The aim of this paper is to construct a new method related to a family of operators to define generating functions for special numbers and polynomials. With the help of this method, we investigate various properties of these special numbers and polynomials with their generating functions, functional equations, and differential equations. We also give some algorithms to calculate the values of these numbers and polynomials. Moreover, we introduce some fundamental properties of this operator. By applying integral method to this operator, we obtain integral formulas together with combinatorial sums. Moreover, by applying this operator, the Lagrange inversion formula and convolution formula to these generating functions, we derive some novel identities and relations including combinatorial sums and combinatorial numbers including these new numbers and polynomials, ie, the Apostol‐Bernoulli numbers, the Apostol‐Euler numbers, the Stirling numbers, the central factorial numbers, and the other special numbers and polynomials. In addition, we give some examples derived from relations between composita and this operator on the set of formal power series. Finally, we give complex form of the Fourier series for these generating functions. By using these Fourier series, we not only derive some series relations and trigonometric sums including trigonometric function and hyperbolic functions but also give an example for a differential equation.