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
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 = '&';|"|\
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 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
ACDE Apple Connect Device External? ACDEClient.framework, old two-step verification, derived from a company-internal AppleConnect system? server: appleconnect.apple.com
ACDC Apple Chips in Data Centers; see PCC
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
Acoustic ID song recognition and matching with Apple catalog, playback on HomePod; /System/Library/Components/AudioDSP.component
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
AFM Apple Foundation Model; pre-trained transformer and diffusion models for Greymatter, optimized for on-device use by quantization (with accuracy-recovery adapters) and palletization; command line tool: modelcatalogdump
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-Layer Firewall; implemented as a Network Extension (see System Extension); launchd service: com.apple.alf (socketfilterfw); command line tool: 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
AMFI Apple Mobile File Integrity, checks code integrity based on code signature, stronger enforcement with hardened runtime, validates entitlement restrictions; launchd service: com.apple.MobileFileIntegrity (amfid, invoked by kernel through host special port 18); disabled by setting amfi_get_out_of_my_way=0x1 in boot-args
AMFI Apple Mobile File Integrity, checks code integrity based on code signature, stronger enforcement with hardened runtime, validates entitlement restrictions and environment constraints (launch constraints, library constraints); launchd service: com.apple.MobileFileIntegrity (amfid, invoked by kernel through host special port 18); disabled by setting amfi_get_out_of_my_way=0x1 in boot-args
AMP Apple Media Protocol? former parts of iTunes for iPod and iOS device access in Finder, Home Sharing; AMPDevices.framework, AMPSharing.framework; launchd services: com.apple.AMPDeviceDiscoveryAgent, com.apple.AMPDevicesAgent, com.apple.amp.mediasharingd
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
@@ -28,29 +32,32 @@ AOP Always On Processor, part of Apple SoCs, runs RTKit as operating system
AOS Apple Online Services? historical name for iCloud
Apache built-in web server; command line tool: apachectl
APFS Apple File System; copy-on-write file system with support for volume space-sharing, per-file encryption, and snapshots
APNS Apple Push Notification service, server infrastructure for remote push notifications over a single connection, clients subscribe to push topics, can be authenticated by app (remote notifications), device (Find My …), or Apple ID login (DSID); credentials in apsd keychain; launchd service: com.apple.apsd; server: push.apple.com
APNS Apple Push Notification service, server infrastructure for remote push notifications over a single connection, clients subscribe to push topics, can be authenticated by app (remote notifications), device (Find My …), or Apple Account login (DSID); credentials in apsd keychain; launchd service: com.apple.apsd; server: push.apple.com
App Nap quiescence detection for applications and corresponding self-demotion in scheduler parameters, implemented within application frameworks and RunningBoard, listens for occlusion notifications from WindowServer
App Sandbox Seatbelt-based sandbox for apps; /System/Library/Sandbox/Profiles/application.sb; enabled with com.apple.security.app-sandbox entitlement; launchd service: com.apple.secinitd
APT Adaptive Picture Timing? ProMotion; dynamic screen updates with 120Hz base frequency; AppleDisplayTCONControl.framework
Ask To parental-controlled user can ask parent for exceptions; launchd service: com.apple.asktod; AskToCore.framework
ASL Apple System Logger, superseded by Unified Logging; /etc/asl; stored in /var/log/asl; launchd service: com.apple.syslogd; command line tool: syslog
ASR Apple Software Restore; restore entire volumes from sources like disk images (HDI, SIU), also restores based on APFS snapshots and snapshot deltas; command line tool: asr
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; speech recognition and semantic understanding, dialog management by CDM, Intent is communicated to and enacted on the client, uses TTS for speech 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
AVB Audio Video Bridging, low-latency audio over Ethernet; launchd service: com.apple.avbdeviced; command line tool: avbdiagnose, avbutil
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 tools: avbanalyse, 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
Biome CloudKit-synced streaming and storage of events like donated and invoked Intents; semantic index to ground AI with personal context; BiomeStreams.framework, BiomeSync.framework; launchd services: com.apple.BiomeAgent, com.apple.biomesyncd; embedding vector extraction and storage: ZeoliteFramework.framework
Blast Door sandboxed sanitization process for untrusted input, used for iMessage, IDS, Telephony, media analysis; BlastDoor.framework, CTBlastDoorSupport.framework, IDSBlastDoorSupport.framework, MediaAnalysisBlastDoorSupport.framework, MessagesBlastDoorSupport.framework, TelephonyBlastDoorSupport.framework
BOM Bill of Materials; format to store contents of installer Packages; command line tool: lsbom
Bonjour mDNS; launchd service: com.apple.mDNSResponder.reloaded; command line tool: dns-sd
Boot Cache disk cache pre-heating at boot time with typically loaded applications; /var/db/BootCaches; launchd service: com.apple.warmd
@@ -62,177 +69,225 @@ Bulletin Board application push notification management, aggregates local and re
Cache Delete cleanup for various caches; /System/Library/CacheDelete; launchd service: com.apple.cache_delete (deleted)
CAML Core Animation Markup Language; XML file format for layers, shapes and animations
Carousel derivative of SpringBoard for Watch home screen, watch face, and notification center
Celestial media streaming used by ReplayKit for game broadcasts; Celestial.framework
CDHash Code Directory Hash; a hash of hashes over the parts of a code bundle; command line tool: codesign
CDM Continuous Dialog Manager; natural dialog with Siri, MARRS for multi-modality; ContinuousDialogManagerService.framework
CEC Consumer Electronics Control; remote control for HDMI-connected devices; CoreRC.framework, IOCEC.framework
Celestial media streaming used by ReplayKit for in-app screen broadcasts; Celestial.framework; launchd service: com.apple.replayd
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, can use Thread as transport layer; HomeKitMatter.framework, CoreThread.framework; launchd services: com.apple.threadradiod, com.apple.ThreadCommissionerService
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
CL4 Apple’s variant of the L4 microkernel, derived from Pistachio and Wombat/Darbat
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
Companion iPhone that is paired with Watch; communication uses Alloy over IPsec over Bluetooth
Continuity umbrella term for Handoff, Sidecar, SMS relay, Universal Clipboard, Watch unlock, WiFi call relay and others; SMS relay works by proxying to iMessage, other services use Alloy
Companion iPhone that is linked with Watch, Mac, or Apple TV; communication with Watch uses Alloy over IPsec over Bluetooth, AWDL on demand; launchd service: com.apple.companiond; Bonjour service: _companion-link._tcp
Contact Key Verification code for manual verification of iMessage keys; code identifies a long-lived account key stored in iCloud Keychain, which signs all ESS device keys
Continuity umbrella term for Handoff, Sidecar, iPhone Mirroring, SMS relay, Universal Clipboard, Watch unlock, WiFi call relay and others; SMS relay works by proxying to iMessage, other services use Alloy for signalling and AWDL for payload; /System/Applications/iPhone Mirroring.app, ScreenContinuityServices.framework
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
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 every DMA-capable co-processor and peripheral, offers sub-page protection; SART: streaming variant for high-throughput devices (like NVMe)
Darwin Directory static store for users and groups, saves Open Directory interaction for the local case? /usr/lib/system/libsystem_darwindirectory.dylib, /System/Library/DarwinDirectory, /private/var/db/DarwinDirectory; command line tool: dddiagnose
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 Device Management Client; part of MDM; DMCUtilities.framework
DMC Disk Mount Conditioner; simulates slow IO devices; command line tool: dmc
DND Do Not Disturb
Dose ambient sound level checking on Watch; /Applications/Dose.app
DSID Destination Signaling Identifier, unique ID for IDS login on a specific device
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, /System/Library/DuetExpertCenter; CoreDuet.framework, CoreKnowledge.framework, CorePrediction.framework, CascadeEngine.framework (link to Biome); launchd services: com.apple.coreduetd, com.apple.duetexpertd, 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
Energy Impact unitless metric for per-application energy consumption, machine-specific coefficients; /usr/share/pmenergy, 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
Exclave user-level portions of kernel or SEP services, used for paravirtualized access by VMs; /usr/libexec/init_exclavekit
Eye Relief screen distance warning for handheld devices; /Applications/EyeReliefUI.app
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
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
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)
FiDES Fi? Distributed Evaluation Service? aggregates Differential Privacy data for unlinkability? used for emoji, Suggestions, Dictation; /System/Library/DistributedEvaluation; DistributedEvaluation.framework, FedStats.framework (private federated learning?)
