apple.mobileactivationd; servers: humb.apple.com, albert.apple.com
12 Activity Activity jobs, coarse-grained work units of applications; tracked by the system across XPC, bears a QoS class for scheduling; low-level mechanism not to be confused with User Activity jobs, coarse-grained work units of applications; tracked by the system across XPC, bears a QoS class for scheduling; low-level mechanism not to be confused with User Activity
13 AE AE Apple Events; messaging system to invoke application functionality; CoreServices.framework/AE.framework; launchd services: com.apple.coreservices.appleevents, com.apple.AEServer (AE over network) Apple Events; messaging system to invoke application functionality; CoreServices.framework/AE.framework; launchd services: com.apple.coreservices.appleevents, com.apple.AEServer (AE over network)
14 AEA Aegir Apple Encrypted Archive; command line tool: aea astronomy watch face and lock screen; /System/Library/CoreServices/AegirProxyApp.app
15 AGC AGC Apple Graphics Control, management of multiple displays and display port connections; launchd service: com.apple.displaypolicyd Apple Graphics Control, management of multiple displays and display port connections; launchd service: com.apple.displaypolicyd
16 AHAP Apple Haptic Audio Pattern; file format for simultaneous audio and haptic data; CoreHaptics.framework
17 AIR AIR Apple Intermediate Representation; synthetic bytecode architecture target for GPU binary toolchain Apple Intermediate Representation; synthetic bytecode architecture target for GPU binary toolchain
18 ALF ALF Application-Level Firewall, launchd service: com.apple.alf (socketfilterfw) Application-Layer Firewall, launchd service: com.apple.alf (socketfilterfw)
19 Alloy Alloy substrate for communication between user devices over Bluetooth and devices to iCloud, implemented over IDS; /System/Library/IdentityServices/ServiceDefinitions; launchd service: com.apple.identityservicesd substrate for communication between user devices over Bluetooth and devices to iCloud, implemented over IDS; /System/Library/IdentityServices/ServiceDefinitions; launchd service: com.apple.identityservicesd
20 ALS ALS Ambient Light Sensor, AmbientDisplay.framework Ambient Light Sensor, AmbientDisplay.framework
21 Amber Amber Swift UI; SwiftUI.framework Swift UI; SwiftUI.framework
24 AMP AMP Asynchronous Multiprocessing; performance and power-efficiency cores on Apple Silicon Asynchronous Multiprocessing; performance and power-efficiency cores on Apple Silicon
25 AMS AMS Apple Media Services; formerly the iTunes stores and media services: App Stores, Apple Music, Apple TV, iCloud media library, Apple Podcasts, Podcast sync, Books Store, Books sync; AppleMediaServices.framework; server: phobos.apple.com Apple Media Services; formerly the iTunes stores and media services: App Stores, Apple Music, Apple TV, iCloud media library, Apple Podcasts, Podcast sync, Books Store, Books sync; AppleMediaServices.framework; server: phobos.apple.com
26 AMX AMX Apple Matrix Extension; ARM instruction set extension for matrix operations Apple Matrix Extension; ARM instruction set extension for matrix operations
27 ANE Apple Neural Engine, hardware accelerator for neural network operations; ANECompiler.framework, ANEServices.framework; launchd service: com.apple.aned
28 Anisette Anisette two-factor authentication creates security codes on trusted devices using TOTP, probably using Circle keys, checked by HSA; AuthKit.framework; launchd service: com.apple.akd two-factor authentication creates security codes on trusted devices using TOTP, probably using Circle keys, checked by HSA; AuthKit.framework; launchd service: com.apple.akd
29 AOP AOP Always On Processor, part of Apple SoCs, runs RTKit as operating system Always On Processor, part of Apple SoCs, runs RTKit as operating system
30 AOS AOS Apple Online Services? historical name for iCloud Apple Online Services? historical name for iCloud
40 Assertions Assertions power state management allowing applications to prevent sleeping; launchd service: com.apple.powerd; command line tools: caffeinate, pmset power state management allowing applications to prevent sleeping; launchd service: com.apple.powerd; command line tools: caffeinate, pmset
41 Assessment Assessment checking of System Policy; term also used for AAC checking of System Policy; term also used for AAC
42 Asset Cache Asset Cache discretionary caching server for Mobile Assets, Packages, iOS updates, App Store content, ODR, MMCS data; launchd services: com.apple.AssetCache.builtin, com.apple.AssetCacheLocatorService, com.apple.AssetCacheManagerService, com.apple.AssetCacheTetheratorService; command line tools: AssetCacheLocatorUtil, AssetCacheManagerUtil, AssetCacheTetheratorUtil discretionary caching server for Mobile Assets, Packages, iOS updates, App Store content, ODR, MMCS data; launchd services: com.apple.AssetCache.builtin, com.apple.AssetCacheLocatorService, com.apple.AssetCacheManagerService, com.apple.AssetCacheTetheratorService; command line tools: AssetCacheLocatorUtil, AssetCacheManagerUtil, AssetCacheTetheratorUtil
43 Assistant Assistant Siri; dictation and semantic understanding, Intent is communicated to and enacted on the client, uses TTS; /System/Library/Assistant, AssistantServices.framework; server: *.siri.apple.com Siri; dictation and semantic understanding, Intent is communicated to and enacted on the client, uses TTS for output, Snippets to embed mini UIs into responses; /System/Library/Assistant, /System/Library/Snippets, AssistantServices.framework; server: *.siri.apple.com
44 ATS ATS App Transport Security, sandbox mechanism only allowing TLS-secured connections App Transport Security, sandbox mechanism only allowing TLS-secured connections
45 ATSUI ATSUI Apple Type Services for Unicode Imaging; rendering engine superseded by CoreText.framework, font management; ApplicationServices.framework/ATS.framework; launchd service: com.apple.xtyped (fontd); command line tools: atsutil Apple Type Services for Unicode Imaging; rendering engine superseded by CoreText.framework, font management; ApplicationServices.framework/ATS.framework; launchd service: com.apple.xtyped (fontd); command line tools: atsutil
46 ATT ATT App Tracking Transparency; apps declare user tracking on app store App Tracking Transparency; apps declare user tracking on app store
47 Attestation Attestation cryptographic proof of a genuine SEP; used for web authentication and app attestation; DeviceCheck.framework; online service signs a GID-based challenge response? used to pair RemoteXPC channel? stripped down variant used to securely identify Touch ID keyboards cryptographic proof of a genuine SEP; used for web authentication and app attestation; DeviceCheck.framework; SEP responds to challenge using hardware-key (GID, PKA), online service verifies; used to pair Touch ID keyboards, used to pair RemoteXPC channel?
48 Authorization Authorization discretionary access control policies for high-level services; similar to PAM; policy stored in /var/db/auth.db discretionary access control policies for high-level services; similar to PAM; policy stored in /var/db/auth.db
49 Avatar Avatar Memoji and Animoji (face tracking); AvatarKit.framework Memoji and Animoji, including pre-rendered iMessage stickers; AvatarKit.framework
50 AVB AVB Audio Video Bridging, low-latency audio over Ethernet; launchd service: com.apple.avbdeviced; command line tool: avbdiagnose, avbutil Audio Video Bridging, low-latency audio over Ethernet; launchd service: com.apple.avbdeviced; command line tool: avbdiagnose, avbutil
51 AWD AWD Apple Wireless Diagnostics, sends system telemetry to Apple; CoreAnalytics.framework, WirelessDiagnostics.framework; launchd services: com.apple.awdd, com.apple.analyticsd Apple Wireless Diagnostics, sends system telemetry to Apple; CoreAnalytics.framework, WirelessDiagnostics.framework; launchd services: com.apple.awdd, com.apple.analyticsd
52 AWDL AWDL Apple Wireless Direct Link; secondary WiFi interface that runs in parallel to an active WiFi access point connection, similar to WiFi Direct (p2p interface), uses a randomized MAC, used for peer-to-peer networking: AirDrop, AirPlay; DeviceToDeviceManager.framework Apple Wireless Direct Link; secondary WiFi interface that runs in parallel to an active WiFi access point connection, similar to WiFi Direct (p2p interface), uses a randomized MAC, used for peer-to-peer networking: AirDrop, AirPlay; DeviceToDeviceManager.framework
53 Background Assets assets that an app extension loads without the app being launched; BackgroundAssets.framework; extension point: com.apple.background-asset-downloader-extension; launchd service: com.apple.backgroundassets.user
54 Bezel Bezel on-screen overlays for hardware volume buttons, screen brightness, Bluetooth HID, and others; /Library/Application Support/Apple/BezelServices, launchd services: com.apple.loginwindow, com.apple.OSDUIHelper on-screen overlays for hardware volume buttons, screen brightness, Bluetooth HID, and others; /Library/Application Support/Apple/BezelServices, launchd services: com.apple.loginwindow, com.apple.OSDUIHelper
55 Bifrost emergency satellite connectivity; /System/Library/LocationBundles/Bifrost.bundle
56 Biome Biome CloudKit-based datastream and sync engine; BiomeStreams.framework, BiomeSync.framework; launchd services: com.apple.BiomeAgent, com.apple.biomesyncd CloudKit-based datastream and sync engine; BiomeStreams.framework, BiomeSync.framework; launchd services: com.apple.BiomeAgent, com.apple.biomesyncd
57 Blast Door Blast Door sandboxed sanitization process for untrusted iMessage input; BlastDoor.framework sandboxed sanitization process for untrusted iMessage input; BlastDoor.framework
