This glossary lists common jargon you will frequently come across as you browse this wiki. Definitions you see below will appear in a popup when hovering on them in articles.
Hardware[edit]
- AOP
- Always-On Processor, marketed as "motion coprocessor" in early 64-bit SoCs.
- AMCC
- Apple Memory Cache Controller.
- AP
- Application Processor, the primary CPU of an Apple Silicon system-on-a-chip that most code executes on
- ARM
- The ARM instruction set used by the CPU and other coprocessors of an Apple Silicon system-on-a-chip
- armv6
- The ARM instruction set used by the CPU on early iOS devices
- armv7
- The ARM instruction set used by the CPU on early iOS devices
- arm64
- The ARM instruction set used by the CPU on current iOS devices
- baseband
- The modem chipset that provides cellular capabilities to a device
- JTAG
- An industry standard for testing hardware after manufacturing
- NAND
- "NOT-AND" logic gate, frequently used to refer to flash memory (solid-state drives)
- NOR
- "NOT-OR" logic gate, likely used to refer to the NOR flash memory used to hold boot data on early iOS devices
- NVRAM
- Non-volatile memory, used to store small amounts of data used during the boot process
- S5L
- The series of Samsung systems-on-a-chip used by iPods and early iOS devices, prior to A9
- SEP
- Secure Enclave Processor, a coprocessor on the system-on-a-chip that handles encryption requirements such Touch ID and Face ID
- SoC
- System on a chip, an integrated set of processors that provide the majority of an iOS device's core hardware functionality
Boot[edit]
- bootrom
- SecureROM
- The first significant code that runs on an iOS device
- DFU
- Device Firmware Update mode, a feature of the bootrom allowing for emergency restores when the installed firmware is invalid
- iBEC
- iBootStage2
- A stripped-down variant of iBoot, used to enter Restore Mode
- iBoot
- The bootloader on iOS devices and some later iPods, or a general name for the pre-kernel boot process
- iBSS
- iBootStage1
- A stripped-down variant of iBoot, providing some services for the restore process
- LLB
- Low Level Bootloader, a component that runs setup routines before starting iBoot
- Recovery Mode
- The mode an iOS or later iPod device boots into when the operating system fails to boot, known by its "connect to computer" graphic
- WTF
- What's The Firmware, an early variant of DFU mode
Protocols[edit]
- SWD
- Serial Wire Debug, an electrical interface that can debug processors in a device
- TSS
- Tatsu Signing Server, the server that generates cryptographically signed strings that certifies that components of the boot process are allowed to run on the device
Firmware & Boot[edit]
- APTicket
- Application Processor Ticket, a cryptographically signed string that certifies that components of the boot process are allowed to run on the device
- ASR
- Apple System Restore, the program that installs a root filesystem image to a device
- GM
- Golden Master, an outdated term for a Release Candidate software version
- IMG2
- File format used for images an early iOS or later iPod device can boot to
- IMG3
- File format used for images later 32-bit iOS devices can boot to
- IMG4
- IM4P
- File format used for images 64-bit iOS devices (including 32-bit Apple Watches) can boot to
- IPSW
- The file format that holds iOS and iPod firmware restore images
- OTA
- Over-the-air, often used to refer to OTA Updates, where an iOS device downloads and installs an update on itself without assistance from external hardware
- ramdisk
- A firmware image that contains a minimal operating system for certain tasks, named as such because it is stored temporarily in memory rather than permanently on disk
- RC
- Release Candidate, a software version that is receiving final beta testing in anticipation of its official release.
- RSR
- Rapid Security Response, a mechanism allowing Apple to release urgent security updates without issuing a full OS release
IMG3/IMG4 tags[edit]
- ECID
- Exclusive Chip Identification, the serial number of an Apple Silicon system-on-a-chip
- KBAG
- Keybag, a value in the IMG3/IMG4 formats that forms part of the decryption keys for encrypted firmware files
- SHSH
- Signed hash, a cryptographically signed string that certifies that components of the boot process are allowed to run on the device
iTunes[edit]
- AAS
- Apple Application Support, a program consisting of the base libraries used by iTunes and other Apple apps on Windows
- AMDS
- Apple Mobile Device Support, a program consisting of libraries and a driver for iOS and iPod devices, used by iTunes, Xcode, and other Apple apps on macOS and Windows
- QT
- The QuickTime media player, previously required for iTunes for audio/video playback
Security[edit]
- ASLR
- Address Space Layout Randomisation, a security technique to prevent memory from being taken over
- CVE
- Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures, a central database of security vulnerabilities reported in software
Jailbreak[edit]
- brick
- A device that is failing to boot into a working operating system
- semi-tethered
- A jailbreak that is temporarily applied until the device powers off or reboots, but can still be booted into a non-jailbroken state
- semi-untethered
- A jailbreak that is applied through an app installed on the device, leaving the device boot process unmodified
- tethered
- Often used to refer to a jailbreak that is temporarily applied until the device powers off or reboots
- untethered
- Often used to refer to a jailbreak that reapplies when the device is powered off or rebooted
Codenames[edit]
This page lists several code names of Apple features.