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, communicated 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 (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
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 by GroupKit; 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 (the CTRR region) per thread
FSKit user space file system support; kernel stub file system is /System/Library/Extensions/lifs.kext; file systems are in /System/Library/ExtensionKit/Extensions/com.apple.fskit.*; launchd service: com.apple.filesystems.fskitd, com.apple.filesystems.doubleagentd (handling of Apple double files in user space); extension point: com.apple.fskit.fsmodule
FUD Firmware Update Daemon; see TSS, UARP; launchd service: com.apple.accessoryupdaterd
Game Mode auto-activates when games are shown full screen, throttles background work, lowers audio and input latency; launchd service: com.apple.gamepolicyd
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
Gizmo Apple Watch; watch settings managed by Companion iPhone; /Applications/Bridge.app, /System/Library/BridgeManifests
Greymatter Apple Intelligence; on-device language and diffusion models, larger server-based models in PCC; AFM refined for specific tasks (queries, summarization, categorization) by adapters (parameter for inserted network modules); grounded with context from Biome and intelligence stores; ~/Library/IntelligencePlatform; launchd service: com.apple.modelmanagerd (model residency management); /System/Library/ModelManager/Policy.plist; /Applications/Tamale.app (Camera Control integration); command line tool: csfdiagnose (cloud subscription features), modelmanagerdump
Group Activities SharePlay; sharing of media content and programmatic state over FaceTime calls; GroupActivities.framework, CopresenceCore.framework; launchd service: com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd
GroupKit groups of IDS users with shared CloudKit (PCS) access; GroupKitCrypto.framework
GSS Generic Security Service; part of Kerberos; GSS.framework; launchd service: com.apple.gssd (invoked by kernel through host special port 19); command line tool: gsstool
GXF Guarded Execution Feature/Fault, additional exception levels on Apple Silicon, lateral to the usual exception levels; page tables remain the same, but interpretation of permission bits changes by way of FPR, genter and gexit instructions; implements lightweight intra-address-space protection contexts
HAP Home Automation Protocol; CoreHAP.framework
HDA High Definition Audio; HDAInterface.framework
HDI Hard Disk Image; command line tool: hdiutil
HeadBoard derivative of SpringBoard for tvOS home screen; /Applications/HeadBoard.app, /Applications/PineBoard.app
Health Balance vitals app on Watch; /Applications/NanoHealthBalance.app
HLS HTTP Live Streaming
HomeEnergy HomeKit management for grid energy supply; EnergyKit.framework
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
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
iCDP iCloud Data Protection, codename for a set of enhancements to iCloud privacy: device passcodes used as iCSC for Secure Backup, root keys for CKKS-enabled services only synced between devices and not stored at Apple; launchd service: com.apple.cdpd
iCloud umbrella term for a conglomerate of services, consists of FoundationDB containers with PCS views for key management, supported by CKKS; uses IDS and APNS; some services under the iCloud name are actually served by AMS, IMAP, or DAV
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 Apple’s online services; APNS topics for signaling and messaging, see also Alloy, ESS, FaceTime, iMessage; authentication to services with Kerberos
IDS Identity Directory Service, also IDMS, Apple Account 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
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 semantic interaction between app and system (or another app); used for Siri, Shortcuts, Maps (contextual suggestion), Widgets (configuration); definition by 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
Ironwood dictation, customized on server with selected user data (contacts, app names, music titles, HomeKit names, Siri Shortcut phrases), not tied to Apple Account; SpeechRecognitionCore.framework, ASRBridge.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
Kerberos single-sign-on mechanism; Heimdal.framework; command line tools: kinit, ktutil
Kext kernel extension mechanism, loaded at boot time as part of a Kext Collection; /Library/Extensions, /Library/StagedExtensions (for user approval), /System/Library/Extensions; command line tool: kextutil (manages deprecated runtime loading)
Kext Collection prelinked sets of kernel extensions; /System/Library/KernelCollections (for boot and system kexts), /Library/KernelCollections (for auxiliary third-party kexts); the latter is only loaded at a lower-security Boot Policy; launchd service: com.apple.kernelmanagerd (invoked by kernel through host special port 15); command line tool: kmutil
Keybag storage of protection class keys for Keychain and filesystem, protected by SEP using SKP; stored in user.kb; launchd services: com.apple.mobile.keybagd, com.apple.securityd_service, com.apple.secd
Keybag storage of protection class keys for Keychain and filesystem, protected by SEP using SKP; stored in user.kb; launchd services: com.apple.mobile.keybagd, com.apple.secd
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; 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
Marzipan Catalyst; port of iOS frameworks to macOS, Catalyst apps are iOS apps with additional API to adapt macOS UI idioms; /System/iOSSupport; integration using UIKit system process; launchd service: com.apple.uikitsystemapp; input remapping by /Library/Apple/Library/Bundles/InputAlternatives.bundle
MCX Managed Client for OS X, preference management for settings from configuration profiles, /Library/Managed Preferences, command line tools: mcxquery, mcxrefresh
MDM Mobile Device Management; server software to manage fleets of iOS and macOS devices; uses configuration profiles to manage preferences; ConfigurationProfiles.framework
MDS Module Directory Services, ancient part of the old security APIs (CSDA, CSSM)
MMCS MobileMe Chunk Storage, used by iCloud, splits blobs into chunks and stores them at Apple/AWS/GCP with convergent encryption (content hash as key); MMCS.framework
Mobile prefix for iOS
Mobile Assets demand-downloaded system components like fonts, dictionaries, linguistic data; stored in /System/Library/Assets; launchd services: com.apple.languageassetd (language-dependent assets), com.apple.mobileassetd; server: mesu.apple.com
Mobile Device connectivity to iOS devices over USB or WiFi (AirTrafficHost) for syning, development, and debugging; MobileDevice.framework; launchd service: com.apple.usbmuxd; Bonjour service: _apple-mobdev2._tcp
MOC Managed Object Context; Core Data object space
Mondrian photo collage arrangement in Photos.app; Mondrian.framework
MRT Malware Removal Tool; /Library/Apple/System/Library/CoreServices/MRT.app; superseded by XProtect
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
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
Nearby Interaction proximity-based interaction between devices; proximity measured using ultra wideband or derived from other technologies; used for Universal Control, tapping phones for AirDrop; NearbyInteraction.framework, Proximity.framework; launchd services: com.apple.aonsensed (always-on sense daemon), com.apple.nearbyd
Nebula sleep apnea detection on watchOS; BreathingAlgorithms.framework
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: 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; launchd service: com.apple.oahd
ODR On-Demand Resources; loaded from App Store; launchd service: com.apple.appstored
Omni Search fuzzy semantic search with results recognized in images; OmniSearch.framework
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
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, populated from /System/Library/DirectoryServices/DefaultLocalDB; 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)
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)
Packet Filter network traffic filtering subsystem from OpenBSD; command line tool: pfctl
Parsec Spotlight web results and searching of crowdsourced Intent deep links; server: *.smoot.apple.com; launchd services: com.apple.parsecd, com.apple.parsec-fbf (Feedback Flush to Differential Privacy); telemetry collection with Poirot: PoirotSQLite.framework, PoirotUDFs.framework, SearchOnDeviceAnalytics.framework
Party Studio Karaoke mode on tvOS, where video from a paired phone is shown with effects; /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/PartyStudio.*
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
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
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
PCC Private Cloud Compute; server-based AFM for AI, running on Apple Silicon managed by SEP; stateless computation, PAT to authorize user, Attestation of remote code by device, measurements published in Transparency; ~/Library/PrivateCloudCompute; launchd services: com.apple.privatecloudcomputed, com.apple.swtransparencyd