58 BOM BOM Bill of Materials; format to store contents of installer Packages; command line tool: lsbom Bill of Materials; format to store contents of installer Packages; command line tool: lsbom
68 Carousel Carousel derivative of SpringBoard for Watch home screen, watch face, and notification center derivative of SpringBoard for Watch home screen, watch face, and notification center
69 Celestial Celestial media streaming used by ReplayKit for game broadcasts; Celestial.framework media streaming used by ReplayKit for game broadcasts; Celestial.framework
70 Certificates Certificates validity checked using CRLs, OCSP stapling, and transparency logs; /System/Library/Security/Certificates.bundle; launchd services: com.apple.trustd, com.apple.trustd.agent, com.apple.ocspd; command line tool: crlrefresh validity checked using CRLs, OCSP stapling, and transparency logs; /System/Library/Security/Certificates.bundle; launchd services: com.apple.trustd, com.apple.trustd.agent, com.apple.ocspd; command line tool: crlrefresh
71 Circle Chamois cryptographic primitive to exchange public keys of all trusted devices of one user, signed by all Circle peers; iCloud identity keypair as an additional Circle peer, triggers countersigning from all trusted devices, private key synced across all trusted devices, new devices can pull this key from Secure Backup to join the Circle; used by CKKS; KeychainCircle.framework; command line tools: tpctl, otctl (Octagon trust is newer?) Stage Manager
72 CKKS CHIP CloudKit Key Sync, end-to-end secure syncing for credentials, seeded by Circle, transferred items stored ephemerally using OTR protocol; currently includes ApplePay, AutoUnlock, CreditCards, DevicePairing, Engram, Health, Home, Manatee, SOS, WiFi and other keys; launchd service: com.apple.secd; command line tool: ckksctl Connected Home over IP; Matter; integrated into HomeKit; CHIPPlugin.framework
73 Classroom Circle launchd service: com.apple.studentd cryptographic primitive to exchange public keys of trusted devices of a user, signed by Circle peers; iCloud identity added as additional Circle peer, private key synced across all trusted devices, new devices can pull this key from Secure Backup to join the Circle; per-device Circles stored in CKKS for two-factor accounts (Octagon); KeychainCircle.framework; command line tools: otctl (Octagon)
74 CKKS CloudKit Key Sync, end-to-end secure syncing for credentials, seeded by Circle; currently includes ApplePay, AutoUnlock, CreditCards, DevicePairing, Engram, Health, Home, Manatee, SOS, WiFi and other keys; launchd service: com.apple.secd; command line tool: ckksctl
75 Clarity customizable accessibility mode for simplified UI; ClarityFoundation.framework
76 Classroom school teachers can create assignments for student iPads and track progress in Schoolwork app; ClassKit.framework; launchd service: com.apple.studentd
77 Cloud Pairing Cloud Pairing part of Alloy, Bluetooth out-of-band pairing over iCloud for Continuity; launchd service: com.apple.BTServer.cloudpairing (cloudpaird) part of Alloy, Bluetooth out-of-band pairing over iCloud for Continuity; launchd service: com.apple.BTServer.cloudpairing (cloudpaird)
78 CMAS CMAS Commerial Mobile Alert System, now known as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) Commerial Mobile Alert System, now known as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
79 Commpage Commpage user-mapped kernel data, like vdso/vsyscall on Linux; mapped at 0x7fffffe00000 user-mapped kernel data, like vdso/vsyscall on Linux; mapped at 0x7fffffe00000
83 Control Center Control Center icons in menu/status bar and Bento Box controls UI, gradually replaces SystemUIServer on macOS; handles incoming AirPlay content; launchd services: com.apple.controlcenter, com.apple.SystemUIServer.agent icons in menu/status bar and Bento Box controls UI, gradually replaces SystemUIServer on macOS; handles incoming AirPlay content; launchd services: com.apple.controlcenter, com.apple.SystemUIServer.agent
84 CPML CPML CorePrediction Machine Learning; CPMLBestShim.framework CorePrediction Machine Learning; CPMLBestShim.framework
85 CRD CRD Conference Room Display; Apple TV mode Conference Room Display; Apple TV mode
86 Cryptex Cryptographically sealed Extension of SSV, mount-invisible extension of the root volume, allows lightweight updates as part of Rapid Security Response; /System/Cryptexes (mountpoint), /System/Volumes/Preboot/*/cryptex1/current/*.dmg (disk images)
87 CSR Configurable Security Restrictions; XNU subsystem that is the basis for SIP
88 CTK CTK Crypto Token Kit; smart card management, also for the Secure Element on iOS? launchd service: com.apple.ctkd; command line tool: sc_auth Crypto Token Kit; smart card management, also for the Secure Element on iOS? launchd service: com.apple.ctkd; command line tool: sc_auth
89 CTS CTS Centralized Task Scheduling; execution of DAS tasks; /System/Library/UserEventPlugins/com.apple.cts.plugin Centralized Task Scheduling; execution of DAS tasks; /System/Library/UserEventPlugins/com.apple.cts.plugin
90 CVMS CVMS Core VM Server/Service? compilation of GPU shaders; launchd service: com.apple.cvmsServ Core VM Server/Service? compilation of GPU shaders; launchd service: com.apple.cvmsServ
91 DAAP DAAP Digital Audio Access Protocol; used by Home Sharing (with Rapport token) and by the Remote app to control Apple TV (with pairing token); payload unencrypted; DAAPKit.framework; Bonjour services: _atc._tcp, _home-sharing._tcp, _mediaremotetv._tcp, _touch-able._tcp Digital Audio Access Protocol; used by Home Sharing (with Rapport token) and by the Remote app to control Apple TV (with pairing token); payload unencrypted; DAAPKit.framework; Bonjour services: _atc._tcp, _home-sharing._tcp, _mediaremotetv._tcp, _touch-able._tcp
92 Daily Briefing Daily Briefing Siri giving an overview of information for the day; SiriDailyBriefingInternal.framework Siri giving an overview of information for the day; SiriDailyBriefingInternal.framework
93 DART DART DMA Address Relocation Table; IOMMU implementation in Apple silicon, positioned in front of peripheral devices, offers sub-page protection; SART: streaming variant for high-throughput devices (like NVMe) DMA Address Relocation Table; IOMMU implementation in Apple silicon, positioned in front of every DMA-capable co-processor and peripheral, offers sub-page protection; SART: streaming variant for high-throughput devices (like NVMe)
94 DAS DAS Duet Activity Scheduler; scheduling policy engine behind NSBackgroundActivityScheduler and XPC activities; /System/Library/DuetActivityScheduler; launchd service: com.apple.dasd Duet Activity Scheduler; scheduling policy engine behind NSBackgroundActivityScheduler and XPC activities; /System/Library/DuetActivityScheduler; launchd service: com.apple.dasd
95 Data Detectors Data Detectors text analysis to highlight phone numbers, street addresses, and the like; DataDetectors.framework text analysis to highlight phone numbers, street addresses, and the like; DataDetectors.framework
96 Data Vault Data Vault directories with the UF_DATAVAULT special flag; CSR limits access to one application directories with the UF_DATAVAULT special flag; CSR limits access to one application
97 DAV DAV Distributed Authoring and Versioning; network protocol on top of HTTP for syncing calendars (CalDAV), contacts (CardDAV), and formerly also bookmarks (BookmarkDAV) Distributed Authoring and Versioning; network protocol on top of HTTP for syncing calendars (CalDAV), contacts (CardDAV), and formerly also bookmarks (BookmarkDAV)
98 DCP Display Co-Processor
99 DDE Device Discovery Extension; detects devices on local network without app access to local network; DeviceDiscoveryExtension.framework, DeviceDiscoveryUICore.framework; extension point: com.apple.discovery-extension
100 DEP DEP Device Enrollment Program; devices check in with Apple during Setup Assistant to query for their enrollment status, retrieve MDM server URL to fetch initial configuration profile Device Enrollment Program; devices check in with Apple during Setup Assistant to query for their enrollment status, retrieve MDM server URL to fetch initial configuration profile
101 Developer Mode enables launching of self-compiled apps in iOS, rough equivalent to System Policy; command line tool: devmodectl
102 DFR DFR Dynamic Function Row?, TouchBar; /System/Library/CoreServices/ControlStrip.app; DFRFoundation.framework Dynamic Function Row?, TouchBar; /System/Library/CoreServices/ControlStrip.app; DFRFoundation.framework
103 DFU DFU Device Firmware Update; special boot mode where iOS has not booted and the system can be installed over the Lightning connection Device Firmware Update; special boot mode where iOS has not booted and the system can be installed over the Lightning connection
104 Differential Privacy Differential Privacy crowdsourcing without user tracking; privacy budget for management of anonymity set; used for keyboard words, emoji, Spotlight searches, Parsec deep links, HealthKit usage, Safari telemetry; /System/Library/DifferentialPrivacy; stored in /var/db/DifferentialPrivacy; launchd service: com.apple.dprivacyd crowdsourcing without user tracking; privacy budget for management of anonymity set; used for keyboard words, emoji, Spotlight searches, Parsec deep links, HealthKit usage, Safari telemetry; /System/Library/DifferentialPrivacy; stored in /var/db/DifferentialPrivacy; launchd service: com.apple.dprivacyd
105 Digital Separation safety check feature to inhibit sharing relationships; DigitalSeparation.framework
106 DMC Disk Mount Conditioner; simulates slow IO devices; command line tool: dmc
107 DND DND Do Not Disturb Do Not Disturb
Domain Association signed files in .well-known directory on websites; equivalent to Entitlements for websites
