https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/CoreFoundation/Conceptual/CFMemoryMgmt/CFMemoryMgmt.html

Memory Management Programming Guide for Core Foundation

Introduction

For managing memory Core Foundation uses allocators, a reference-counting mechanism, and a policy of object ownership that is suggested by the names of functions. This topic covers related techniques for creating, copying, retaining, and releasing objects.

Memory management is fundamental to using Core Foundation effectively and efficiently. This document is essential reading for all developers who use Core Foundation.

Organization of This Document

The following concepts and tasks discuss the built in support Core Foundation provides for managing the memory allocation and deallocation of objects:

• “Ownership Policy”

• “Core Foundation Object Lifecycle Management”

• “Copy Functions”

• “Allocators”

If you need to customize your allocators then read:

• “Using Allocators in Creation Functions”

• “Using the Allocator Context”

• “Creating Custom Allocators”

To find out more about byte ordering and swapping see:

• “Byte Ordering”

• “Byte Swapping”