The Core Data framework provides solutions to common tasks associated with object life-cycle and object graph management, including persistence. Its features include:
Built-in management of undo and redo beyond basic text editing
Automatic validation of property values to ensure that individual values lie within acceptable ranges and that combinations of values make sense
Change propagation, including maintaining the consistency of relationships among objects
Grouping, filtering, and organizing data in memory and in the user interface
Automatic support for storing objects in external data repositories
Core Data is not an entry-level technology. It leverages many other Cocoa technologies and design patterns. You must understand these technologies and patterns before you can use Core Data effectively:
Cocoa fundamentals
Objective-C, memory management, notifications, and delegation.
Data modeling and the model-view-controller design pattern
The terminology used by Core Data is defined and explained in the “Object Modeling” in Cocoa Fundamentals Guide section of Cocoa Design Patterns. You should also ensure you understand the model-view-controller design pattern, and other related design patterns, described in the same document. Many of the ideas and patterns upon which Core Data is built derive from the relational model of database design—it is extremely helpful to have a basic understanding of this subject (see, for example, Wikipedia (Relational_model)).
Key-value technologies
Key-value coding and key-value observing underpin Core Data. You should understand the concepts described in Key-Value Coding Programming Guide and Key-Value Observing Programming Guide.
One of the persistent stores provided by Core Data is based upon SQLite. If you use this store, it is useful—although not essential—to have at least a superficial understanding of the SQL language. Documentation for SQLite is available from the SQLite project web site. There are numerous resources that describe the SQL language, for example Wikipedia (SQL).
The Core Data Programming Guide is primarily a reference volume. You should not simply try to read it straight through to understand Core Data.
To learn about Core Data, you should typically follow this path:
Start by reading the overview in Core Data Basics (in Core Data Programming Guide).
This will give you a basic understanding of what Core Data is and why you might want to use it.
Work through the Core Data Tutorial for iOS.
This provides a good introduction to the fundamentals of application development using Core Data.
Work through the Core Data Utility Tutorial.
This will give you a greater appreciation of the different components of the framework—in particular the managed object model—without the distraction of a user interface.
Work through the tutorial described in Creating a Managed Object Model with Xcode.
This introduces the major user interface elements of, and teaches you how to use, the Xcode modeling tool.
When specific areas need greater explanation, refer to the Core Data Programming Guide.
After you’ve worked through the introductory materials, try creating more complex applications (using, for example, two related entities) as suggested in Core Data Tutorial for iOS. The Core Data Programming Guide will be increasingly useful as you continue your exploration, as will Model Object Implementation Guide and Predicate Programming Guide.
As you progress, it is important to bear in mind that Core Data objects are still just objects, and have little influence on the user interface parts of your application simply by virtue of being Core Data objects. (In fact, the reverse is true—you may find that your user interface affects the way you structure your data.) You should practice creating Core Data applications using traditional Cocoa techniques such as target-action and delegation just as you would in a non-Core Data application.
There are several documents that describe particular aspects of Core Data in greater depth than in the Programming Guide. You should use these documents only when you have a firm understanding of how Core Data works, and then only if and when you need to:
Core Data Model Versioning and Data Migration Programming Guide
Read this document to learn how to support versioning.
Atomic Store Programming Topics
Read this document to understand how to create your own type of persistent store.
Last updated: 2009-09-09