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, GroupKit, 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
PEC/PIR Private Encrypted Compute and Private Information Retrieval; used for parental controls for media and web; CipherML.framework; launchd service: com.apple.ciphermld
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
People contacts with Apple Accounts within Group Activities and Shared With You
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 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
Plugin Extensions, XPC services bundled with apps or frameworks, discovery by Launch Services; extension points listed in /System/Library/ExtensionKit/ExtensionPoints; launchd service: com.apple.pluginkit.pkd; command line tool: pluginkit
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; QUIC for payload, ODoH for DNS, approximate IP geolocation via Waldo; authentication via Attestation, propagated to proxys using RSA blind signatures
Proactive umbrella term for suggestions and completions based on Duet forecasting and User Activity context, also marketed as Siri features; PersonalizationPortrait.framework
Preview Shell skeleton for on-device UI previews during development; /System/Library/CoreServices/PreviewShell.app; PreviewShellKit.framework, XOJIT.framework (code live patching)
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, completions, and summarizations based on Duet forecasting, Biome, and Intent context; PersonalizationPortrait.framework, ProactiveMagicalMoments.framework, ProactiveSummarization.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
Quick Look file preview and thumbnail generation; comand line tool: qlmanage
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
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, ProximityAppleIDSetup.framework; launchd service: com.apple.rapportd
RCS Rich Communication Services; messaging service in mobile networks, successor to SMS; IMRCSTransfer.framework; /System/Library/Messages/PlugIns/RCS.imservice
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; launchd service: com.apple.dt.remotepairingdeviced; Bonjour services: _remotepairing._tcp, _remotepairing-manual-pairing._tcp
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
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
Replicator notification sync from Companion iPhone, also drives remotely displayed live activities; ReplicatorServices.framework; launchd service: com.apple.replicatord
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
RTKit real-time runtime used for firmware of Apple Silicon co-processors; on top of CL4 in Apple’s cellular modem
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
Safety Monitor Check In; short-term location sharing in iMessage until a destination is reached; /Applications/SafetyMonitorApp.app
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
Screen Reader VoiceOver and Braille; /System/Library/ScreenReader; ScreenReader.framework
@@ -241,14 +296,19 @@ SDB SQL Database; CoreSDB.framework, used by iCloud communication
Search Party portion of Find My service for offline devices; devices emit public part of rotating key pair via Bluetooth LE, other devices encrypt current location with this key and send to Apple, private key shared over CloudKit
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
Seymour Apple Fitness+; workout videos integrated with Watch sensors; SeymourCore.framework
SEP Secure Enclave Processor; dedicated ARM core for security services, runs CL4-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, Blackbeard.framework (personalisation and workout programs)
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
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), iPad as display over low-latency WiFi (llw interface) using avconferenced encoding; /Applications/Sidecar.app; 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
SIL Secure Indicator Light; microphone and camera indicator on iPads rendered in hardware
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
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
Sock Puppet Watch interaction that requires Companion iPhone
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
SPTM Secure Page Table Monitor; code in kernel-level GXF protects page table modifications; Trusted Execution Monitor (TXM) in user-level GXF implements policy and parts of AMFI
SRP Secure Remote Password; standard cryptographic protocol for proving knowledge of a secret such that attackers cannot brute-force the secret; AppleSRP.framework
SSO Single Sign-On
SSV Signed System Volume, als called Authenticated Root Volume (ARV); macOS boots from blessed read-only APFS snapshot, merkle-tree and root-hash stored in Preboot volume; modifications require disabling root authentication with csrutil from recovery, then the live filesystem can be mounted, modified, and re-blessed; command line tools: apfs_systemsnapshot, bless, csrutil
Stark CarPlay
Stark CarPlay; iPhone provides video feeds for in-car displays; three layers composited by the car: remote UI (from iPhone), punch-through UI (back up camera), local UI (dashboard gauges: assets from iPhone, rendered by car, like Live Activities?), overlay UI (essential indicators); associate apps on iOS: /Applications/CarCamera.app, /Applications/Charge.app, /Applications/Climate.app, /Applications/Closures.app, /Applications/Media.app, /Applications/TirePressure.app, /Applications/Trip.app, /Applications/Vehicle.app
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 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
System Extension system-wide components formerly implemented as insecure plugins or kexts; current extension types: DriverKit, FSKit, Network, Endpoint Security, Core Media IO; /System/DriverKit, /System/Library/DriverExtensions, /Library/Preferences/com.apple.networkextension.plist; 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/SystemPolicyConfiguration; 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)
Template App code-less app-bundle, passed to an actual executable by LauncServices; created when adding websites in Safari to Dock/Springboard; run by /System/Volumes/Preboot/Cryptexes/App/System/Library/CoreServices/Web App.app
Time Machine automatic backup service, command line tools: tmdiagnose, tmutil
Tin Can Walkie Talkie on watchOS
Tin Can Walkie Talkie on watchOS; /Applications/TinCan.app
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 un-alterable append-only log to publish information; used for for ESS keys and PCC software hashes, based on CONIKS, devices audit IDS/PCC records against logs, root hashes gossiped over iMessage to detect split-view attacks; 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?)
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
Urchin Tides app on watchOS; /Applications/Urchin.app
USD Universal Scene Description; storage format for 3D assets; /usr/lib/usd; command line tools: usdcat, usdchecker, usdcrush, usdextract, usdrecord, usdtree, usdzip
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), Quick Note (context awareness); now part of Intents; 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 Apple’s hardware devices are represented as UTIs
VA Video Acceleration; AppleGVA.framework, AppleVA.framework, AppleVPA.framework
VDAF Verifiable Distributed Aggregation Function; part of Differential Privacy; VDAF.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
Wally private search in server-side database using homomorphic encryption; private information retrieval (PIR), private nearest neighbor search (PNNS); used for Caller ID, email logos, adult website filtering, points-of-interest lookup for photos
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, ChronoServices.framework; extension point: com.apple.widgetkit-extension; launchd service: com.apple.chronod (timeline management and sync)
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 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
XProtect signature-based malware scanner and remediation service; /Library/Apple/System/Library/CoreServices/XProtect.bundle; command line tool: xprotect
1
Term
Description
2
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
3
AA
Apple accountApple Account
4
AA
Apple Archive, see also Apple Encrypted Archive; command line tools: aa, aea, compression_tool
5
AAC
Automatic Assessment Configuration; AutomaticAssessmentConfiguration.framework; puts device in a locked mode for exam-style test applications
6
AAT
Apple Advanced Typography; font format and rendering engine
Apple Connect Device External? ACDEClient.framework, old two-step verification, derived from a company-internal AppleConnect system? server: appleconnect.apple.comApple Chips in Data Centers; see PCC
9
ACDE
Apple Connect Device External? ACDEClient.framework, old two-step verification, derived from a company-internal AppleConnect system?
