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enquirer

Stylish, intuitive and user-friendly prompt system. Fast and lightweight enough for small projects, powerful and extensible enough for the most advanced use cases.


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Maintainers
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Package description

What is enquirer?

The enquirer npm package is a stylish, intuitive, and user-friendly way to interact with users via the command line. It provides a rich set of prompt types and utilities to make CLI development easier and more interactive.

What are enquirer's main functionalities?

Text Input

This feature allows you to ask users for text input. The example shows how to ask for a username.

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');

prompt({
  type: 'input',
  name: 'username',
  message: 'What is your username?'
}).then(answer => console.log('Username:', answer.username));

Password Input

This feature enables you to securely ask users for a password, hiding their input on the screen.

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');

prompt({
  type: 'password',
  name: 'password',
  message: 'What is your password?'
}).then(answer => console.log('Password:', answer.password));

Multiple Choice (Select)

This feature allows users to choose from a list of options. The example demonstrates asking users to pick a color from a list.

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');

prompt({
  type: 'select',
  name: 'color',
  message: 'Pick a color',
  choices: ['Red', 'Green', 'Blue']
}).then(answer => console.log('Selected color:', answer.color));

Checkbox

This feature lets users select multiple options from a list. The example asks users to select their favorite fruits.

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');

prompt({
  type: 'multiselect',
  name: 'fruits',
  message: 'What are your favorite fruits?',
  choices: ['Apple', 'Orange', 'Grape', 'Watermelon']
}).then(answer => console.log('Favorite fruits:', answer.fruits));

Other packages similar to enquirer

Readme

Source

Enquirer

version downloads



Stylish CLI prompts that are user-friendly, intuitive and easy to create.
>_ Prompts should be more like conversations than inquisitions▌


(Example shows Enquirer's Survey Prompt) Enquirer Survey Prompt
The terminal in all examples is Hyper, theme is hyper-monokai-extended.

See more prompt examples



Created by jonschlinkert and doowb, Enquirer is fast, easy to use, and lightweight enough for small projects, while also being powerful and customizable enough for the most advanced use cases.

  • Fast - Loads in ~4ms (that's about 3-4 times faster than a single frame of a HD movie at 60fps)
  • Lightweight - Only one dependency, the excellent ansi-colors by Brian Woodward.
  • Easy to implement - Uses promises and async/await and sensible defaults to make prompts easy to create and implement.
  • Easy to use - Thrill your users with a better experience! Navigating around input and choices is a breeze. You can even create quizzes, or record and playback key bindings to aid with tutorials and videos.
  • Intuitive - Keypress combos are available to simplify usage.
  • Flexible - All prompts can be used standalone or chained together.
  • Stylish - Easily override semantic styles and symbols for any part of the prompt.
  • Extensible - Easily create and use custom prompts by extending Enquirer's built-in prompts.
  • Pluggable - Add advanced features to Enquirer using plugins.
  • Validation - Optionally validate user input with any prompt.
  • Well tested - All prompts are well-tested, and tests are easy to create without having to use brittle, hacky solutions to spy on prompts or "inject" values.
  • Examples - There are numerous examples available to help you get started.

If you like Enquirer, please consider starring or tweeting about this project to show your support. Thanks!


>_ Ready to start making prompts your users will love? ▌
Enquirer Select Prompt with heartbeat example



❯ Getting started

Get started with Enquirer, the most powerful and easy-to-use Node.js library for creating interactive CLI prompts.


❯ Install

Install with npm:

npm install enquirer --save

Install with yarn:

yarn add enquirer

Install Enquirer with NPM

(Requires Node.js 8.6 or higher. Please let us know if you need support for an earlier version by creating an issue.)


❯ Usage

Single prompt

The easiest way to get started with enquirer is to pass a question object to the prompt method.

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');

const response = await prompt({
  type: 'input',
  name: 'username',
  message: 'What is your username?'
});

console.log(response); // { username: 'jonschlinkert' }

(Examples with await need to be run inside an async function)

Multiple prompts

Pass an array of "question" objects to run a series of prompts.

const response = await prompt([
  {
    type: 'input',
    name: 'name',
    message: 'What is your name?'
  },
  {
    type: 'input',
    name: 'username',
    message: 'What is your username?'
  }
]);

console.log(response); // { name: 'Edward Chan', username: 'edwardmchan' }

Different ways to run enquirer

1. By importing the specific built-in prompt
const { Confirm } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Confirm({
  name: 'question',
  message: 'Did you like enquirer?'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer));
2. By passing the options to prompt
const { prompt } = require('enquirer');

prompt({
  type: 'confirm',
  name: 'question',
  message: 'Did you like enquirer?'
})
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer));

Jump to: Getting Started · Prompts · Options · Key Bindings


❯ Enquirer

Enquirer is a prompt runner

Add Enquirer to your JavaScript project with following line of code.

const Enquirer = require('enquirer');

The main export of this library is the Enquirer class, which has methods and features designed to simplify running prompts.