108 DSID DSID Destination Signaling Identifier, unique ID for IDS login on a specific device Destination Signaling Identifier, unique ID for IDS login on a specific device
109 DTrace DTrace system-wide tracing infrastructure, command line tools: dtrace, *.d, dappprof, dapptrace, dtruss, errinfo, execsnoop, fddist, fs_usage, imptrace, iopattern, iopending, iosnoop, iotop, lastwords, latency, opensnoop, plockstat, rwsnoop, sampleproc, sc_usage, topsyscall, topsysproc system-wide tracing infrastructure, command line tools: dtrace, *.d, dappprof, dapptrace, dtruss, errinfo, execsnoop, fddist, fs_usage, imptrace, iopattern, iopending, iosnoop, iotop, lastwords, latency, opensnoop, plockstat, rwsnoop, sampleproc, sc_usage, topsyscall, topsysproc
110 Duet Duet telemetry collection engine for system and user events, forecasting by machine learning, backend for DAS, Proactive, Relevance, Screen Time, thermal and battery management; /System/Library/DuetKnowledgeBase; CoreDuet.framework, CoreKnowledge.framework, CorePrediction.framework; launchd services: com.apple.coreduetd, com.apple.knowledge-agent telemetry collection engine for system and user events, forecasting by machine learning, backend for DAS, Proactive, Relevance, Screen Time, thermal and battery management; /System/Library/DuetKnowledgeBase; CoreDuet.framework, CoreKnowledge.framework, CorePrediction.framework; launchd services: com.apple.coreduetd, com.apple.knowledge-agent, com.apple.ospredictiond
111 Dyld Shared Cache Dyld Shared Cache dynamic linker cache, stores all system libraries in prelinked form, original library files are removed; /System/Library/dyld; command line tool: update_dyld_shared_cache dynamic linker cache, stores all system libraries in prelinked form, original library files are removed; /System/Volumes/Preboot/Cryptexes/OS/System/Library/dyld; command line tools: dyld_info, dyld_usage, update_dyld_shared_cache
112 EAS EAS Exchange Active Sync; network protocol for accessing Microsoft Exchange servers Exchange Active Sync; network protocol for accessing Microsoft Exchange servers
113 EDR EDR Extended Dynamic Range; rendering with transfer function extending beyond sRGB white; implemented natively on XDR displays and by backlight modulation on others; HDRProcessing.framework Extended Dynamic Range; rendering with transfer function extending beyond sRGB white; implemented natively on XDR displays and by backlight modulation on others; HDRProcessing.framework
114 Energy Impact Energy Impact unitless metric for per-application energy consumption, machine-specific coefficients; /usr/share/pmenergy, /usr/share/kpep; launchd services: com.apple.sysmond, com.apple.thermald; command line tool: powermetrics unitless metric for per-application energy consumption, machine-specific coefficients; /usr/share/pmenergy, /usr/share/kpep; launchd services: com.apple.sysmond, com.apple.thermald; command line tool: powermetrics
115 Engram Engram Messages in iCloud; devices store received iMessages in CloudKit; Engram.framework Messages in iCloud; devices store received iMessages in CloudKit; Engram.framework
116 Entitlements Entitlements capability-like attributes bound to executables by code signing; some entitlements like App Sandbox restrict ambient authority, some gradually relieve those restrictions (using Seatbelt), some services or system calls grant privilege based on caller entitlements capability-like attributes bound to executables by code signing; some entitlements like App Sandbox restrict ambient authority, some gradually relieve those restrictions (using Seatbelt), some services or system calls grant privilege based on caller entitlements
117 ESS ESS IDS user directory, public key distribution for iMessage and CloudKit sharing, uses Transparency; server: *.ess.apple.com; launchd service: com.apple.identityservicesd IDS user directory, public key distribution for iMessage and CloudKit sharing, uses Transparency; server: *.ess.apple.com; launchd service: com.apple.identityservicesd
Event Monitor simple rules engine for running commands on various systen events; apparently not used by default; /etc/emond.d, /var/db/emondClients; launchd service: com.apple.emond
118 FaceTime FaceTime video calls, employs the ICE (establishing peer-to-peer connection), STUN (session credential exchange) and SRTP (encrypted media streaming) protocols; FTServices.framework; launchd services: com.apple.videoconference.camera (avconferenced) video calls, employs the ICE (establishing peer-to-peer connection), STUN (session credential exchange) and SRTP (encrypted media streaming) protocols; FTServices.framework; launchd services: com.apple.videoconference.camera (avconferenced)
119 FairPlay FairPlay DRM system used by app and media stores; CoreADI.framework, CoreFP.framework, CoreLSKD.framework; launchd services: com.apple.adid, com.apple.fairplayd (invoked by kernel through host special port 17), com.apple.lskdd; credentials stored in /var/db/fpsd DRM system used by app and media stores; CoreADI.framework, CoreFP.framework, CoreLSKD.framework; launchd services: com.apple.adid, com.apple.fairplayd (invoked by kernel through host special port 17), com.apple.lskdd; credentials stored in /var/db/fpsd
120 Family Circle Family Circle Family Sharing; launchd services: com.apple.familycircled, com.apple.askpermissiond Family Sharing; launchd services: com.apple.familycircled, com.apple.askpermissiond
122 FDR FDR Factory Data/Device Reset? ensures that no downgrades are performed? servers: skl.apple.com, gg.apple.com; /System/Library/FDR Factory Data/Device Reset? ensures that no downgrades are performed? servers: skl.apple.com, gg.apple.com; /System/Library/FDR
123 Feldspar Feldspar Apple News; Silex.framework Apple News; Silex.framework
124 FiDES FiDES Fi? Distributed Evaluation Service? aggregates Differential Privacy data for unlinkability? maybe private federated learning? used for emoji, Suggestions, Dictation; /System/Library/DistributedEvaluation; DistributedEvaluation.framework; server: fides-pol.apple.com Fi? Distributed Evaluation Service? aggregates Differential Privacy data for unlinkability? maybe private federated learning? used for emoji, Suggestions, Dictation; /System/Library/DistributedEvaluation; DistributedEvaluation.framework; server: fides-pol.apple.com
125 File Provider infrastructure and extension system for syncing with cloud providers; placeholder files based on SF_DATALESS attribute in APFS; FileProvider.framework; locally stored in ~/Library/CloudStorage; command line tool: fileproviderctl
126 Find My … Find My … location sharing by explicitly querying devices remotely or collateral beacon detection using Search Party; FMCore.framework, FMF.framework; launchd service: com.apple.icloud.fmfd (find my friends) location sharing by explicitly querying devices remotely or collateral beacon detection using Search Party; FMCore.framework, FMF.framework; launchd service: com.apple.icloud.fmfd (find my friends)
127 Firmlink Firmlink bi-directional non-symbolic link between the read-only system volume and the data volume, additional symlinks and mountpoints in the root directory are virtually allocated; /usr/share/firmlinks, /etc/synthetic.conf bi-directional non-symbolic link between the read-only system volume and the data volume, additional symlinks and mountpoints in the root directory are virtually allocated; /usr/share/firmlinks, /etc/synthetic.conf
128 Focus Focus restriction modes for notification presentation; Focus.framework, DoNotDisturb.framework; local settings in ~/Library/DoNotDisturb restriction modes for notification presentation; focus filters for in-app display restrictions, communicat by Intents; Focus.framework, DoNotDisturb.framework; local settings in ~/Library/DoNotDisturb
129 FollowUp FollowUp user interaction for Secure Backup wrapping with device passcode, CoreFollowUp.framework; launchd service: com.apple.followupd user interaction for Secure Backup wrapping with device passcode, CoreFollowUp.framework; launchd service: com.apple.followupd
130 FoundationDB FoundationDB fundamental iCloud storage database, marketed as CloudKit, separated into containers; records, blobs, and large asset storage with MMCS, server-side continuous queries can trigger push notifications, user management by IDS, sharing between users; PCS keys used for hierarchical zone, record, and asset encryption; CloudKitDaemon.framework; launchd service: com.apple.cloudd; locally stored in ~/Library/Caches/CloudKit, ~/Library/Containers/*/Data/CloudKit; command line tool: cktool fundamental iCloud storage database, marketed as CloudKit, separated into containers; records, blobs, and large asset storage with MMCS, server-side continuous queries can trigger push notifications, user management by IDS, sharing between users; PCS keys used for hierarchical zone, record, and asset encryption; CloudKitDaemon.framework; launchd service: com.apple.cloudd; locally stored in ~/Library/Caches/CloudKit, ~/Library/Containers/*/Data/CloudKit; command line tool: cktool
131 FPR FPR Fast Permission Restrictions; Apple CPU registers to downgrade (old APRRs do bitmasking) or remap (SPRRs since M1) actual permissions of memory pages per thread; used for JIT protection and by AMFI to freeze user code after checking Fast Permission Restrictions; Apple CPU registers to downgrade (old APRRs do bitmasking) or remap (SPRRs since M1) actual permissions of memory pages (the CTRR region) per thread; used for JIT protection and by AMFI to freeze user code after checking
132 FUD FUD Firmware Update Daemon; /var/db/fud; launchd service: com.apple.MobileAccessoryUpdater Firmware Update Daemon; /var/db/fud; launchd service: com.apple.accessoryupdaterd