10
ACFS
Apple Clustered File System; deprecated file system for Xsan; acfs.framework
11
Acoustic ID
Siri feature to recognize songssong recognition and matching with Apple catalog, playback on HomePod; /System/Library/Components/AudioDSP.component
12
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
13
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
14
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)
15
AEAAegir
Apple Encrypted Archive; command line tool: aeaastronomy watch face and lock screen; /System/Library/CoreServices/AegirProxyApp.app
16
AFM
Apple Foundation Model; pre-trained transformer and diffusion models for Greymatter, optimized for on-device use by quantization (with accuracy-recovery adapters) and palletization; command line tool: modelcatalogdump
17
AGC
Apple Graphics Control, management of multiple displays and display port connections; launchd service: com.apple.displaypolicyd
18
AHAP
Apple Haptic Audio Pattern; file format for simultaneous audio and haptic data; CoreHaptics.framework
19
AIR
Apple Intermediate Representation; synthetic bytecode architecture target for GPU binary toolchain
20
ALF
Application-Level Firewall, launchd service: com.apple.alf (socketfilterfw)Application-Layer Firewall; implemented as a Network Extension (see System Extension); launchd service: com.apple.alf (socketfilterfw); command line tool: socketfilterfw
21
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
22
ALS
Ambient Light Sensor, AmbientDisplay.framework
23
Amber
Swift UI; SwiftUI.framework
24
AMFI
Apple Mobile File Integrity, checks code integrity based on code signature, stronger enforcement with hardened runtime, validates entitlement restrictions; launchd service: com.apple.MobileFileIntegrity (amfid, invoked by kernel through host special port 18); disabled by setting amfi_get_out_of_my_way=0x1 in boot-argsApple Mobile File Integrity, checks code integrity based on code signature, stronger enforcement with hardened runtime, validates entitlement restrictions and environment constraints (launch constraints, library constraints); launchd service: com.apple.MobileFileIntegrity (amfid, invoked by kernel through host special port 18); disabled by setting amfi_get_out_of_my_way=0x1 in boot-args
25
AMP
Apple Media Protocol? former parts of iTunes for iPod and iOS device access in Finder, Home Sharing; AMPDevices.framework, AMPSharing.framework; launchd services: com.apple.AMPDeviceDiscoveryAgent, com.apple.AMPDevicesAgent, com.apple.amp.mediasharingd
26
AMP
Asynchronous Multiprocessing; performance and power-efficiency cores on Apple Silicon
27
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
32
AOS
Apple Online Services? historical name for iCloud
33
Apache
built-in web server; command line tool: apachectl
34
APFS
Apple File System; copy-on-write file system with support for volume space-sharing, per-file encryption, and snapshots
35
APNS
Apple Push Notification service, server infrastructure for remote push notifications over a single connection, clients subscribe to push topics, can be authenticated by app (remote notifications), device (Find My …), or Apple ID login (DSID); credentials in apsd keychain; launchd service: com.apple.apsd; server: push.apple.comApple Push Notification service, server infrastructure for remote push notifications over a single connection, clients subscribe to push topics, can be authenticated by app (remote notifications), device (Find My …), or Apple Account login (DSID); credentials in apsd keychain; launchd service: com.apple.apsd; server: push.apple.com
36
App Nap
quiescence detection for applications and corresponding self-demotion in scheduler parameters, implemented within application frameworks and RunningBoard, listens for occlusion notifications from WindowServer
37
App Sandbox
Seatbelt-based sandbox for apps; /System/Library/Sandbox/Profiles/application.sb; enabled with com.apple.security.app-sandbox entitlement; launchd service: com.apple.secinitd
Adaptive Picture Timing? ProMotion; dynamic screen updates with 120Hz base frequency; AppleDisplayTCONControl.framework
40
Ask To
parental-controlled user can ask parent for exceptions; launchd service: com.apple.asktod; AskToCore.framework
41
ASL
Apple System Logger, superseded by Unified Logging; /etc/asl; stored in /var/log/asl; launchd service: com.apple.syslogd; command line tool: syslog
42
ASR
Apple Software Restore; restore entire volumes from sources like disk images (HDI, SIU), also restores based on APFS snapshots and snapshot deltas; command line tool: asr
43
Assertions
power state management allowing applications to prevent sleeping; launchd service: com.apple.powerd; command line tools: caffeinate, pmset
44
Assessment
checking of System Policy; term also used for AAC
45
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
46
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.comSiri; speech recognition and semantic understanding, dialog management by CDM, Intent is communicated to and enacted on the client, uses TTS for speech output, Snippets to embed mini UIs into responses; /System/Library/Assistant, /System/Library/Snippets, AssistantServices.framework; server: *.siri.apple.com
47
ATS
App Transport Security, sandbox mechanism only allowing TLS-secured connections
48
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
49
ATT
App Tracking Transparency; apps declare user tracking on app store
50
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 keyboardscryptographic 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?
51
Authorization
discretionary access control policies for high-level services; similar to PAM; policy stored in /var/db/auth.db
52
Avatar
Memoji and Animoji (face tracking); AvatarKit.frameworkMemoji and Animoji, including pre-rendered iMessage stickers; AvatarKit.framework
53
AVB
Audio Video Bridging, low-latency audio over Ethernet; launchd service: com.apple.avbdeviced; command line tool: avbdiagnose, avbutilAudio Video Bridging, low-latency audio over Ethernet; launchd service: com.apple.avbdeviced; command line tools: avbanalyse, avbdiagnose, avbutil
54
AWD
Apple Wireless Diagnostics, sends system telemetry to Apple; CoreAnalytics.framework, WirelessDiagnostics.framework; launchd services: com.apple.awdd, com.apple.analyticsd
55
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
56
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
57
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
sandboxed sanitization process for untrusted iMessage input; BlastDoor.frameworkCloudKit-synced streaming and storage of events like donated and invoked Intents; semantic index to ground AI with personal context; BiomeStreams.framework, BiomeSync.framework; launchd services: com.apple.BiomeAgent, com.apple.biomesyncd; embedding vector extraction and storage: ZeoliteFramework.framework
60
Blast Door
sandboxed sanitization process for untrusted input, used for iMessage, IDS, Telephony, media analysis; BlastDoor.framework, CTBlastDoorSupport.framework, IDSBlastDoorSupport.framework, MediaAnalysisBlastDoorSupport.framework, MessagesBlastDoorSupport.framework, TelephonyBlastDoorSupport.framework
61
BOM
Bill of Materials; format to store contents of installer Packages; command line tool: lsbom
62
Bonjour
mDNS; launchd service: com.apple.mDNSResponder.reloaded; command line tool: dns-sd
63
Boot Cache
disk cache pre-heating at boot time with typically loaded applications; /var/db/BootCaches; launchd service: com.apple.warmd
69
Cache Delete
cleanup for various caches; /System/Library/CacheDelete; launchd service: com.apple.cache_delete (deleted)
70
CAML
Core Animation Markup Language; XML file format for layers, shapes and animations
71
Carousel
derivative of SpringBoard for Watch home screen, watch face, and notification center
72
CelestialCBOR
media streaming used by ReplayKit for game broadcasts; Celestial.frameworkConcise Binary Object Representation; JSON-inspired compact binary data serialization; CBORLibrary.framework
73
CDHash
Code Directory Hash; a hash of hashes over the parts of a code bundle; command line tool: codesign
74
CDM
Continuous Dialog Manager; natural dialog with Siri, MARRS for multi-modality; ContinuousDialogManagerService.framework
75
CEC
Consumer Electronics Control; remote control for HDMI-connected devices; CoreRC.framework, IOCEC.framework
76
Celestial
media streaming used by ReplayKit for in-app screen broadcasts; Celestial.framework; launchd service: com.apple.replayd
77
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
78
CircleChamois
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
79
CKKSCHIP
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: ckksctlConnected Home over IP; Matter; integrated into HomeKit, can use Thread as transport layer; HomeKitMatter.framework, CoreThread.framework; launchd services: com.apple.threadradiod, com.apple.ThreadCommissionerService
80
ClassroomCircle
launchd service: com.apple.studentdcryptographic 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)
81
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
82
CL4
Apple’s variant of the L4 microkernel, derived from Pistachio and Wombat/Darbat
83
Clarity
customizable accessibility mode for simplified UI; ClarityFoundation.framework
84
Classroom
school teachers can create assignments for student iPads and track progress in Schoolwork app; ClassKit.framework; launchd service: com.apple.studentd
85
Cloud Pairing
