Third party applications can access the user's health data through the HealthKit framework. System interfaces add a layer of security, but they also protect the user's privacy. The idea is that the operating system knows exactly what data the application accesses if it isn't located in the application's sandbox. To access the user's photos, third party application need to use a system interface. An application doesn't have direct access to the photos stored on the user's device. The photos library of a device is a fine example.

Not everything is accessible through a system interface. And even the system interfaces have their limitations. If the application needs access to data on the device that isn't located in the application's sandbox, it needs to request the data through a system interface. Every application is given a sandbox, a directory it can use to store data in. The macOS operating system and its file system operate differently and are structured differently. What Is Sandboxing?įor historical reasons, sandboxing rules for macOS are less strict than those for iOS, tvOS, and watchOS. By sandboxing applications, this is much less likely. If every third party application would be able to access the file system and the sandbox of other applications, the platform would soon be in disarray.īut an application doesn't need to be malicious for it to cause mayhem. It is possible that malicious applications make their way into the App Store. Why is that important?Įven though Apple reviews every application before it is allowed into the App Store, the review process isn't perfect. On iOS, for example, an application cannot access the sandbox of another application. Sandboxing significantly increases the security and integrity of the operating system by limiting what an application is allowed to do. Sandboxing was added to macOS with the announcement of the Mac App Store in 2010.īut what is sandboxing? How does it impact developers? And why does the operating system sandbox applications? Why Is Sandboxing Necessary? On iOS, applications have been sandboxed from day one. Sandboxing is a result of that commitment. Privacy and security have always been top priorities for Apple.

Apple sandbox system files