133 GID GID group ID key, shared across all devices of the same SoC generation, derived keys are used to prove device type over the network, only accessible by SEP group ID key, shared across all devices of the same SoC generation, derived keys are used to prove device type over the network, only accessible by SEP
134 Gizmo Gizmo Apple Watch; watch settings managed by Companion; /Applications/Bridge.app, /System/Library/BridgeManifests Apple Watch; watch settings managed by Companion; /Applications/Bridge.app, /System/Library/BridgeManifests
135 Group Activities Group Activities SharePlay; sharing of media content and programmatic state over FaceTime calls; GroupActivities.framework, CopresenceCore.framework; launchd service: com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd SharePlay; sharing of media content and programmatic state over FaceTime calls; GroupActivities.framework, CopresenceCore.framework; launchd service: com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd
141 HeadBoard HeadBoard derivative of SpringBoard for tvOS home screen; /Applications/HeadBoard.app, /Applications/PineBoard.app derivative of SpringBoard for tvOS home screen; /Applications/HeadBoard.app, /Applications/PineBoard.app
142 HLS HLS HTTP Live Streaming HTTP Live Streaming
143 HSA HSA Hardware Security Architecture; version 1 used for two-step verification, SOS with iCSC; version 2 for two-factor authentication, CKKS and Secure Backup with iCDP Hardware Security Architecture; version 1 used for two-step verification, SOS with iCSC; version 2 for two-factor authentication, CKKS and Secure Backup with iCDP
144 HSM HSM Hardware Security Module; HSM fleet runs escrow service for Secure Backup; public keys for authenticating the HSM services in /System/Library/Security/Certificates.bundle/Contents/Resources/AppleESCertificates.plist Hardware Security Module; HSM fleet runs escrow service for Secure Backup
145 Hyperion Hyperion iCloud Photos, uses CloudKit; launchd service: com.apple.cloudphotod; command line tool: cpldiagnose iCloud Photos, uses CloudKit; launchd service: com.apple.cloudphotod; command line tool: cpldiagnose
146 IAP IAP iPod Accessory Protocol; IAP.framework iPod Accessory Protocol; IAP.framework
147 iBoot iBoot boot loader stage after boot ROM or UEFI (macOS on Intel); intermediate Low-Level Bootloader (LLB); DFU mode is implemented here; /System/Library/CoreServices/boot.efi boot loader stage after boot ROM or UEFI (macOS on Intel); intermediate Low-Level Bootloader (LLB); DFU mode is implemented here; /System/Library/CoreServices/boot.efi
150 iCSC iCSC iCloud Security Code, credential wrapping for Secure Backup, previously used a separate code, with HSA2/iCDP uses device passcodes iCloud Security Code, credential wrapping for Secure Backup, previously used a separate code, with HSA2/iCDP uses device passcodes
151 IDAM IDAM Inter-Device Audio and MIDI; audio connection between devices Inter-Device Audio and MIDI; audio connection between devices
152 IDS IDS Identity Service, also IDMS, Apple ID identity management for all of Apple’s online services; APNS topics for signaling and messaging, see also Alloy, ESS, FaceTime, iMessage; authentication to services with Kerberos Identity Service, also IDMS, Apple ID identity management for all of Apple’s online services; APNS topics for signaling and messaging, see also Alloy, ESS, FaceTime, iMessage; authentication to services with Kerberos
153 IDV Identity Verification? Touch ID and Face ID; /System/Library/AccessibilityBundles/CoreIDVUI.axbundle
154 IM IM Instant Messaging; usually means iMessage and FaceTime Instant Messaging; usually means iMessage and FaceTime
155 IMG4 IMG4 boot files (Mach-O binaries or configuration data) with ASN.1 signature, contains RemotePolicy certificate constraints to restrict Boot Policy evaluation boot files (Mach-O binaries or configuration data) with ASN.1 signature, contains RemotePolicy certificate constraints to restrict Boot Policy evaluation
156 Intent Intent use-case-driven interaction with 3rd-party apps from a host app; used for Siri, Maps, Widgets (configuration); extension points: com.apple.intents-service, com.apple.intents-ui-service use-case-driven interaction with 3rd-party apps from a host app; used for Siri, Maps, Shortcuts, Widgets (configuration); definition file or programmatically using AppIntents.framework; command line tool: appintentsmetadataprocessor (Xcode extracts Intent definition at compile time); extension points: com.apple.intents-service, com.apple.intents-ui-service
157 IOKit IOKit device driver subsystem for in-kernel and DriverKit drivers, command line tool: ioreg device driver subsystem for in-kernel and DriverKit drivers, command line tool: ioreg
158 Ironwood Ironwood dictation, customized on server with selected user data (contacts, app names, music titles, HomeKit names, Siri Shortcut phrases), not tied to Apple ID; SpeechRecognitionCore.framework; server: guzzoni.apple.com dictation, customized on server with selected user data (contacts, app names, music titles, HomeKit names, Siri Shortcut phrases), not tied to Apple ID; SpeechRecognitionCore.framework; server: guzzoni.apple.com
159 ISP ISP Image Signal Processor; camera imaging circuit in iPhones Image Signal Processor; camera imaging circuit in iPhones
160 ITML ITML iTunes Markup Language; metdata tagging for media services; ITMLKit.framework iTunes Markup Language; metdata tagging for media services; ITMLKit.framework
161 ITP ITP Intelligent Tracking Prevention, cross-site tracking defenses in Safari, statistics and user interaction classify sites, cookies are partitioned and access is restricted Intelligent Tracking Prevention, cross-site tracking defenses in Safari, statistics and user interaction classify sites, cookies are partitioned and access is restricted
162 JARVIS JARVIS Just A Rather Very Intelligent Scheduler, Mesos cluster manager for Siri, iCloud, AMS Just A Rather Very Intelligent Scheduler, Mesos cluster manager for Siri, iCloud, AMS
163 Jellyfish Jellyfish Animoji Animoji; /Applications/Jellyfish.app
164 Jetsam Jetsam reclaiming of purgeable memory and termination of apps during memory pressure reclaiming of purgeable memory and termination of apps during memory pressure
165 JSC JSC JavaScript Core; JavaScriptCore.framework; command line tool: jsc JavaScript Core; JavaScriptCore.framework; command line tool: jsc
166 Kalamata Kalamata codename for the transition from x86 to ARM-based Apple Silicon codename for the transition from x86 to ARM-based Apple Silicon
171 Keychain Keychain storage for credentials; launchd service: com.apple.securityd; command line tools: certtool, security, systemkeychain storage for credentials; launchd service: com.apple.securityd; command line tools: certtool, security, systemkeychain
172 KIP KIP Kernel Integrity Protection, locking of physical memory pages to prevent changes to kernel Kernel Integrity Protection, locking of physical memory pages to prevent changes to kernel
173 Launch Services Launch Services management for application launches, association of UTIs to apps, uses Spotlight to update cached info; launchd services: com.apple.coreservices.launchservicesd, com.apple.lsd; CoreServices.framework/LaunchServices.framework; command line tools: lsappinfo, lsregister management for application launches, association of UTIs to apps, uses Spotlight to update cached info; launchd services: com.apple.coreservices.launchservicesd, com.apple.lsd; CoreServices.framework/LaunchServices.framework; command line tools: lsappinfo, lsregister
174 Live Files user mode filesystems, currently FAT, ExFAT, NTFS on external storage; UserFS.framework, UVFSXPCService.framework; launchd service: com.apple.filesystems.userfsd
175 Liverpool Liverpool PCS codename for CloudKit PCS codename for CloudKit
176 LKDC LKDC Local Key Distribution Center, Kerberos on client machines Local Key Distribution Center, Kerberos on client machines
177 LSM LSM Latent Semantic Mapping, text analysis, used for spam filtering, command line tool: lsm Latent Semantic Mapping, text analysis, used for spam filtering, command line tool: lsm
178 Mac Buddy Mac Buddy historic name for Setup Assistant historic name for Setup Assistant
179 MAC Policy MAC Policy Mandatory Access Control subsystem in XNU, based on TrustedBSD, implements policy hooks for restricted kernel operations; current policies: AMFI, Seatbelt, Quarantine, CSR Mandatory Access Control subsystem in XNU, based on TrustedBSD, implements policy hooks for restricted kernel operations; current policies: AMFI, Seatbelt, Quarantine, CSR
180 Machine Learning Machine Learning Vision.framework, Espresso.framework, Futhark.framework, PhotoAnalysis.framework Vision.framework, Espresso.framework, Futhark.framework, PhotoAnalysis.framework; used for Live Text and Visual Lookup; launchd service: com.apple.mediaanalysisd
181 Madrid Madrid iMessage; /System/Library/Messages iMessage; /System/Library/Messages
182 Manatee Manatee PCS key for some CloudKit containers are synced via CKKS, so data is unreadable to Apple (credential management codenames: Plesio, Stingray, Cuttlefish) PCS key for some CloudKit containers are synced via CKKS, so data is unreadable to Apple (credential management codenames: Plesio, Stingray, Cuttlefish)
183 Mandrake emergency siren on Apple Watch Ultra; /Applications/Mandrake.app
184 Mangrove Mangrove transfering UI tiles over XPC; Mangrove.framework, IOSurface.framework transfering UI tiles over XPC; Mangrove.framework, IOSurface.framework
185 Marco Marco Marco.framework, something about IDS and communication (iMessage, Calls), logging? Marco.framework, something about IDS and communication (iMessage, Calls), logging?