part of Alloy, Bluetooth out-of-band pairing over iCloud for Continuity; launchd service: com.apple.BTServer.cloudpairing (cloudpaird)
86
CMAS
Commerial Mobile Alert System, now known as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
87
Commpage
user-mapped kernel data, like vdso/vsyscall on Linux; mapped at 0x7fffffe00000
88
Communications Filter
recipient blocking for iMessage, FaceTime, Mail; launchd service: com.apple.cmfsyncagent
89
Companion
iPhone that is paired with Watch; communication uses Alloy over IPsec over BluetoothiPhone that is linked with Watch, Mac, or Apple TV; communication with Watch uses Alloy over IPsec over Bluetooth, AWDL on demand; launchd service: com.apple.companiond; Bonjour service: _companion-link._tcp
90
ContinuityContact Key Verification
umbrella term for Handoff, Sidecar, SMS relay, Universal Clipboard, Watch unlock, WiFi call relay and others; SMS relay works by proxying to iMessage, other services use Alloycode for manual verification of iMessage keys; code identifies a long-lived account key stored in iCloud Keychain, which signs all ESS device keys
91
Continuity
umbrella term for Handoff, Sidecar, iPhone Mirroring, SMS relay, Universal Clipboard, Watch unlock, WiFi call relay and others; SMS relay works by proxying to iMessage, other services use Alloy for signalling and AWDL for payload; /System/Applications/iPhone Mirroring.app, ScreenContinuityServices.framework
92
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
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)
96
CSR
Configurable Security Restrictions; XNU subsystem that is the basis for SIP
97
CTK
Crypto Token Kit; smart card management, also for the Secure Element on iOS? launchd service: com.apple.ctkd; command line tool: sc_auth
98
CTS
Centralized Task Scheduling; execution of DAS tasks; /System/Library/UserEventPlugins/com.apple.cts.plugin
99
CVMS
Core VM Server/Service? compilation of GPU shaders; launchd service: com.apple.cvmsServ
100
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
101
Daily Briefing
Siri giving an overview of information for the day; SiriDailyBriefingInternal.framework
102
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)
103
Darwin Directory
static store for users and groups, saves Open Directory interaction for the local case? /usr/lib/system/libsystem_darwindirectory.dylib, /System/Library/DarwinDirectory, /private/var/db/DarwinDirectory; command line tool: dddiagnose
text analysis to highlight phone numbers, street addresses, and the like; DataDetectors.framework
106
Data Vault
directories with the UF_DATAVAULT special flag; CSR limits access to one application
107
DAV
Distributed Authoring and Versioning; network protocol on top of HTTP for syncing calendars (CalDAV), contacts (CardDAV), and formerly also bookmarks (BookmarkDAV)
108
DCP
Display Co-Processor
109
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
110
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
111
Developer Mode
enables launching of self-compiled apps in iOS, rough equivalent to System Policy; command line tool: devmodectl
112
DFR
Dynamic Function Row?, TouchBar; /System/Library/CoreServices/ControlStrip.app; DFRFoundation.framework
113
DFU
Device Firmware Update; special boot mode where iOS has not booted and the system can be installed over the Lightning connection
114
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
115
Digital Separation
safety check feature to inhibit sharing relationships; DigitalSeparation.framework
116
DMC
Device Management Client; part of MDM; DMCUtilities.framework
117
DMC
Disk Mount Conditioner; simulates slow IO devices; command line tool: dmc
118
DND
Do Not Disturb
119
Dose
ambient sound level checking on Watch; /Applications/Dose.app
120
DSID
Destination Signaling Identifier, unique ID for IDS login on a specific device
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-agenttelemetry 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, /System/Library/DuetExpertCenter; CoreDuet.framework, CoreKnowledge.framework, CorePrediction.framework, CascadeEngine.framework (link to Biome); launchd services: com.apple.coreduetd, com.apple.duetexpertd, com.apple.knowledge-agent, com.apple.ospredictiond
123
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_cachedynamic 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
124
EAS
Exchange Active Sync; network protocol for accessing Microsoft Exchange servers
125
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
126
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: powermetricsunitless metric for per-application energy consumption, machine-specific coefficients; /usr/share/pmenergy, launchd services: com.apple.sysmond, com.apple.thermald; command line tool: powermetrics
127
Engram
Messages in iCloud; devices store received iMessages in CloudKit; Engram.framework
128
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
129
ESS
IDS user directory, public key distribution for iMessage and CloudKit sharing, uses Transparency; server: *.ess.apple.com; launchd service: com.apple.identityservicesd
130
Event MonitorExclave
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.emonduser-level portions of kernel or SEP services, used for paravirtualized access by VMs; /usr/libexec/init_exclavekit
131
Eye Relief
screen distance warning for handheld devices; /Applications/EyeReliefUI.app
132
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)
133
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
134
Family Circle
Family Sharing; launchd services: com.apple.familycircled, com.apple.askpermissiond
135
FDE
Full Disk Encryption, FileVault; command line tool: fdesetup, sysadminctl
136
FDR
Factory Data/Device Reset? ensures that no downgrades are performed? servers: skl.apple.com, gg.apple.com; /System/Library/FDR
137
Feldspar
Apple News; Silex.framework
138
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.comFi? Distributed Evaluation Service? aggregates Differential Privacy data for unlinkability? used for emoji, Suggestions, Dictation; /System/Library/DistributedEvaluation; DistributedEvaluation.framework, FedStats.framework (private federated learning?)
139
Find My …File Provider
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)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
140
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)
141
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
142
Focus
restriction modes for notification presentation; Focus.framework, DoNotDisturb.framework; local settings in ~/Library/DoNotDisturbrestriction modes for notification presentation; focus filters for in-app display restrictions, communicated by Intents; Focus.framework, DoNotDisturb.framework; local settings in ~/Library/DoNotDisturb
143
FollowUp
user interaction for Secure Backup wrapping with device passcode, CoreFollowUp.framework; launchd service: com.apple.followupd
144
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: cktoolfundamental 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 by GroupKit; 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
145
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 checkingFast 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
146
FUDFSKit
Firmware Update Daemon; /var/db/fud; launchd service: com.apple.accessoryupdaterduser space file system support; kernel stub file system is /System/Library/Extensions/lifs.kext; file systems are in /System/Library/ExtensionKit/Extensions/com.apple.fskit.*; launchd service: com.apple.filesystems.fskitd, com.apple.filesystems.doubleagentd (handling of Apple double files in user space); extension point: com.apple.fskit.fsmodule
147
FUD
Firmware Update Daemon; see TSS, UARP; launchd service: com.apple.accessoryupdaterd
148
Game Mode
auto-activates when games are shown full screen, throttles background work, lowers audio and input latency; launchd service: com.apple.gamepolicyd
149
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
150
Gizmo
Apple Watch; watch settings managed by Companion; /Applications/Bridge.app, /System/Library/BridgeManifestsApple Watch; watch settings managed by Companion iPhone; /Applications/Bridge.app, /System/Library/BridgeManifests
151
Greymatter
Apple Intelligence; on-device language and diffusion models, larger server-based models in PCC; AFM refined for specific tasks (queries, summarization, categorization) by adapters (parameter for inserted network modules); grounded with context from Biome and intelligence stores; ~/Library/IntelligencePlatform; launchd service: com.apple.modelmanagerd (model residency management); /System/Library/ModelManager/Policy.plist; /Applications/Tamale.app (Camera Control integration); command line tool: csfdiagnose (cloud subscription features), modelmanagerdump
152
Group Activities
SharePlay; sharing of media content and programmatic state over FaceTime calls; GroupActivities.framework, CopresenceCore.framework; launchd service: com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd
153
GroupKit
groups of IDS users with shared CloudKit (PCS) access; GroupKitCrypto.framework
154
GSS
Generic Security Service; part of Kerberos; GSS.framework; launchd service: com.apple.gssd (invoked by kernel through host special port 19); command line tool: gsstool
155
GXF
Guarded Execution Feature/Fault, additional exception levels on Apple Silicon, lateral to the usual exception levels; page tables remain the same, but interpretation of permission bits changes by way of FPR, genter and gexit instructions; implements lightweight intra-address-space protection contexts