- ACE
- The USB-C port controller on the Mac
- ACSN
- "Anonymous Crowd-Sourced Network", the server-side part of Find My offline finding (see also Search Party)
- Akashi
- Cellular data on Apple Watch
- Andromeda
- Always-on Display on iPhone 14 Pro[1]
- Bobcat
- The internal framework "Siri Natural Language Generation" introduced in tvOS 16.4
- Broadway
- Apple Card
- Brook
- Handwashing detection (BrookServices and BrookDataCollection private frameworks since iOS 14).
- Burrito
- Bedtime (unsure of boundary with Eucalyptus)
- Chamois
- Stage Manager (window management on macOS 13 / iPadOS 16)
- Charon
- "Dive" app for Apple Watch Ultra[2]
- Cinnamon
- Apple Watch electrocardiogram
- CKKS
- CloudKit Keychain Syncing, part of iCloud Keychain
- Durian
- AirTags (seen eg. in the firmware update)
- Ensemble
- Universal Control (macOS 12/iOS 15)
- Eucalyptus
- Sleep tracking (unsure of boundary with Burrito)
- Glimmer
- Previously named Gobbler, this app created in 2017 is installed on Apple employees’ phones to improve Face ID
- Green Tea
- Chinese region customizations
- Haywire
- Lightning video adapters (eg. Lightning to HDMI)
- HiFive
- Chip present in Lightning cable connectors to negotiate the Lightning protocol.
- Hydra
- Multiplexing chip in iDevices since iPhone X to deal with the Lightning protocol.
- Lisa
- Digital Crown on the Apple Watch.
- Newton
- Apple Watch fall detection
- Madrid
- iMessage[3]
- Mandrake
- Siren on Apple Watch Ultra[4]
- Marzipan
- UIKit on macOS (Catalyst)
- Maverick
- Update protocol from AP to Baseband chip
- Medusa
- iPad Split Screen (probably Slide Over etc. too), not to be confused with the T1 EFI device (http://www.cmizapper.com/products/medusa-3.html)
- Mesa
- TouchID on iDevices
- Munin
- Apple Maps "Look Around" feature (streetview-like)
- Pallas
- Apple's software update server (gdmf.apple.com) as of iOS/iPadOS/tvOS/audioOS 14, watchOS 6 and macOS 11
- Quadra
- ProRaw
- Rose
- U1 / Ultra Wide Band chip
- Sanddollar
- TouchID on the T1/T2 MacBook
- Savage
- Face ID
- Scandium
- Apple Watch blood oxygen saturation measurement
- Search Party
- Find My network (SP prefix in frameworks etc)
- SOS
- Secure Object Sync, part of iCloud Keychain
- Splat
- Rapid Security Response updates
- Stark
- CarPlay
- Stewie
- Roadside Assistance over satellite (iOS 17)
- Sting
- Action Button on Apple Watch Ultra[5][6]
- Stockholm
- Apple Pay / Secure Element (handles NFC as well)
- Skywagon
- Xcode Cloud
- Tincan
- Walkie-Talkie
- Tinker
- Apple Watch Family Setup
- Tristar
- Multiplexing chip in iDevices that deals with the Lightning protocol.
- Tritium
- Apple Watch always-on screen (series 5 and later)
- UARP
- Universal Accessory Restore Protocol[7]
- Vinyl
- The eSIM or eUICC
- Wormhole
- AirDrop[8]
- Yonkers
- Face ID (A12+)
- Zeus
- Hermès variants of products (like Apple Watch and AirTag)
Unknown names[edit]
Codenames seen somewhere, but for which we don't know the meaning or it's not certain, and needs more investigation.
- Absinthe
- FairPlay-related
- Avocado
- Seen in SpringBoard code
os_feature_enabled_impl("SpringBoard", "Avocado")
- Engram
- A "keychain view" (whatever that is), related to iCloud Keychain; there's also a related Engram private framework
- Futhark
- Private framework since iOS 9 (text detection?)