186 Marklar Marklar codename from the PowerPC era for the port to x86, served the transition to Intel CPUs codename from the PowerPC era for the port to x86, served the transition to Intel CPUs
200 MRT MRT Malware Removal Tool; /Library/Apple/System/Library/CoreServices/MRT.app Malware Removal Tool; /Library/Apple/System/Library/CoreServices/MRT.app
201 Multipeer Connectivity Multipeer Connectivity ad-hoc networking; Bonjour for discovery; WiFi, AWDL, Bluetooth, or Ethernet as transport; optional encryption and certificate-based authentication; MultipeerConnectivity.framework ad-hoc networking; Bonjour for discovery; WiFi, AWDL, Bluetooth, or Ethernet as transport; optional encryption and certificate-based authentication; MultipeerConnectivity.framework
202 Nano Nano prefix for watchOS prefix for watchOS
203 Neural Engine Nearby Interaction hardware accelerator for neural network operations; ANECompiler.framework, ANEServices.framework; launchd service: com.apple.aned proximity-based interaction between devices; proximity measured using ultra wideband or derived from other technologies; used for Universal Control; NearbyInteraction.framework, Proximity.framework; launchd service: com.apple.nearbyd
204 Newton Newton fall detection on watchOS fall detection on watchOS
205 NLP NLP Natural Language Processing; NLP.framework; related to mecabra libraries, a linguistic engine for Chinese and Japanese; /usr/share/mecabra, /usr/share/tokenizer Natural Language Processing; NLP.framework; related to mecabra libraries, a linguistic engine for Chinese and Japanese; /usr/share/mecabra, /usr/share/tokenizer
206 Notarization Notarization app security scan by Apple; cryptographic proof stapled to code signature, tested at launch by System Policy; for non-notarized apps sends code hash to Apple; command line tools: altool, notarytool, stapler app security scan by Apple; cryptographic proof stapled to code signature, tested at launch by System Policy; for non-notarized apps sends code hash to Apple; command line tools: notarytool, altool, stapler
207 Noticeboard Noticeboard User Notifications for Software Update and App Store, Noticeboard.framework; launchd services: com.apple.noticeboard.state (nbstated), com.apple.noticeboard.agent (nbagent) User Notifications for Software Update and App Store, Noticeboard.framework; launchd services: com.apple.noticeboard.state (nbstated), com.apple.noticeboard.agent (nbagent)
208 Notifications Notifications system notification bus, unrelated to the local/remote push notifications; launchd service: com.apple.notifyd, com.apple.kuncd (invoked by kernel through host special port 10); command line tool: notifyutil; complemented by framework-level notification system (CFNotification, NSNotification); launchd services: com.apple.distnoted.xpc.daemon, com.apple.distnoted.xpc.agent system notification bus, unrelated to the local/remote push notifications; launchd service: com.apple.notifyd, com.apple.kuncd (invoked by kernel through host special port 10); command line tool: notifyutil; complemented by framework-level notification system (CFNotification, NSNotification); launchd services: com.apple.distnoted.xpc.daemon, com.apple.distnoted.xpc.agent
209 NSP NSP Network Service Proxy; per-app VPN and proxy settings, implements Private Relay; launchd service: com.apple.networkserviceproxy Network Service Proxy; per-app VPN and proxy settings, implements Private Relay; launchd service: com.apple.networkserviceproxy
210 OAH OAH Rosetta; /usr/libexec/rosetta Rosetta; ahead-of-time compiler for Intel code on Apple Silicon, usable from Linux VMs by way of a custom binformat; /usr/libexec/rosetta
211 ODR ODR On-Demand Resources; loaded from App Store; launchd service: com.apple.appstored On-Demand Resources; loaded from App Store; launchd service: com.apple.appstored
212 Onboarding Onboarding data protection splash screen shown by service-connected apps; /System/Library/OnBoardingBundles; OnBoardingKit.framework data protection splash screen shown by service-connected apps; /System/Library/OnBoardingBundles; OnBoardingKit.framework
213 Open Directory Open Directory directory service for user, group, and machine management; plugin-based to use different backend stores (LDAP, Active Directory), local accounts in /private/var/db/dslocal; launchd service: com.apple.opendirectoryd; command line tools: dscacheutil, dscl, dsconfigad, dsconfigldap, dseditgroup, dsenableroot, dserr, dsexport, dsimport, dsmemberutil, odutil directory service for user, group, and machine management; plugin-based to use different backend stores (LDAP, Active Directory), local accounts in /private/var/db/dslocal; launchd service: com.apple.opendirectoryd; command line tools: dscacheutil, dscl, dsconfigad, dsconfigldap, dseditgroup, dsenableroot, dserr, dsexport, dsimport, dsmemberutil, odutil
214 OpenBSM Open Basic Security Module; deprecated security audit subsystem; /etc/security, /var/audit; launchd service: com.apple.auditd; command line tool: audit
215 Opus Opus create slide shows from photos; Slideshows.framework create slide shows from photos; Slideshows.framework
216 OSA OSA Open Scripting Architecture; scripting of applications from different fontend languages (currently AppleScript and JavaScript); backed by Apple Events; command line tools: osacompile, osadecompile, osalang, osascript, sdef, sdp Open Scripting Architecture; scripting of applications from different fontend languages (currently AppleScript and JavaScript); backed by Apple Events; command line tools: osacompile, osadecompile, osalang, osascript, sdef, sdp
217 OTUT OTUT One-Time Unlock Token; security mechanism to allow keybag unwrapping after updates One-Time Unlock Token; security mechanism to allow keybag unwrapping after updates
218 PAC PAC Pointer Authentication Codes; pointers signed in unused bits to prevent ROP attacks Pointer Authentication Codes; pointers signed in unused bits to prevent ROP attacks
219 Packages Packages unit of software installation; command line tools: pkgutil, installer, softwareupdate; launchd services: com.apple.softwareupdated, com.apple.bootinstalld, com.apple.installd, com.apple.system_installd, com.apple.uninstalld; /var/db/softwareupdate, /Library/Apple/System/Library/Receipts (system), /System/Library/Receipts (read-only), /private/var/db/receipts (App Store) unit of software installation; command line tools: pkgutil, installer, softwareupdate; launchd services: com.apple.softwareupdated, com.apple.bootinstalld, com.apple.installd, com.apple.system_installd, com.apple.uninstalld; /var/db/softwareupdate, /Library/Apple/System/Library/Receipts (system), /System/Library/Receipts (read-only), /private/var/db/receipts (App Store)
220 Packet Filter network traffic filtering subsystem from OpenBSD; command line tool: pfctl
221 Parsec Parsec Spotlight web results and searching of crowdsourced User Activity deep links; server: *.smoot.apple.com; launchd services: com.apple.parsecd, com.apple.parsec-fbf (Feedback Flush to Differential Privacy) Spotlight web results and searching of crowdsourced User Activity deep links; server: *.smoot.apple.com; launchd services: com.apple.parsecd, com.apple.parsec-fbf (Feedback Flush to Differential Privacy)
222 Passkey keypair used for authentication instead of password, synced via SOS, implements WebAuthn standard; keys can be used to login on separate device via QR code and Bluetooth proximity proof; AuthenticationServices.framework
223 Password Breach Password Breach monitoring of Keychain passwords against a breach database; round-robin matching in fixed-size batches, local match against common leaks, remote match using hash prefix; launchd service: com.apple.Safari.passwordbreachd monitoring of Keychain passwords against a breach database; round-robin matching in fixed-size batches, local match against common leaks, remote match using hash prefix; launchd service: com.apple.Safari.passwordbreachd
224 Pasteboard Pasteboard storage for cut, copy, and paste; type of content remembered as UTI; launchd service: com.apple.pboard; command line tools: pbcopy, pbpaste storage for cut, copy, and paste; type of content remembered as UTI; launchd service: com.apple.pboard; command line tools: pbcopy, pbpaste
225 PAT Private Access Tokens; blind challenge-response authentication; Apple server attests user validity to token issuer, issuer performs blind signature, websites receiving the token cannot identify user; used for Private Relay, can replace CAPTCHAs
226 PCS PCS Protected Cloud Storage; key management for separate iCloud storage compartments (PCS calls them views), each can contain FoundationDB plus bulk data stored by MMCS; see also iCDP, CKKS, Manatee; ProtectedCloudStorage.framework; /System/Library/Preferences/ProtectedCloudStorage; command line tool: pcsstatus Protected Cloud Storage; key management for separate iCloud storage compartments (PCS calls them views), each can contain FoundationDB plus bulk data stored by MMCS; see also iCDP, CKKS, Manatee; ProtectedCloudStorage.framework; /System/Library/Preferences/ProtectedCloudStorage; command line tool: pcsstatus
227 PCSC PCSC Personal Computer Smart Card; PCSC.framework, uses CTK Personal Computer Smart Card; PCSC.framework, uses CTK
228 PDE PDE Print Dialog Extension; old name, not a proper Extension Print Dialog Extension; old name, not a proper Extension
229 Pegasus Pegasus picture-in-picture video playback; Pegasus.framework (iOS), PIP.framework (macOS) meaning 1: picture-in-picture video playback; Pegasus.framework (iOS), PIP.framework (macOS); meaning 2: online search query engine for visual lookup; PegasusKit.framework
230 Pepper Pepper UI elements for Watch home screen and Chat, like Quickboard (canned replies), Animoji; PepperUICore.framework UI elements for Watch home screen and Chat, like Quickboard (canned replies), Animoji; PepperUICore.framework
231 Persona Persona separation of sub-user-identities, like when using a private and managed Apple account; PersonaKit.framework; ~/Library/Personas; /System/Library/UserManagement; command line tool: umtool separation of sub-user-identities, like when using a private and managed Apple account; PersonaKit.framework; ~/Library/Personas; /System/Library/UserManagement; command line tool: umtool
232 PHASE PHASE spatial audio processing; PHASE.framework Physical Audio Spatialization Engine; 3D sound rendering engine; Apple devices map audio sources (even mono and stereo) to virtual speakers in a 3D sound stage, which is simulated by the physical speakers via a head-related transfer function; PHASE.framework
233 Piano Mover Piano Mover Mail Drop; bulk mail attachments transfered over PCS; not to be confused with storage for iMessage attachments, which uses a CloudKit container Mail Drop; bulk mail attachments transfered over PCS; not to be confused with storage for iMessage attachments, which uses a CloudKit container
234 Plugin Plugin Extensions, XPC services bundled with apps or frameworks, discovery by Launch Services; launchd service: com.apple.pluginkit.pkd; command line tool: pluginkit Extensions, XPC services bundled with apps or frameworks, discovery by Launch Services; launchd service: com.apple.pluginkit.pkd; command line tool: pluginkit
235 PMP PMP Port Mapping Protocol; Apple alternative to UPnP, Bonjour service: _acp-sync._tcp Port Mapping Protocol; Apple alternative to UPnP, Bonjour service: _acp-sync._tcp
236 Poster iPhone lock screen; PosterBoard.framework, PosterKit.framework
237 PowerUI PowerUI battery management like smart charge and power save, learns from Duet and other data; PowerUI.framework; /var/db/PowerUI; launchd service: com.apple.PowerUIAgent battery management like smart charge and power save, learns from Duet and other data; PowerUI.framework; /var/db/PowerUI; launchd service: com.apple.PowerUIAgent
238 Preferences Preferences storage for user-configurable settings; launchd services: com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon, com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent; stored in Library/Preferences, command line tool: defaults; interaction with Synced Defaults per /System/Library/DefaultsConfigurations storage for user-configurable settings; launchd services: com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon, com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent; stored in Library/Preferences, command line tool: defaults; interaction with Synced Defaults per /System/Library/DefaultsConfigurations
239 Private Relay Private Relay two-hop onion routing with one entry and one exit node; Apple operates entry, third-party services operate exit nodes; approximate IP geolocation via Waldo two-hop onion routing with one entry and one exit node; Apple operates entry, third-party services operate exit nodes; QUIC for payload, ODoH for DNS, approximate IP geolocation via Waldo, authentication via PAT
240 Proactive Proactive umbrella term for suggestions and completions based on Duet forecasting and User Activity context, also marketed as Siri features; PersonalizationPortrait.framework umbrella term for suggestions and completions based on Duet forecasting and User Activity context, also marketed as Siri features; PersonalizationPortrait.framework
241 Provenance per-file origin tracking, extended attribute com.apple.provenance stores ID into /var/db/SystemPolicyConfiguration/ExecPolicy
242 QoS Classes QoS Classes inheritable property for Activities; semantic priorities, influences scheduling parameters; initially set at user-level, priority inheritance within GCD queues and across XPC in kernel? inheritable property for Activities; semantic priorities, influences scheduling parameters; initially set at user-level, priority inheritance within GCD queues and across XPC in kernel?