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');
const questions = [
  {
    type: 'input',
    name: 'username',
    message: 'What is your username?'
  },
  {
    type: 'password',
    name: 'password',
    message: 'What is your password?'
  }
];

const answers = await prompt(questions);
console.log(answers);

Prompts control how values are rendered and returned

Each individual prompt is a class with special features and functionality for rendering the types of values you want to show users in the terminal, and subsequently returning the types of values you need to use in your application.

How can I customize prompts?

Below in this guide you will find information about creating custom prompts. For now, we'll focus on how to customize an existing prompt.

All of the individual prompt classes in this library are exposed as static properties on Enquirer. This allows them to be used directly without using enquirer.prompt().

Use this approach if you need to modify a prompt instance, or listen for events on the prompt.

Example

const { Input } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new Input({
  name: 'username',
  message: 'What is your username?'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Username:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Enquirer

Create an instance of Enquirer.

Params

  • options {Object}: (optional) Options to use with all prompts.
  • answers {Object}: (optional) Answers object to initialize with.

Example

const Enquirer = require('enquirer');
const enquirer = new Enquirer();

register()

Register a custom prompt type.

Params

  • type {String}
  • fn {Function|Prompt}: Prompt class, or a function that returns a Prompt class.
  • returns {Object}: Returns the Enquirer instance

Example

const Enquirer = require('enquirer');
const enquirer = new Enquirer();
enquirer.register('customType', require('./custom-prompt'));

prompt()

Prompt function that takes a "question" object or array of question objects, and returns an object with responses from the user.

Params

  • questions {Array|Object}: Options objects for one or more prompts to run.
  • returns {Promise}: Promise that returns an "answers" object with the user's responses.

Example

const Enquirer = require('enquirer');
const enquirer = new Enquirer();

const response = await enquirer.prompt({
  type: 'input',
  name: 'username',
  message: 'What is your username?'
});
console.log(response);

use()

Use an enquirer plugin.

Params

  • plugin {Function}: Plugin function that takes an instance of Enquirer.
  • returns {Object}: Returns the Enquirer instance.

Example

const Enquirer = require('enquirer');
const enquirer = new Enquirer();
const plugin = enquirer => {
  // do stuff to enquire instance
};
enquirer.use(plugin);

Enquirer#prompt

Prompt function that takes a "question" object or array of question objects, and returns an object with responses from the user.

Params

  • questions {Array|Object}: Options objects for one or more prompts to run.
  • returns {Promise}: Promise that returns an "answers" object with the user's responses.

Example

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');
const response = await prompt({
  type: 'input',
  name: 'username',
  message: 'What is your username?'
});
console.log(response);

❯ Prompts

This section is about Enquirer's prompts: what they look like, how they work, how to run them, available options, and how to customize the prompts or create your own prompt concept.

Getting started with Enquirer's prompts

Prompt

The base Prompt class is used to create all other prompts.

const { Prompt } = require('enquirer');
class MyCustomPrompt extends Prompt {}

See the documentation for creating custom prompts to learn more about how this works.

Prompt Options

Each prompt takes an options object (aka "question" object), that implements the following interface:

{
  // required
  type: string | function,
  name: string | function,
  message: string | function | async function,

  // optional
  skip: boolean | function | async function,
  initial: string | function | async function,
  format: function | async function,
  result: function | async function,
  validate: function | async function,
}

Each property of the options object is described below:

PropertyRequired?TypeDescription
typeyesstring|functionEnquirer uses this value to determine the type of prompt to run, but it's optional when prompts are run directly.
nameyesstring|functionUsed as the key for the answer on the returned values (answers) object.
messageyesstring|functionThe message to display when the prompt is rendered in the terminal.
skipnoboolean|functionIf true it will not ask that prompt.
initialnostring|functionThe default value to return if the user does not supply a value.
formatnofunctionFunction to format user input in the terminal.
resultnofunctionFunction to format the final submitted value before it's returned.
validatenofunctionFunction to validate the submitted value before it's returned. This function may return a boolean or a string. If a string is returned it will be used as the validation error message.

