macOS XNU Kernel
The macOS XNU Kernel is the core operating system kernel that powers Apple's macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS. It is a hybrid kernel combining elements of monolithic and microkernel architectures, integrating Mach for low-level tasks and BSD for Unix compatibility. XNU provides essential services like process management, memory management, and hardware abstraction for Apple devices.
Developers should learn about the macOS XNU Kernel when working on system-level programming, kernel extensions, or security research for Apple platforms, as it underpins all macOS and iOS applications. It is crucial for debugging low-level issues, optimizing performance, or developing drivers and system utilities that interact directly with the hardware or kernel APIs.