243 Quagga Quagga framework for QR and barcode decoding; Quagga.framework framework for QR and barcode decoding; Quagga.framework
244 Quick Action Quick Action extension type for quick interaction with foreign content within a host app; extension points: com.apple.services, com.apple.ui-services extension type for quick interaction with foreign content within a host app; extension points: com.apple.services, com.apple.ui-services
247 Rapport Rapport device pairing by proximity using Alloy, with PIN entry, or using iCloud; once paired, devices can access services; used for HomeKit, HomePod, AirPlay, Home Sharing, SideCar; Rapport.framework; launchd service: com.apple.rapportd; Bonjour service: _companion-link._tcp device pairing by proximity using Alloy, with PIN entry, or using iCloud; once paired, devices can access services; used for HomeKit, HomePod, AirPlay, Home Sharing, SideCar; Rapport.framework; launchd service: com.apple.rapportd; Bonjour service: _companion-link._tcp
248 Recents Recents recently used items (not files) in various applications, synced with Synced Defaults; CoreRecents.framework, /System/Library/Recents; launchd service: com.apple.recentsd recently used items (not files) in various applications, synced with Synced Defaults; CoreRecents.framework, /System/Library/Recents; launchd service: com.apple.recentsd
249 Relevance Engine Relevance Engine backend for Siri suggestions (for example of Siri Shortcuts), Widget smart stacks (also Siri watch face); consumes Duet knowledge and app-provided timelines with relevance hints; /System/Library/RelevanceEngine; launchd service: com.apple.relevanced backend for Siri suggestions (for example of Siri Shortcuts), Widget smart stacks (also Siri watch face); consumes Duet knowledge and app-provided timelines with relevance hints; /System/Library/RelevanceEngine; launchd service: com.apple.relevanced
250 Remote Pairing Mobile Device pairing without wired connection; RemotePairingDevice.framework; Bonjour services: _remotepairing._tcp, _remotepairing-manual-pairing._tcp
251 RemoteXPC RemoteXPC connection to a non-SoC-integrated SEP like Bridge; uses HTTP/2 over a network interface, Bridge connected over USB, secured using Attestation; RemoteServiceDiscovery.framework, TrustedAccessory.framework; launchd service: com.apple.remoted, com.apple.tracd; command line tool: remotectl connection to a non-SoC-integrated SEP like Bridge; uses HTTP/2 over a network interface, Bridge connected over USB, secured using Attestation; RemoteServiceDiscovery.framework, TrustedAccessory.framework; launchd service: com.apple.remoted, com.apple.tracd; command line tool: remotectl
252 Revisions Revisions document autosave and auto-versioning; stored in .DocumentRevisions-V100; GenerationalStorage.framework; launchd service: com.apple.revisiond document autosave and auto-versioning; stored in .DocumentRevisions-V100; GenerationalStorage.framework; launchd service: com.apple.revisiond
253 Routine Routine frequently visited locations on iOS, interacts with Duet; launchd service: com.apple.routined frequently visited locations on iOS, interacts with Duet; launchd service: com.apple.routined
254 RTC RTC Real-time Telemetry and Crash reporting; RTCReporting.framework; launchd service: com.apple.rtcreportingd Real-time Telemetry and Crash reporting; RTCReporting.framework; launchd service: com.apple.rtcreportingd
255 RTKit operating system used on Apple Silicon for firmware of co-processors
256 RunningBoard RunningBoard runtime management of apps, paradigm: app as service process invoked by system, check-in by frameworks, handles process assertions (frontmost app, see App Nap), memory pressure (see Jetsam) and compute resources (GPU), replacement for TAL?; launchd service: com.apple.runningboardd; /System/Library/LifecyclePolicy, /System/Library/RunningBoard runtime management of apps, paradigm: app as service process invoked by system, check-in by frameworks, handles process assertions (frontmost app, see App Nap), memory pressure (see Jetsam) and compute resources (GPU), replacement for TAL?; launchd service: com.apple.runningboardd; /System/Library/LifecyclePolicy, /System/Library/RunningBoard
257 SBPL SBPL Sandbox Profile Language; a TinyScheme-based embedded DSL for Seatbelt profiles Sandbox Profile Language; a TinyScheme-based embedded DSL for Seatbelt profiles
258 SCIP SCIP System Coprocessor Integrity Protection; like KIP, but for SEP, ISP, Motion coprocessor System Coprocessor Integrity Protection; like KIP, but for SEP, ISP, Motion coprocessor
263 Seatbelt Seatbelt process sandbox by filtering system calls; profiles written in SBPL; /System/Library/Sandbox/Profiles, /usr/share/sandbox; default file access policy asks for TCC confirmation before access to folders with user data (like Documents) is allowed; command line tool: sandbox-exec; launchd service: com.apple.sandboxd (invoked by kernel through host special port 14 for logging) process sandbox by filtering system calls; profiles written in SBPL; /System/Library/Sandbox/Profiles, /usr/share/sandbox; default file access policy asks for TCC confirmation before access to folders with user data (like Documents) is allowed; command line tool: sandbox-exec; launchd service: com.apple.sandboxd (invoked by kernel through host special port 14 for logging)
264 Secure Backup Secure Backup escrow part of CKKS; escrow key individually wrapped with passcodes of trusted devices, stored in HSM to prevent brute forcing, uses SRP so passcodes are not visible to iCloud, limited number of recovery attempts; protocol called Lakitu, uses FollowUp; launchd service: com.apple.SecureBackupDaemon (com.apple.sbd); CloudServices.framework escrow part of CKKS; escrow key individually wrapped with passcodes of trusted devices, stored in HSM to prevent brute forcing, uses SRP so passcodes are not visible to iCloud, limited number of recovery attempts; protocol called Lakitu, uses FollowUp; launchd service: com.apple.SecureBackupDaemon (com.apple.sbd); CloudServices.framework
265 SEP SEP Secure Enclave Processor; dedicated ARM core for security services, runs L4/Darbat-based sepOS, inline encryption to DRAM, manages AES keys in storage DMA engine, factory-paired channels to Touch ID/Face ID hardware, Secure Element, Neural Engine; SEP can use but not read UID and GID keys; credential verification performed by hardware lockbox with retry count enforcement Secure Enclave Processor; dedicated ARM core for security services, runs L4/Darbat-based sepOS, inline encryption to DRAM, manages AES keys in storage DMA engine, factory-paired channels to Touch ID/Face ID hardware, Secure Element, Neural Engine; SEP can use but not read UID and GID keys; credential verification performed by hardware lockbox with retry count enforcement
266 Sequoia translation; downloadable language models can run on-device; /Applications/SequoiaTranslator.app, Translation.framework
267 Seymour Seymour Apple Fitness+; workout videos integrated with Watch sensors; SeymourCore.framework Apple Fitness+; workout videos integrated with Watch sensors; SeymourCore.framework
268 SF Symbols scalable UI symbols; rendered with various color treatments; SFSymbols.framework
269 Shared File List lists of recently opened files from apps that are stored with Launch Services; command line tool: sfltool; also manages login items and app-installed background daemons
270 Shared With You collaboration features between apps and iMessage; content shared via iMessage is surfaced in apps (Swift Transferable protocol), content in apps can be collaboratively edited and connected to an iMessage group; collaborations are expressed by keys derived from participant device keys, padded with a number of random keys to prevent tracking of device count, a merkle tree of those keys is used to prove inclusion of a specific device to an app; SharedWithYou.framework
271 Sharing Sharing umbrella term for wireless proximity services: AirDrop, Continuity, Instant Hotspot, WiFi sharing; used by loginwindow for Watch unlock; Sharing.framework; launchd service: com.apple.sharingd; also serves connection sharing and remote disk umbrella term for wireless proximity services: AirDrop, Continuity, Instant Hotspot, WiFi sharing; used by loginwindow for Watch unlock; Sharing.framework; launchd service: com.apple.sharingd; also serves connection sharing and remote disk
272 Shazam Shazam music recognition service; ShazamKit.framework; launchd service: com.apple.shazamd audio (especially music) recognition service; ShazamKit.framework; launchd service: com.apple.shazamd; command line tool: shazam
273 Shoebox Shoebox Passbook Passbook
274 Sidecar Sidecar using iPhone/iPad as Mac accessory: camera for photos and scanning, annotations, external display over low-latency WiFi (llw interface) using avconferenced encoding; SidecarCore.framework; launchd services: com.apple.sidecar-display-agent (SidecarDisplayAgent), com.apple.sidecar-relay (SidecarRelay) using iPhone/iPad as Mac accessory: external camera and microphone (ContinuityCapture), camera for photos and scanning (DocumentCamera.framework), external display over low-latency WiFi (llw interface) using avconferenced encoding; SidecarCore.framework; launchd services: com.apple.sidecar-display-agent (SidecarDisplayAgent), com.apple.sidecar-relay (SidecarRelay)