- Hawkeye
- Some FindMy-enabled product, probably means third-party devices.
(mentioned in FMIPCore, SiriFindMy and SPShared frameworks, locationd and searchpartyd daemons). - Madia
- Unknown
- Manatee
- A "keychain view" (whatever that is), related to iCloud Keychain
- Mescal
- FairPlay-related
- Morphun
- Private framework, there's also a MorphunData asset in mesu.
- Neutrino
- Private frameworks since iOS 11 (NeutrinoCore and NeutrinoKit).
- Nitrogen
- Unknown
- Octagon
- Related to iCloud Keychain
- Orion
- MCU of some kind
- Oslo
- Related to NFC payments; mentioned in SEP OS,
nfcd
, andPrivateFrameworks/iCloudQuota*
. - Osprey
- Private framework iOS 13, related to Siri, uses Absinthe
- Pegasus
- Private framework since iOS 9 (not related to NSO's exploit tool).
- Peppy
- Unknown
- Piggyback
- Some protocol related to Secure Object Sync / iCloud Keychain.
- Prague
- Related to NFC payments; mentioned in SEP OS,
nfcd
,mobileactivationd
, andPrivateFrameworks/DeviceIdentity
. - Proud Lock
- Mentioned on SpringBoard code, possibly FaceID unlock?
- Silex
- Private framework since iOS 11.
- Vapor
- Seen in SpringBoard code
os_feature_enabled_impl("NotificationCenter", "Vapor")
- Veridian
- Viceroy
- Seen in multiple frameworks, FaceTime-related.
- Xavier
- Private frameworks since iOS 14 (XavierCore/XavierNews).
SoCs[edit]
Starting with A6X, Apple added island/place codenames to SoCs, according to John (@nyan_satan) on the Hack Different Discord.[9]
Starting with the M1 series, Apple additionally uses a suffix to indicate the multiplier of chiplets in the design. The "Chop" variant removes some portion of the "1C" design - for instance, M1 Pro (Jade Chop) is identical to M1 Max (Jade 1C), but with 16 fewer GPU cores. This is further explained with diagrams by John Siracusa on Twitter.
SoC | Codename |
---|---|
A6X | Bali |
A7 | Alcatraz |
A8 | Fiji |
A8X | Capri |
A9 (Samsung) | Maui |
A9 (TSMC) | Malta |
A9X | Elba |
A10 | Cayman |
A10X | Myst |
A11 | Skye |
A12 | Cyprus |
S4 and S5 | M9 |
A12X | Aruba |
A13 | Cebu |
A14 | Sicily |
M1 | Tonga |
A15 | Ellis |
M1 Pro | Jade Chop |
M1 Max | Jade 1C |
M1 Ultra | Jade 2C |
M2 | Staten |
A16 | Crete |
M2 Pro | Rhodes Chop |
M2 Max | Rhodes 1C |
M2 Ultra | Rhodes 2C |
A17 | Coll |
M3 | Ibiza (rumored) |
CPU cores[edit]
Since the A6, Apple SoCs have Apple-designed CPU cores. This table lists their names.
- Swift
- A6 CPU core design
- Cyclone
- A7 CPU core design
- Typhoon
- A8 CPU core design
- Twister
- A9 CPU core design
- Hurricane
- A10 performance core design
- Zephyr
- A10 low-power efficiency core design
- Monsoon
- A11 performance core design
- Mistral
- A11 low-power efficiency core design
- Vortex
- A12 performance core design
- Tempest
- A12 low-power efficiency core design
- Lightning
- A13 performance core design
- Thunder
- A13 low-power efficiency core design
- Firestorm
- A14/M1 performance core design
- Icestorm
- A14/M1 low-power efficiency core design
- Avalanche
- A15/M2 performance core design
- Blizzard
- A15/M2 low-power efficiency core design
- Everest
- A16/A17 performance core design
- Sawtooth
- A16/A17/M3 low-power efficiency core design
- ^ https://twitter.com/SteveMoser/status/1567663672507473920
- ^ https://twitter.com/SteveMoser/status/1567622418700673025
- ^ "Madrid" and
com.apple.madrid
appear in iMessage code, data files, and protocol - ^ https://twitter.com/SteveMoser/status/1567622442427846663
- ^ https://twitter.com/SteveMoser/status/1567663727066873857
- ^ https://twitter.com/KhaosT/status/1568784164891295751
- ^ Apple patent "Techniques for firmware updates with accessories"
- ^ sharingd used to have classes like
SDWormholeConnection
- ^ https://discord.com/channels/779134930265309195/779134930265309198/1005033813631569951