# nst/ios-runtime-headers

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7,973 stars · 1,595 forks · Objective-C

## Links

- GitHub: https://github.com/nst/iOS-Runtime-Headers
- Homepage: https://github.com/nst/RuntimeBrowser
- awesome-repositories: https://awesome-repositories.com/repository/nst-ios-runtime-headers.md

## Description

iOS-Runtime-Headers is a collection of Objective-C header files and tooling used to expose private and undocumented iOS system APIs. These definitions are generated through runtime introspection of the live operating system to uncover hidden class methods and properties.

The project enables the use of undocumented iOS API definitions for internal Apple frameworks. It provides the necessary header files to allow a compiler to link against private system symbols and verify types for undocumented system calls.

The tooling covers several technical areas, including memory-mapped metadata extraction and dynamic symbol resolution to map function names to memory addresses. It also includes mechanisms for Objective-C header synthesis and the derivation of class and method signatures by querying the active memory of a running process.

The repository supports workflows for iOS reverse engineering, system introspection, and the development of features not available in public SDKs.

## Tags

### Networking & Communication

- [iOS Private API Access](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/low-level-api-interfaces/undocumented-api-interactions/ios-private-api-access.md) — Provides the primary mechanism to call private iOS system interfaces via runtime-derived header definitions. ([source](https://github.com/nst/ios-runtime-headers#readme))
- [iOS Private API Definitions](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/low-level-api-interfaces/undocumented-api-interactions/ios-private-api-definitions.md) — Supplies header definitions for internal Apple frameworks that allow developers to call private system functions.

### Part of an Awesome List

- [Runtime Generated Headers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/awesome-lists/devtools/objective-c-runtime/runtime-generated-headers.md) — Provides Objective-C header files generated via introspection to expose undocumented iOS system APIs.
- [Private Symbol Linking](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/awesome-lists/devtools/objective-c-runtime/private-symbol-linking.md) — Provides the necessary header definitions to link against private system symbols in Objective-C.
- [Learning & Reference](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/awesome-lists/learning/learning-reference.md) — Collection of private API headers.

### Development Tools & Productivity

- [Objective-C Header Synthesis](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/development-tools-productivity/project-scaffolding-config-code-generation/code-generation/c/binary-to-c-header-generators/objective-c-header-synthesis.md) — Generates C-style declaration files from discovered metadata to allow the compiler to link against private symbols.

### Mobile Development

- [Private API Development](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/mobile-development/ios-apple-ecosystem/ios-development/private-api-development.md) — Enables the implementation of iOS features not available in the public SDKs by accessing undocumented interfaces.

### Operating Systems & Systems Programming

- [Metadata Extraction](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/binary-memory-mapping/metadata-extraction.md) — Reads internal class structures and method lists directly from binary images loaded into system RAM.
- [iOS Reverse Engineering](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/ios-reverse-engineering.md) — Identifies internal system behavior and function signatures to understand how hidden iOS frameworks operate.
- [Operating System Introspection](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/operating-system-introspection.md) — Analyzes and interacts with internal system frameworks and hidden class properties using runtime headers.

### Programming Languages & Runtimes

- [Runtime Introspection Tools](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/programming-languages-runtimes/runtime-introspection-tools.md) — Extracts class and method signatures by querying the active memory of a running iOS process.
- [Static Type Definitions](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/programming-languages-runtimes/static-type-definitions.md) — Provides hard-coded interface definitions that allow the compiler to verify types for undocumented system calls.

### Software Engineering & Architecture

- [Symbol-To-Address Mapping](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/software-engineering-architecture/reference-management/symbolic-reference-tracing/symbol-to-address-mapping.md) — Maps Objective-C function names to their actual memory locations within the iOS system binary image.