macOS

macOS is Apple's desktop and laptop operating system for Macintosh computers. It is the successor to Mac OS X and was renamed macOS in 2016. Developed by Apple Inc., it is proprietary software with open-source components in the underlying Darwin subsystem.

macOS is built on a Unix-like foundation from Darwin and the XNU kernel. It uses the Aqua graphical interface and provides a Cocoa-based application framework. Core elements include Finder, Spotlight, Time Machine, and System Preferences.

The Mac App Store distributes software for macOS. Developers build apps with Cocoa, Swift or Objective-C, and Xcode. macOS runs natively on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, and includes Rosetta 2 to run Intel apps. Security features include Gatekeeper and sandboxing.

Hardware support spans modern Macs, including desktops and notebooks. Apple uses Apple Silicon (M1, M2, and later) alongside Intel-based machines from earlier generations. Rosetta 2 enables compatibility with older software; recent releases emphasize performance, efficiency, and integration with other Apple devices.

Updates are delivered as major yearly releases plus incremental updates and security patches. macOS remains closed source overall, with substantial open-source components within Darwin. It integrates with Apple's ecosystem, including iCloud, Continuity features, and native apps such as Safari, Mail, and Photos.