156
HAP
Home Automation Protocol; CoreHAP.framework
157
HDA
High Definition Audio; HDAInterface.framework
158
HDI
Hard Disk Image; command line tool: hdiutil
159
HeadBoard
derivative of SpringBoard for tvOS home screen; /Applications/HeadBoard.app, /Applications/PineBoard.app
160
Health Balance
vitals app on Watch; /Applications/NanoHealthBalance.app
161
HLS
HTTP Live Streaming
162
HomeEnergy
HomeKit management for grid energy supply; EnergyKit.framework
163
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
164
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.plistHardware Security Module; HSM fleet runs escrow service for Secure Backup
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
168
iCDP
iCloud Data Protection, codename for a set of enhancements to iCloud privacy: device passcodes used as iCSC for Secure Backup, root keys for CKKS-enabled services only synced between devices and not stored at Apple; launchd service: com.apple.cdpd
169
iCloud
umbrella term for a conglomerate of services, consists of FoundationDB containers with PCS views for key management, supported by CKKS; uses IDS and APNS; some services under the iCloud name are actually served by AMS, IMAP, or DAV
170
iCSC
iCloud Security Code, credential wrapping for Secure Backup, previously used a separate code, with HSA2/iCDP uses device passcodes
171
IDAM
Inter-Device Audio and MIDI; audio connection between devices
172
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 KerberosIdentity Directory Service, also IDMS, Apple Account 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
173
IDV
Identity Verification? Touch ID and Face ID; /System/Library/AccessibilityBundles/CoreIDVUI.axbundle
174
IM
Instant Messaging; usually means iMessage and FaceTime
175
IMG4
boot files (Mach-O binaries or configuration data) with ASN.1 signature, contains RemotePolicy certificate constraints to restrict Boot Policy evaluation
176
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-servicesemantic interaction between app and system (or another app); used for Siri, Shortcuts, Maps (contextual suggestion), Widgets (configuration); definition by 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
177
IOKit
device driver subsystem for in-kernel and DriverKit drivers, command line tool: ioreg
178
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.comdictation, customized on server with selected user data (contacts, app names, music titles, HomeKit names, Siri Shortcut phrases), not tied to Apple Account; SpeechRecognitionCore.framework, ASRBridge.framework; server: guzzoni.apple.com
179
ISP
Image Signal Processor; camera imaging circuit in iPhones
180
ITML
iTunes Markup Language; metdata tagging for media services; ITMLKit.framework
181
ITP
Intelligent Tracking Prevention, cross-site tracking defenses in Safari, statistics and user interaction classify sites, cookies are partitioned and access is restricted
182
JARVIS
Just A Rather Very Intelligent Scheduler, Mesos cluster manager for Siri, iCloud, AMS
183
Jellyfish
AnimojiAnimoji; /Applications/Jellyfish.app
184
Jetsam
reclaiming of purgeable memory and termination of apps during memory pressure
185
JSC
JavaScript Core; JavaScriptCore.framework; command line tool: jsc
186
Kalamata
codename for the transition from x86 to ARM-based Apple Silicon
187
Kerberos
single-sign-on mechanism; Heimdal.framework; command line tools: kinit, ktutil
188
Kext
kernel extension mechanism, loaded at boot time as part of a Kext Collection; /Library/Extensions, /Library/StagedExtensions (for user approval), /System/Library/Extensions; command line tool: kextutil (manages deprecated runtime loading)
189
Kext Collection
prelinked sets of kernel extensions; /System/Library/KernelCollections (for boot and system kexts), /Library/KernelCollections (for auxiliary third-party kexts); the latter is only loaded at a lower-security Boot Policy; launchd service: com.apple.kernelmanagerd (invoked by kernel through host special port 15); command line tool: kmutil
190
Keybag
storage of protection class keys for Keychain and filesystem, protected by SEP using SKP; stored in user.kb; launchd services: com.apple.mobile.keybagd, com.apple.securityd_service, com.apple.secdstorage of protection class keys for Keychain and filesystem, protected by SEP using SKP; stored in user.kb; launchd services: com.apple.mobile.keybagd, com.apple.secd
191
Keychain
storage for credentials; launchd service: com.apple.securityd; command line tools: certtool, security, systemkeychain
192
KIP
Kernel Integrity Protection, locking of physical memory pages to prevent changes to kernel
193
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
194
Live Files
user mode filesystems, currently FAT, ExFAT, NTFS on external storage; UserFS.framework, UVFSXPCService.framework; launchd service: com.apple.filesystems.userfsd
195
Liverpool
PCS codename for CloudKit
196
LKDC
Local Key Distribution Center, Kerberos on client machines
197
LSM
Latent Semantic Mapping, text analysis, used for spam filtering, command line tool: lsm
198
Mac Buddy
historic name for Setup Assistant
199
MAC Policy
Mandatory Access Control subsystem in XNU, based on TrustedBSD, implements policy hooks for restricted kernel operations; current policies: AMFI, Seatbelt, Quarantine, CSR
200
Machine Learning
Vision.framework, Espresso.framework, Futhark.framework, PhotoAnalysis.framework; launchd service: com.apple.mediaanalysisdVision.framework, Espresso.framework, Futhark.framework, PhotoAnalysis.framework; used for Live Text and Visual Lookup; launchd service: com.apple.mediaanalysisd
201
Madrid
iMessage; /System/Library/Messages
202
Manatee
PCS key for some CloudKit containers are synced via CKKS, so data is unreadable to Apple (credential management codenames: Plesio, Stingray, Cuttlefish)
203
Mandrake
emergency siren on Apple Watch Ultra; /Applications/Mandrake.app
204
Mangrove
transfering UI tiles over XPC; Mangrove.framework, IOSurface.framework
205
Marco
Marco.framework, something about IDS and communication (iMessage, Calls), logging?
206
Marklar
codename from the PowerPC era for the port to x86, served the transition to Intel CPUs
207
MARRS
Multimodal Reference Resolution; Marrs.framework
208
Marzipan
Catalyst; port of iOS frameworks to macOS, Catalyst apps are iOS apps with additional API to adapt macOS UI idioms; /System/iOSSupport; integration using UIKit system process; launchd service: com.apple.uikitsystemapp; input remapping by /Library/Apple/Library/Bundles/InputAlternatives.bundle
209
MCX
Managed Client for OS X, preference management for settings from configuration profiles, /Library/Managed Preferences, command line tools: mcxquery, mcxrefresh
210
MDM
Mobile Device Management; server software to manage fleets of iOS and macOS devices; uses configuration profiles to manage preferences; ConfigurationProfiles.framework
211
MDS
Module Directory Services, ancient part of the old security APIs (CSDA, CSSM)
212
Memory Debugging
uses Taskport; command line tools: heap, leaks, malloc_history, stringdups, vmmap
MobileMe Chunk Storage, used by iCloud, splits blobs into chunks and stores them at Apple/AWS/GCP with convergent encryption (content hash as key); MMCS.framework
218
Mobile
prefix for iOS
219
Mobile Assets
demand-downloaded system components like fonts, dictionaries, linguistic data; stored in /System/Library/Assets; launchd services: com.apple.languageassetd (language-dependent assets), com.apple.mobileassetd; server: mesu.apple.com
220
Mobile Device
connectivity to iOS devices over USB or WiFi (AirTrafficHost) for syning, development, and debugging; MobileDevice.framework; launchd service: com.apple.usbmuxd; Bonjour service: _apple-mobdev2._tcp
221
MOC
Managed Object Context; Core Data object space
222
Mondrian
photo collage arrangement in Photos.app; Mondrian.framework
223
MRT
Malware Removal Tool; /Library/Apple/System/Library/CoreServices/MRT.appMalware Removal Tool; /Library/Apple/System/Library/CoreServices/MRT.app; superseded by XProtect
224
Multipeer Connectivity
ad-hoc networking; Bonjour for discovery; WiFi, AWDL, Bluetooth, or Ethernet as transport; optional encryption and certificate-based authentication; MultipeerConnectivity.framework
225
Nano
prefix for watchOS
226
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.nearbydproximity-based interaction between devices; proximity measured using ultra wideband or derived from other technologies; used for Universal Control, tapping phones for AirDrop; NearbyInteraction.framework, Proximity.framework; launchd services: com.apple.aonsensed (always-on sense daemon), com.apple.nearbyd
227
Nebula
sleep apnea detection on watchOS; BreathingAlgorithms.framework
228
Newton
fall detection on watchOS
229
NLP
Natural Language Processing; NLP.framework; related to mecabra libraries, a linguistic engine for Chinese and Japanese; /usr/share/mecabra, /usr/share/tokenizer
230
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
231
Noticeboard
User Notifications for Software Update and App Store, Noticeboard.framework; launchd services: com.apple.noticeboard.state (nbstated), com.apple.noticeboard.agent (nbagent)
232
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
233
NSP
Network Service Proxy; per-app VPN and proxy settings, implements Private Relay; launchd service: com.apple.networkserviceproxy
234
OAH