Example usage

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');

const question = {
  type: 'input',
  name: 'username',
  message: 'What is your username?'
};

prompt(question)
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Built-in prompts

AutoComplete Prompt

Prompt that auto-completes as the user types, and returns the selected value as a string.

Enquirer AutoComplete Prompt

Example Usage

const { AutoComplete } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new AutoComplete({
  name: 'flavor',
  message: 'Pick your favorite flavor',
  limit: 10,
  initial: 2,
  choices: [
    'Almond',
    'Apple',
    'Banana',
    'Blackberry',
    'Blueberry',
    'Cherry',
    'Chocolate',
    'Cinnamon',
    'Coconut',
    'Cranberry',
    'Grape',
    'Nougat',
    'Orange',
    'Pear',
    'Pineapple',
    'Raspberry',
    'Strawberry',
    'Vanilla',
    'Watermelon',
    'Wintergreen'
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

AutoComplete Options

OptionTypeDefaultDescription
highlightfunctiondim version of primary styleThe color to use when "highlighting" characters in the list that match user input.
multiplebooleanfalseAllow multiple choices to be selected.
suggestfunctionGreedy match, returns choices where choice.message contains the input string.Function that filters choices. Takes user input and a choices array, and returns a list of matching choices.
initialnumber0Preselected item in the list of choices.
footerfunctionNoneFunction that displays footer text

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


BasicAuth Prompt

Prompt that asks for username and password to authenticate the user. The default implementation of authenticate function in BasicAuth prompt is to compare the username and password with the values supplied while running the prompt. The implementer is expected to override the authenticate function with a custom logic such as making an API request to a server to authenticate the username and password entered and expect a token back.

Enquirer BasicAuth Prompt

Example Usage

const { BasicAuth } = require('enquirer');

 const prompt = new BasicAuth({
  name: 'password',
  message: 'Please enter your password',
  username: 'rajat-sr',
  password: '123',
  showPassword: true
});

 prompt
  .run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


Confirm Prompt

Prompt that returns true or false.

Enquirer Confirm Prompt

Example Usage

const { Confirm } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Confirm({
  name: 'question',
  message: 'Want to answer?'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


Form Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to enter and submit multiple values on a single terminal screen.

Enquirer Form Prompt

Example Usage

const { Form } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Form({
  name: 'user',
  message: 'Please provide the following information:',
  choices: [
    { name: 'firstname', message: 'First Name', initial: 'Jon' },
    { name: 'lastname', message: 'Last Name', initial: 'Schlinkert' },
    { name: 'username', message: 'GitHub username', initial: 'jonschlinkert' }
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(value => console.log('Answer:', value))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


Input Prompt

Prompt that takes user input and returns a string.

Enquirer Input Prompt

Example Usage

const { Input } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new Input({
  message: 'What is your username?',
  initial: 'jonschlinkert'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.log);

You can use data-store to store input history that the user can cycle through (see source).

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


Invisible Prompt

Prompt that takes user input, hides it from the terminal, and returns a string.

Enquirer Invisible Prompt

Example Usage

const { Invisible } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new Invisible({
  name: 'secret',
  message: 'What is your secret?'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', { secret: answer }))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


List Prompt

Prompt that returns a list of values, created by splitting the user input. The default split character is , with optional trailing whitespace.

Enquirer List Prompt

Example Usage

const { List } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new List({
  name: 'keywords',
  message: 'Type comma-separated keywords'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


MultiSelect Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to select multiple items from a list of options.

Enquirer MultiSelect Prompt

Example Usage

const { MultiSelect } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new MultiSelect({
  name: 'value',
  message: 'Pick your favorite colors',
  limit: 7,
  choices: [
    { name: 'aqua', value: '#00ffff' },
    { name: 'black', value: '#000000' },
    { name: 'blue', value: '#0000ff' },
    { name: 'fuchsia', value: '#ff00ff' },
    { name: 'gray', value: '#808080' },
    { name: 'green', value: '#008000' },
    { name: 'lime', value: '#00ff00' },
    { name: 'maroon', value: '#800000' },
    { name: 'navy', value: '#000080' },
    { name: 'olive', value: '#808000' },
    { name: 'purple', value: '#800080' },
    { name: 'red', value: '#ff0000' },
    { name: 'silver', value: '#c0c0c0' },
    { name: 'teal', value: '#008080' },
    { name: 'white', value: '#ffffff' },
    { name: 'yellow', value: '#ffff00' }
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

