Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) Practice Exam 2025 - Free ACSP Practice Questions and Study Guide

Extended attributes in macOS are metadata that can be attached to files and directories across the file system. These attributes can store additional information such as the origin of the file, access control lists, and other metadata that are not part of the standard file attributes.

The capability to use extended attributes is not restricted to a specific set of applications. Instead, they can be utilized by any process or application that has the appropriate permissions to access the files and directories. This means that both system applications and third-party applications can read or write extended attributes, provided they are designed to do so and have the necessary permissions.

Extended attributes are a flexible feature, allowing developers to enhance the functionality of their applications by adding custom metadata and improving file handling in various contexts. As a result, any process or application that runs on macOS, regardless of whether it is developed by Apple or a third-party developer, is capable of utilizing extended attributes effectively.