Rosetta; /usr/libexec/rosettaRosetta; ahead-of-time compiler for Intel code on Apple Silicon, usable from Linux VMs by way of a custom binformat; /usr/libexec/rosetta; launchd service: com.apple.oahd
235
ODR
On-Demand Resources; loaded from App Store; launchd service: com.apple.appstored
236
Omni Search
fuzzy semantic search with results recognized in images; OmniSearch.framework
237
Onboarding
data protection splash screen shown by service-connected apps; /System/Library/OnBoardingBundles; OnBoardingKit.framework
238
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, odutildirectory service for user, group, and machine management; plugin-based to use different backend stores (LDAP, Active Directory), local accounts in /private/var/db/dslocal, populated from /System/Library/DirectoryServices/DefaultLocalDB; launchd service: com.apple.opendirectoryd; command line tools: dscacheutil, dscl, dsconfigad, dsconfigldap, dseditgroup, dsenableroot, dserr, dsexport, dsimport, dsmemberutil, odutil
239
OpenBSM
Open Basic Security Module; deprecated security audit subsystem; /etc/security, /var/audit; launchd service: com.apple.auditd; command line tool: audit
240
Opus
create slide shows from photos; Slideshows.framework
241
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
242
OTUT
One-Time Unlock Token; security mechanism to allow keybag unwrapping after updates
243
PAC
Pointer Authentication Codes; pointers signed in unused bits to prevent ROP attacks
244
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)
245
ParsecPacket Filter
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)network traffic filtering subsystem from OpenBSD; command line tool: pfctl
246
Parsec
Spotlight web results and searching of crowdsourced Intent deep links; server: *.smoot.apple.com; launchd services: com.apple.parsecd, com.apple.parsec-fbf (Feedback Flush to Differential Privacy); telemetry collection with Poirot: PoirotSQLite.framework, PoirotUDFs.framework, SearchOnDeviceAnalytics.framework
247
Party Studio
Karaoke mode on tvOS, where video from a paired phone is shown with effects; /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/PartyStudio.*
248
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
249
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
250
Pasteboard
storage for cut, copy, and paste; type of content remembered as UTI; launchd service: com.apple.pboard; command line tools: pbcopy, pbpaste
251
PCSPAT
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: pcsstatusPrivate 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
252
PCC
Private Cloud Compute; server-based AFM for AI, running on Apple Silicon managed by SEP; stateless computation, PAT to authorize user, Attestation of remote code by device, measurements published in Transparency; ~/Library/PrivateCloudCompute; launchd services: com.apple.privatecloudcomputed, com.apple.swtransparencyd
253
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, GroupKit, Manatee; ProtectedCloudStorage.framework; /System/Library/Preferences/ProtectedCloudStorage; command line tool: pcsstatus
254
PCSC
Personal Computer Smart Card; PCSC.framework, uses CTK
255
PDE
Print Dialog Extension; old name, not a proper Extension
256
PEC/PIR
Private Encrypted Compute and Private Information Retrieval; used for parental controls for media and web; CipherML.framework; launchd service: com.apple.ciphermld
257
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
258
People
contacts with Apple Accounts within Group Activities and Shared With You
259
Pepper
UI elements for Watch home screen and Chat, like Quickboard (canned replies), Animoji; PepperUICore.framework
260
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
261
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
262
Piano Mover
Mail Drop; bulk mail attachments transfered over PCS; not to be confused with storage for iMessage attachments, which uses a CloudKit container
263
Plugin
Extensions, XPC services bundled with apps or frameworks, discovery by Launch Services; launchd service: com.apple.pluginkit.pkd; command line tool: pluginkitExtensions, XPC services bundled with apps or frameworks, discovery by Launch Services; extension points listed in /System/Library/ExtensionKit/ExtensionPoints; launchd service: com.apple.pluginkit.pkd; command line tool: pluginkit
battery management like smart charge and power save, learns from Duet and other data; PowerUI.framework; /var/db/PowerUI; launchd service: com.apple.PowerUIAgent
268
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
269
Private RelayPreview Shell
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 Attestation, propagated to proxys using RSA blind signaturesskeleton for on-device UI previews during development; /System/Library/CoreServices/PreviewShell.app; PreviewShellKit.framework, XOJIT.framework (code live patching)
270
ProactivePrivate Relay
umbrella term for suggestions and completions based on Duet forecasting and User Activity context, also marketed as Siri features; PersonalizationPortrait.frameworktwo-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
271
Proactive
umbrella term for suggestions, completions, and summarizations based on Duet forecasting, Biome, and Intent context; PersonalizationPortrait.framework, ProactiveMagicalMoments.framework, ProactiveSummarization.framework
272
Provenance
per-file origin tracking, extended attribute com.apple.provenance stores ID into /var/db/SystemPolicyConfiguration/ExecPolicy
273
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?
274
Quagga
framework for QR and barcode decoding; Quagga.framework
275
Quick Action
extension type for quick interaction with foreign content within a host app; extension points: com.apple.services, com.apple.ui-services
276
Quick Look
file preview and thumbnail generation; comand line tool: qlmanage
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._tcpdevice 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, ProximityAppleIDSetup.framework; launchd service: com.apple.rapportd
279
RCS
Rich Communication Services; messaging service in mobile networks, successor to SMS; IMRCSTransfer.framework; /System/Library/Messages/PlugIns/RCS.imservice
280
Recents
recently used items (not files) in various applications, synced with Synced Defaults; CoreRecents.framework, /System/Library/Recents; launchd service: com.apple.recentsd
281
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.relevancedbackend 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
282
Remote Pairing
Mobile Device pairing without wired connection; RemotePairingDevice.framework; launchd service: com.apple.dt.remotepairingdeviced; Bonjour services: _remotepairing._tcp, _remotepairing-manual-pairing._tcpMobile Device pairing without wired connection; RemotePairingDevice.framework; Bonjour services: _remotepairing._tcp, _remotepairing-manual-pairing._tcp
283
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
284
Replicator
notification sync from Companion iPhone, also drives remotely displayed live activities; ReplicatorServices.framework; launchd service: com.apple.replicatord
285
Revisions
document autosave and auto-versioning; stored in .DocumentRevisions-V100; GenerationalStorage.framework; launchd service: com.apple.revisiond
286
Routine
frequently visited locations on iOS, interacts with Duet; launchd service: com.apple.routined
287
RTC
Real-time Telemetry and Crash reporting; RTCReporting.framework; launchd service: com.apple.rtcreportingd
288
RTKit
operating system used on Apple Silicon for firmware of co-processorsreal-time runtime used for firmware of Apple Silicon co-processors; on top of CL4 in Apple’s cellular modem
289
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
290
Safety Monitor
Check In; short-term location sharing in iMessage until a destination is reached; /Applications/SafetyMonitorApp.app
291
SBPL
Sandbox Profile Language; a TinyScheme-based embedded DSL for Seatbelt profiles
292
SCIP
System Coprocessor Integrity Protection; like KIP, but for SEP, ISP, Motion coprocessor
293
Screen Reader
VoiceOver and Braille; /System/Library/ScreenReader; ScreenReader.framework
296
Search Party
portion of Find My service for offline devices; devices emit public part of rotating key pair via Bluetooth LE, other devices encrypt current location with this key and send to Apple, private key shared over CloudKit
297
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)
298
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
299
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 enforcementSecure Enclave Processor; dedicated ARM core for security services, runs CL4-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
300
SeymourSequoia
Apple Fitness+; workout videos integrated with Watch sensors; SeymourCore.frameworktranslation; downloadable language models can run on-device; /Applications/SequoiaTranslator.app, Translation.framework
301
Seymour
Apple Fitness+; workout videos integrated with Watch sensors; SeymourCore.framework, Blackbeard.framework (personalisation and workout programs)
302
SF Symbols
scalable UI symbols; rendered with various color treatments; SFSymbols.framework
303
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
304
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
305
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
306
Shazam
music recognition service; ShazamKit.framework; launchd service: com.apple.shazamdaudio (especially music) recognition service; ShazamKit.framework; launchd service: com.apple.shazamd; command line tool: shazam