275 Signpost Signpost telemetry API to report points of interest in code; launchd service: com.apple.signpost.signpost_reporter telemetry API to report points of interest in code; launchd service: com.apple.signpost.signpost_reporter
276 Simulator Simulator running an iOS/tvOS/watchOS personality on macOS, uses sandboxing and a separate Mach bootstrap namespace for container-like isolation, command line tool: simctl running an iOS/tvOS/watchOS personality on macOS, uses sandboxing and a separate Mach bootstrap namespace for container-like isolation; installable simulators as disk images in /Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Images; command line tool: simctl
277 SIP SIP System Integrity Protection or rootless mode; collection of kernel-level security restrictions regarding file system modification, unsigned Kexts, Taskport access, NVRAM access, DTrace; /System/Library/Sandbox/rootless.conf; command line tool: csrutil, rootless-init System Integrity Protection or rootless mode; collection of kernel-level security restrictions regarding file system modification, unsigned Kexts, Taskport access, NVRAM access, DTrace; /System/Library/Sandbox/rootless.conf; command line tool: csrutil, rootless-init
278 Site Association signed files in .well-known directory on websites; equivalent to Entitlements for websites, associates domains with app IDs for Universal Links; command line tool: swcutil
279 SKP SKP Sealed Key Protection; measurement of system state (boot chain IMG4 manifests, BPR, Boot Policy data, UID key, user passcode) to derive Keybag keys Sealed Key Protection; measurement of system state (boot chain IMG4 manifests, BPR, Boot Policy data, UID key, user passcode) to derive Keybag keys
280 SKS SKS Secure Key Store; handling of keybag keys within the SEP Secure Key Store; handling of keybag keys within the SEP
281 SkyLight SkyLight WindowServer; SkyLight.framework WindowServer; SkyLight.framework
282 Skywalk Skywalk network subsystem in XNU, links together actual technologies (Bluetooth, WiFi, Thunderbolt) and interfaces/tunnels; transacts in nexus (for conduits) and agent (for endpoints) objects; DriverKit network drivers use Skywalk; command line tool: skywalkctl network subsystem in XNU, links together actual technologies (Bluetooth, WiFi, Thunderbolt) and interfaces/tunnels; transacts in nexus (for conduits) and agent (for endpoints) objects; DriverKit network drivers use Skywalk; command line tool: skywalkctl
283 SLC System-Level Cache, architectural feature of Apple Silicon; cache located within SoC at controllers for external DRAM, serves all compute units and stages transfers between them
284 Social Gaming Social Gaming Game Center; multiplayer gaming services on top of CloudKit, shared storage and low-latency multicast for multiplayer sessions; launchd service: com.apple.gamed Game Center; multiplayer gaming services on top of CloudKit, shared storage and low-latency multicast for multiplayer sessions; launchd service: com.apple.gamed
285 Sock Puppet Sock Puppet Watch interaction that requires Companion device Watch interaction that requires Companion device
286 SOS SOS Secure Object Sync; syncing backend for iCloud Keychain, not to be confused with the emergency call feature; transferred items previously staged in Synced Defaults, now uses CKKS; launchd services: com.apple.secd (access to local keychain), com.apple.security.cloudkeychainproxy3 (connects to Synced Defaults), com.apple.security.keychain-circle-notification Secure Object Sync; syncing backend for iCloud Keychain, not to be confused with the emergency call feature; transferred items previously staged in Synced Defaults, for two-factor accounts in CKKS; launchd services: com.apple.secd (access to local keychain), com.apple.security.cloudkeychainproxy3 (connects to Synced Defaults), com.apple.security.keychain-circle-notification
287 SPI SPI System Private Interface; /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks System Private Interface; /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks
288 SpringBoard SpringBoard iOS home screen; like Dock (Launchpad, Mission Control, desktop picture), Control Center, SystemUIServer (menu extras icons), loginwindow (lock screen), and WindowServer (compositor) on macOS; /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app, /Applications/PreBoard.app, BaseBoard.framework, FrontBoard.framework, SplashBoard.framework; launchd service: com.apple.backboardd (compositor) iOS home screen; like Dock (Launchpad, Mission Control, desktop picture), Control Center, SystemUIServer (menu extras icons), loginwindow (lock screen), and WindowServer (compositor) on macOS; /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app, /Applications/PreBoard.app, BaseBoard.framework, FrontBoard.framework, SplashBoard.framework; launchd service: com.apple.backboardd (compositor)
289 SPRR SPRR Shadow Permission Remap Register? feature of Apple Silicon to dynamically reintepret page permissions Shadow Permission Remap Register? feature of Apple Silicon to dynamically reintepret page permissions
294 Stockholm Stockholm Secure Element in Apple SoCs, a processor running crypto protocols on keys it protects; used for Apple Pay and Car Key; related codenames: Icefall, Warsaw Secure Element in Apple SoCs, a processor running crypto protocols on keys it protects; used for Apple Pay and Car Key; related codenames: Icefall, Warsaw
295 Storage Management Storage Management freeing up disk space by managing bulky items; UI in System Information.app; StorageManagement.framework; launchd service: com.apple.diskspaced; extension point: com.apple.storagemanagement; extends Cache Delete service freeing up disk space by managing bulky items; UI in System Information.app; StorageManagement.framework; launchd service: com.apple.diskspaced; extension point: com.apple.storagemanagement; extends Cache Delete service
296 Suggestions Suggestions semantic analysis of mails and websites to suggest contacts, calendar events and the like; launchd services: com.apple.suggestd, com.apple.reversetemplated; custom JavaScript parsers in /System/Library/AssetsV2/com_apple_MobileAsset_CoreSuggestions semantic analysis of mails and websites to suggest contacts, calendar events and the like; launchd services: com.apple.suggestd, com.apple.reversetemplated; custom JavaScript parsers in /System/Library/AssetsV2/com_apple_MobileAsset_CoreSuggestions
297 Symbols Symbols debug symbols for backtraces; CoreSymbolication.framework; launchd services: com.apple.coresymbolicationd; command line tools: symbols, symbolscache debug symbols for backtraces; CoreSymbolication.framework; launchd services: com.apple.coresymbolicationd; command line tools: atos, symbols, symbolscache
298 Symptoms Symptoms network diagnostics; Symptoms.framework; /var/networkd/db/netusage.sqlite; launchd service: com.apple.symptomsd (invoked by kernel through host special port 27) network diagnostics; Symptoms.framework; /var/networkd/db/netusage.sqlite; launchd service: com.apple.symptomsd (invoked by kernel through host special port 27)
299 Synced Defaults Synced Defaults simple key-value store for applications, no user control over data; can use iCloud key-value backend (old) or Manatee container (new, marked as com.apple.kvs) as storage; launchd service: com.apple.syncdefaultsd; locally stored in ~/Library/SyncedPreferences simple key-value store for applications, no user control over data; can use iCloud key-value backend (old) or Manatee container (new, marked as com.apple.kvs) as storage; launchd service: com.apple.syncdefaultsd; locally stored in ~/Library/SyncedPreferences
300 System Configuration System Configuration SystemConfiguration.framework; launchd service: com.apple.configd; command line tool: scutil SystemConfiguration.framework; launchd service: com.apple.configd; command line tool: scutil
301 System Extension System Extension user-level components formerly in the kernel; currently either a DriverKit, Network, or Endpoint Security extension; /System/DriverKit, /System/Library/DriverExtensions; command line tool: systemextensionsctl; launchd services: com.apple.sysextd, com.apple.nesessionmanager, com.apple.endpointsecurity.endpointsecurityd system-wide components formerly implemented as insecure plugins or kexts; current extension types: DriverKit, Network, Endpoint Security, Core Media IO; /System/DriverKit, /System/Library/DriverExtensions; command line tool: systemextensionsctl; launchd services: com.apple.sysextd, com.apple.nesessionmanager, com.apple.endpointsecurity.endpointsecurityd; command line tool: eslogger
302 System Policy System Policy Gatekeeper; policy engine for application launches and kext loading, malware signatures from /Library/Apple/System/Library/CoreServices/XProtect.bundle; /var/db/SystemPolicy; launchd service: com.apple.security.syspolicy (invoked by kernel through host special port 29); command line tool: spctl Gatekeeper; policy engine for application launches and kext loading, malware signatures from /Library/Apple/System/Library/CoreServices/XProtect.bundle; /var/db/SystemPolicy; launchd service: com.apple.security.syspolicy (invoked by kernel through host special port 29); command line tool: spctl
303 Tailspin sampling of process stack traces; launchd service: com.apple.tailspind; command line tool: tailspin