// Answer: ['aqua', 'blue', 'fuchsia']

Example key-value pairs

Optionally, pass a result function and use the .map method to return an object of key-value pairs of the selected names and values: example

const { MultiSelect } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new MultiSelect({
  name: 'value',
  message: 'Pick your favorite colors',
  limit: 7,
  choices: [
    { name: 'aqua', value: '#00ffff' },
    { name: 'black', value: '#000000' },
    { name: 'blue', value: '#0000ff' },
    { name: 'fuchsia', value: '#ff00ff' },
    { name: 'gray', value: '#808080' },
    { name: 'green', value: '#008000' },
    { name: 'lime', value: '#00ff00' },
    { name: 'maroon', value: '#800000' },
    { name: 'navy', value: '#000080' },
    { name: 'olive', value: '#808000' },
    { name: 'purple', value: '#800080' },
    { name: 'red', value: '#ff0000' },
    { name: 'silver', value: '#c0c0c0' },
    { name: 'teal', value: '#008080' },
    { name: 'white', value: '#ffffff' },
    { name: 'yellow', value: '#ffff00' }
  ],
  result(names) {
   return this.map(names);
  }
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

// Answer: { aqua: '#00ffff', blue: '#0000ff', fuchsia: '#ff00ff' }

Example alternate labels

const { MultiSelect } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new MultiSelect({
  name: 'color',
  message: 'Pick a flavor',
  choices: [
    { message: 'Negative Red', name: 'cyan', value: '#00ffff' },
    { message: 'Lights Out', name: 'black', value: '#000000' },
    { message: 'The Ocean', name: 'blue', value: '#0000ff' },
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


Numeral Prompt

Prompt that takes a number as input.

Enquirer Numeral Prompt

Example Usage

const { NumberPrompt } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new NumberPrompt({
  name: 'number',
  message: 'Please enter a number'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


Password Prompt

Prompt that takes user input and masks it in the terminal. Also see the invisible prompt

Enquirer Password Prompt

Example Usage

const { Password } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Password({
  name: 'password',
  message: 'What is your password?'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


Quiz Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to play multiple-choice quiz questions.

Enquirer Quiz Prompt

Example Usage

const { Quiz } = require('enquirer');

 const prompt = new Quiz({
  name: 'countries',
  message: 'How many countries are there in the world?',
  choices: ['165', '175', '185', '195', '205'],
  correctChoice: 3
});

 prompt
  .run()
  .then(answer => {
    if (answer.correct) {
      console.log('Correct!');
    } else {
      console.log(`Wrong! Correct answer is ${answer.correctAnswer}`);
    }
  })
  .catch(console.error);

Quiz Options

OptionTypeRequiredDescription
choicesarrayYesThe list of possible answers to the quiz question.
correctChoicenumberYesIndex of the correct choice from the choices array.

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


Survey Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to provide feedback for a list of questions.

Enquirer Survey Prompt

Example Usage

const { Survey } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Survey({
  name: 'experience',
  message: 'Please rate your experience',
   scale: [
    { name: '1', message: 'Strongly Disagree' },
    { name: '2', message: 'Disagree' },
    { name: '3', message: 'Neutral' },
    { name: '4', message: 'Agree' },
    { name: '5', message: 'Strongly Agree' }
  ],
  margin: [0, 0, 2, 1],
  choices: [
    {
      name: 'interface',
      message: 'The website has a friendly interface.'
    },
    {
      name: 'navigation',
      message: 'The website is easy to navigate.'
    },
    {
      name: 'images',
      message: 'The website usually has good images.'
    },
    {
      name: 'upload',
      message: 'The website makes it easy to upload images.'
    },
    {
      name: 'colors',
      message: 'The website has a pleasing color palette.'
    }
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(value => console.log('ANSWERS:', value))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts


Scale Prompt

A more compact version of the Survey prompt, the Scale prompt allows the user to quickly provide feedback using a Likert Scale.