307
Shoebox
Passbook
308
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), iPad as display over low-latency WiFi (llw interface) using avconferenced encoding; /Applications/Sidecar.app; SidecarCore.framework; launchd services: com.apple.sidecar-display-agent (SidecarDisplayAgent), com.apple.sidecar-relay (SidecarRelay)
309
Signpost
telemetry API to report points of interest in code; launchd service: com.apple.signpost.signpost_reporter
310
SimulatorSIL
running an iOS/tvOS/watchOS personality on macOS, uses sandboxing and a separate Mach bootstrap namespace for container-like isolation, command line tool: simctlSecure Indicator Light; microphone and camera indicator on iPads rendered in hardware
311
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
312
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
313
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
314
SKP
Sealed Key Protection; measurement of system state (boot chain IMG4 manifests, BPR, Boot Policy data, UID key, user passcode) to derive Keybag keys
317
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
318
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
319
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
320
Sock Puppet
Watch interaction that requires Companion deviceWatch interaction that requires Companion iPhone
321
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-notificationSecure 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
322
SPI
System Private Interface; /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks
323
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)
324
SPRR
Shadow Permission Remap Register? feature of Apple Silicon to dynamically reintepret page permissions
325
SPTM
Secure Page Table Monitor; code in kernel-level GXF protects page table modifications; Trusted Execution Monitor (TXM) in user-level GXF implements policy and parts of AMFI
326
SRP
Secure Remote Password; standard cryptographic protocol for proving knowledge of a secret such that attackers cannot brute-force the secret; AppleSRP.framework
327
SSO
Single Sign-On
328
SSV
Signed System Volume, als called Authenticated Root Volume (ARV); macOS boots from blessed read-only APFS snapshot, merkle-tree and root-hash stored in Preboot volume; modifications require disabling root authentication with csrutil from recovery, then the live filesystem can be mounted, modified, and re-blessed; command line tools: apfs_systemsnapshot, bless, csrutil
329
Stark
CarPlayCarPlay; iPhone provides video feeds for in-car displays; three layers composited by the car: remote UI (from iPhone), punch-through UI (back up camera), local UI (dashboard gauges: assets from iPhone, rendered by car, like Live Activities?), overlay UI (essential indicators); associate apps on iOS: /Applications/CarCamera.app, /Applications/Charge.app, /Applications/Climate.app, /Applications/Closures.app, /Applications/Media.app, /Applications/TirePressure.app, /Applications/Trip.app, /Applications/Vehicle.app
330
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
331
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
332
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
333
Symbols
debug symbols for backtraces; CoreSymbolication.framework; launchd services: com.apple.coresymbolicationd; command line tools: symbols, symbolscachedebug symbols for backtraces; CoreSymbolication.framework; launchd services: com.apple.coresymbolicationd; command line tools: atos, symbols, symbolscache
334
Symptoms
network diagnostics; Symptoms.framework; /var/networkd/db/netusage.sqlite; launchd service: com.apple.symptomsd (invoked by kernel through host special port 27)
335
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
336
System Configuration
SystemConfiguration.framework; launchd service: com.apple.configd; command line tool: scutil
337
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.endpointsecuritydsystem-wide components formerly implemented as insecure plugins or kexts; current extension types: DriverKit, FSKit, Network, Endpoint Security, Core Media IO; /System/DriverKit, /System/Library/DriverExtensions, /Library/Preferences/com.apple.networkextension.plist; command line tool: systemextensionsctl; launchd services: com.apple.sysextd, com.apple.nesessionmanager, com.apple.endpointsecurity.endpointsecurityd; command line tool: eslogger
338
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: spctlGatekeeper; policy engine for application launches and kext loading, malware signatures from /Library/Apple/System/Library/CoreServices/XProtect.bundle; /var/db/SystemPolicyConfiguration; launchd service: com.apple.security.syspolicy (invoked by kernel through host special port 29); command line tool: spctl
339
Tailspin
sampling of process stack traces; launchd service: com.apple.tailspind; command line tool: tailspin
340
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
341
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
342
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)
343
Template App
code-less app-bundle, passed to an actual executable by LauncServices; created when adding websites in Safari to Dock/Springboard; run by /System/Volumes/Preboot/Cryptexes/App/System/Library/CoreServices/Web App.app
344
Time Machine
automatic backup service, command line tools: tmdiagnose, tmutil
345
Tin Can
Walkie Talkie on watchOSWalkie Talkie on watchOS; /Applications/TinCan.app
346
Tones
ringtones; ToneLibrary.framework
347
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)
348
Transparency
key transparency for ESS keys? Transparency.framework; launchd service: com.apple.transparencyd; server: init-kt.apple.comun-alterable append-only log to publish information; used for for ESS keys and PCC software hashes, based on CONIKS, devices audit IDS/PCC records against logs, root hashes gossiped over iMessage to detect split-view attacks; Transparency.framework; launchd service: com.apple.transparencyd; server: init-kt.apple.com
349
TSS
Tatsu Signing Server; online verification for firmware signatures; server: gs.apple.com
350
TTS
Text To Speech, command line tool: say; /System/Library/Speech; synthesizer engines: MacinTalk (historic), Polyglot (phoneme-based?), Gryphon (current, DNN-based?)Text To Speech, neural-network-based synthesis engine (Gryphon); command line tool: say; /System/Library/Speech, /System/Library/TTSPlugins
351
TVML
TV Markup Language; declarative UI language for TV apps; TVMLKit.framework
352
UbiquityUARP
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)Universal Accessory Restore Protocol; CoreUARP.framework; launchd service: com.apple.uarppersonalizationd (personalized firmware)
353
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)
354
UID
unique ID key, used as root key for cryptographic subsystems, generated during manufacturing by SEP and fused into hardware, only accessible by SEP
355
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
356
User ActivityUrchin
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.useractivitydTides app on watchOS; /Applications/Urchin.app
357
USD
Universal Scene Description; storage format for 3D assets; /usr/lib/usd; command line tools: usdcat, usdchecker, usdcrush, usdextract, usdrecord, usdtree, usdzip
358
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), Quick Note (context awareness); now part of Intents; UserActivity.framework; launchd service: com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd
359
User Notifications
user interface for notification center; launchd service: com.apple.usernoted
360
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
361
VA
Video Acceleration; AppleGVA.framework, AppleVA.framework, AppleVPA.framework
362
VDAF
Verifiable Distributed Aggregation Function; part of Differential Privacy; VDAF.framework
363
Viceroy
video conferencing used by FaceTime and ReplayKit; ViceroyTrace.framework
364
Virtualisation
running virtual machines on macOS; Hypervisor.framework (for basic VMs and vCPUs), Virtualization.framework (brings a robust set of device models)
365
VSDB
volume status database; /var/db/volinfo.database; command line tool: vsdbutil
366
Waldo
selects edge servers based on approximate location, part of Private Relay, seen in NSP
367
Wally
private search in server-side database using homomorphic encryption; private information retrieval (PIR), private nearest neighbor search (PNNS); used for Caller ID, email logos, adult website filtering, points-of-interest lookup for photos
368
WFS
WebDAV File Sharing; built-in file sharing with Apache; /etc/wfs; command line tool: wfsctl
369
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-extensioncontent 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, ChronoServices.framework; extension point: com.apple.widgetkit-extension; launchd service: com.apple.chronod (timeline management and sync)
370
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
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
373
xART
eXtended Anti-Replay Technology; persistent storage for SEP, used by Mesa; /System/Volumes/xarts; launchd service: com.apple.xartstorageremoted; command line tool: xartutil
374
XCS
Xcode Server; continuous integration server; command line tools: xcscontrol, xcsdiagnose
375
XProtect
signature-based malware scanner and remediation service; /Library/Apple/System/Library/CoreServices/XProtect.bundle; command line tool: xprotect
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