304 TAL TAL Transparent App Lifecycle; process for macOS apps started and stopped independently of the user launching and quitting app; also handles session restore across reboots; ~/Library/Saved Application State; launchd service: com.apple.talagent Transparent App Lifecycle; process for macOS apps started and stopped independently of the user launching and quitting app; also handles session restore across reboots; ~/Library/Saved Application State; launchd service: com.apple.talagent
305 Taskport Taskport Mach kernel concept for ptrace-like access to task internals; access policy implemented by daemon; launchd service: com.apple.taskgated (invoked by kernel through task special port 9); command line tool: DevToolsSecurity Mach kernel concept for ptrace-like access to task internals; access policy implemented by daemon; launchd service: com.apple.taskgated (invoked by kernel through task special port 9); command line tool: DevToolsSecurity
306 TCC TCC Transparency, Consent, and Control; user control over app access to privacy-related services (kTCCService*); TCC.framework; launchd services: com.apple.tccd, com.apple.tccd.system; command line tool: tccutil; stored in /Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC, ~/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC, /var/db/locationd (for kTCCServiceLocation) Transparency, Consent, and Control; user control over app access to privacy-related services (kTCCService*); TCC.framework; launchd services: com.apple.tccd, com.apple.tccd.system; command line tool: tccutil; stored in /Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC, ~/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC, /var/db/locationd (for kTCCServiceLocation)
309 Tones Tones ringtones; ToneLibrary.framework ringtones; ToneLibrary.framework
310 Translocation Translocation app binary copied on launch to dedicated location; initiated by Launch Services for security (prevents path traversal for apps quarantined by System Policy) or path normalization (iOS apps do not expect to be moved, but can be moved on macOS) app binary copied on launch to dedicated location; initiated by Launch Services for security (prevents path traversal for apps quarantined by System Policy) or path normalization (iOS apps do not expect to be moved, but can be moved on macOS)
311 Transparency Transparency key transparency for ESS keys? Transparency.framework; launchd service: com.apple.transparencyd; server: init-kt.apple.com key transparency for ESS keys? Transparency.framework; launchd service: com.apple.transparencyd; server: init-kt.apple.com
312 TTS TSS Text To Speech, command line tool: say; /System/Library/Speech; synthesizer engines: MacinTalk (historic), Polyglot (phoneme-based?), Gryphon (current, DNN-based?) Tatsu Signing Server; online verification for firmware signatures; server: gs.apple.com
313 TTS Text To Speech, neural-network-based synthesis engine (Gryphon); command line tool: say; /System/Library/Speech, /System/Library/TTSPlugins
314 TVML TVML TV Markup Language; declarative UI language for TV apps; TVMLKit.framework TV Markup Language; declarative UI language for TV apps; TVMLKit.framework
315 Ubiquity Ubiquity iCloud Drive; codename Bladerunner, uses CloudKit; CloudDocs.framework; command line tools: fileproviderctl; launchd service: com.apple.bird (iclouddrive-agent); locally stored in ~/Library/Mobile Documents (was supposed to move to Library/CloudStorage/iCloud Drive and iclouddrivectl but this was reverted) iCloud Drive; codename Bladerunner, uses CloudKit; CloudDocs.framework; launchd service: com.apple.bird; locally stored in ~/Library/Mobile Documents (was supposed to move to Library/CloudStorage/iCloud Drive but this was reverted)
316 UID UID unique ID key, used as root key for cryptographic subsystems, generated during manufacturing by SEP and fused into hardware, only accessible by SEP unique ID key, used as root key for cryptographic subsystems, generated during manufacturing by SEP and fused into hardware, only accessible by SEP
317 Unified Logging Unified Logging system-wide logging and Activity tracking; launchd service: com.apple.logd, com.apple.diagnosticd; command line tool: log; /dev/oslog; data stored in /var/db/diagnostics, support files in /var/db/uuidtext system-wide logging and Activity tracking; launchd service: com.apple.logd, com.apple.diagnosticd; command line tool: log; /dev/oslog; data stored in /var/db/diagnostics, support files in /var/db/uuidtext
318 User Activity USD abstraction behind deep-linking into apps with structured context data (people, places); used for Universal Links (with schema.org on websites), Handoff, Parsec, Siri Shortcuts, Proactive; UserActivity.framework; launchd service: com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd Universal Scene Description; storage format for 3D assets; /usr/lib/usd
319 User Activity abstraction for deep-linking into apps with structured context (people, places); used for Universal Links (schema.org on websites), Handoff, Parsec (app links in search), Siri Shortcuts, Quick Note (context awareness), Proactive; UserActivity.framework; launchd service: com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd
320 User Notifications User Notifications user interface for notification center; launchd service: com.apple.usernoted user interface for notification center; launchd service: com.apple.usernoted
321 UTI UTI Uniform Type Identifiers; system for document types; file extensions and MIME types are mapped to UTIs, UTIs form a conformance graph, apps register their UTIs with Launch Services; /System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle; also Apple’s hardware devices are represented as UTIs Uniform Type Identifiers; system for document types; file extensions and MIME types are mapped to UTIs, UTIs form a conformance graph, apps register their UTIs with Launch Services; /System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle; also Apple’s hardware devices are represented as UTIs
322 VA VA Video Acceleration; AppleGVA.framework, AppleVA.framework, AppleVPA.framework Video Acceleration; AppleGVA.framework, AppleVA.framework, AppleVPA.framework
323 Viceroy Viceroy video conferencing used by FaceTime and ReplayKit; ViceroyTrace.framework video conferencing used by FaceTime and ReplayKit; ViceroyTrace.framework
324 Virtualisation running virtual machines on macOS; Hypervisor.framework (for basic VMs and vCPUs), Virtualization.framework (brings a robust set of device models)
325 VSDB VSDB volume status database; /var/db/volinfo.database; command line tool: vsdbutil volume status database; /var/db/volinfo.database; command line tool: vsdbutil
326 Waldo Waldo selects edge servers based on approximate location, part of Private Relay, seen in NSP selects edge servers based on approximate location, part of Private Relay, seen in NSP
327 WFS WFS WebDAV File Sharing; built-in file sharing with Apache; /etc/wfs; command line tool: wfsctl WebDAV File Sharing; built-in file sharing with Apache; /etc/wfs; command line tool: wfsctl
328 Widgets Widgets content excerpt from apps; provided via a timeline of view hierarchies, configuration uses Intents, technically very similar to complications on watch face; extension point: com.apple.widgetkit-extension content excerpt from apps; provided via a timeline of view hierarchies, configuration uses Intents; visible on home screen, lock screen, as live activities, as watch complications; WidgetKit.framework; extension point: com.apple.widgetkit-extension
329 Willow Willow HomeKit; end-to-end-encrypted communication protocol and API for IoT-accessories; pairing with SRP using code printed on device, credential sync by CKKS, transported over Alloy, remote access using Apple TV as proxy; launchd service: com.apple.homed HomeKit; end-to-end-encrypted communication protocol and API for IoT-accessories; pairing with SRP using code printed on device, credential sync by CKKS, transported over Alloy, remote access using Apple TV as proxy; launchd service: com.apple.homed
330 Workflow Window Manager Shortcuts; user-programmable system-wide automation, built-in triggers and actions, extensible with User Activities and Intents; WorkflowKit.framework, ActionKit.framework; locally stored in ~/Library/Shortcuts; launchd service: com.apple.siriactionsd (voice-triggered shortcuts); command line tool: shortcuts implements Stage Manager; /System/Library/CoreServices/WindowManager.app
331 Workflow Shortcuts; user-programmable system-wide automation, built-in triggers cause a chain of actions to run; actions are synthesized from User Activities and Intents provided by apps; WorkflowKit.framework, ActionKit.framework; locally stored in ~/Library/Shortcuts; launchd service: com.apple.siriactionsd (voice-triggered shortcuts); command line tool: shortcuts
332 xART xART eXtended Anti-Replay Technology; persistent storage for SEP, used by Mesa; /System/Volumes/xarts; launchd service: com.apple.xartstorageremoted; command line tool: xartutil eXtended Anti-Replay Technology; persistent storage for SEP, used by Mesa; /System/Volumes/xarts; launchd service: com.apple.xartstorageremoted; command line tool: xartutil
333 XCS XCS Xcode Server; continuous integration server; command line tools: xcscontrol, xcsdiagnose Xcode Server; continuous integration server; command line tools: xcscontrol, xcsdiagnose