CGImageCreate

CGImageCreate is a Core Graphics function in macOS and iOS that creates a CGImage object from a CGBitmapContext. A CGImage object is an immutable representation of image data. The function takes a pointer to a CGBitmapContext and returns a CGImageRef, which is a reference to the newly created image. This process essentially snapshots the current contents of the bitmap context, making them available as a standalone image object.

This function is particularly useful when you've been drawing into a CGBitmapContext and want to extract the final rendered image. For instance, you might use it after drawing text, shapes, or other graphics into the context. The created CGImage can then be used for various purposes, such as displaying it in an ImageView, saving it to a file, or further image manipulation. The CGImage object itself is immutable, meaning its content cannot be changed after creation. You must manage the memory for the CGImageRef; it should be released using CGImageRelease when it's no longer needed.