Enquirer Scale Prompt

Example Usage

const { Scale } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new Scale({
  name: 'experience',
  message: 'Please rate your experience',
  scale: [
    { name: '1', message: 'Strongly Disagree' },
    { name: '2', message: 'Disagree' },
    { name: '3', message: 'Neutral' },
    { name: '4', message: 'Agree' },
    { name: '5', message: 'Strongly Agree' }
  ],
  margin: [0, 0, 2, 1],
  choices: [
    {
      name: 'interface',
      message: 'The website has a friendly interface.',
      initial: 2
    },
    {
      name: 'navigation',
      message: 'The website is easy to navigate.',
      initial: 2
    },
    {
      name: 'images',
      message: 'The website usually has good images.',
      initial: 2
    },
    {
      name: 'upload',
      message: 'The website makes it easy to upload images.',
      initial: 2
    },
    {
      name: 'colors',
      message: 'The website has a pleasing color palette.',
      initial: 2
    }
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(value => console.log('ANSWERS:', value))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


Select Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to select from a list of options.

Enquirer Select Prompt

Example Usage

const { Select } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Select({
  name: 'color',
  message: 'Pick a flavor',
  choices: ['apple', 'grape', 'watermelon', 'cherry', 'orange']
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Example key-value pairs

const { Select } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Select({
  name: 'color',
  message: 'Pick a color',
  choices: [
    { name: 'cyan', value: '#00ffff' },
    { name: 'black', value: '#000000' },
    { name: 'blue', value: '#0000ff' },
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Example alternate labels

const { Select } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Select({
  name: 'color',
  message: 'Pick a color',
  choices: [
    { message: 'Negative Red', name: 'cyan', value: '#00ffff' },
    { message: 'Lights Out', name: 'black', value: '#000000' },
    { message: 'The Ocean', name: 'blue', value: '#0000ff' },
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


Sort Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to sort items in a list.

Example

In this example, custom styling is applied to the returned values to make it easier to see what's happening.

Enquirer Sort Prompt

Example Usage

const colors = require('ansi-colors');
const { Sort } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new Sort({
  name: 'colors',
  message: 'Sort the colors in order of preference',
  hint: 'Top is best, bottom is worst',
  numbered: true,
  choices: ['red', 'white', 'green', 'cyan', 'yellow'].map(n => ({
    name: n,
    message: colors[n](n)
  }))
});

prompt.run()
  .then(function(answer = []) {
    console.log(answer);
    console.log('Your preferred order of colors is:');
    console.log(answer.map(key => colors[key](key)).join('\n'));
  })
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


Snippet Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to replace placeholders in a snippet of code or text.

Prompts

Example Usage

const semver = require('semver');
const { Snippet } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new Snippet({
  name: 'username',
  message: 'Fill out the fields in package.json',
  required: true,
  fields: [
    {
      name: 'author_name',
      message: 'Author Name'
    },
    {
      name: 'version',
      validate(value, state, item, index) {
        if (item && item.name === 'version' && !semver.valid(value)) {
          return prompt.styles.danger('version should be a valid semver value');
        }
        return true;
      }
    }
  ],
  template: `{
  "name": "\${name}",
  "description": "\${description}",
  "version": "\${version}",
  "homepage": "https://github.com/\${username}/\${name}",
  "author": "\${author_name} (https://github.com/\${username})",
  "repository": "\${username}/\${name}",
  "license": "\${license:ISC}"
}
`
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer.result))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


Toggle Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to toggle between two values then returns true or false.

Enquirer Toggle Prompt

Example Usage

const { Toggle } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Toggle({
  message: 'Want to answer?',
  enabled: 'Yep',
  disabled: 'Nope'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts


Prompt Types

There are 5 (soon to be 6!) type classes:

Each type is a low-level class that may be used as a starting point for creating higher level prompts. Continue reading to learn how.

ArrayPrompt

The ArrayPrompt class is used for creating prompts that display a list of choices in the terminal. For example, Enquirer uses this class as the basis for the Select and Survey prompts.

Options

In addition to the options available to all prompts, Array prompts also support the following options.

OptionRequired?TypeDescription
autofocusnostring|numberThe index or name of the choice that should have focus when the prompt loads. Only one choice may have focus at a time.
stdinnostreamThe input stream to use for emitting keypress events. Defaults to process.stdin.
stdoutnostreamThe output stream to use for writing the prompt to the terminal. Defaults to process.stdout.
Properties

Array prompts have the following instance properties and getters.

Property nameTypeDescription
choicesarrayArray of choices that have been normalized from choices passed on the prompt options.
cursornumberPosition of the cursor relative to the user input (string).
enabledarrayReturns an array of enabled choices.
focusedarrayReturns the currently selected choice in the visible list of choices. This is similar to the concept of focus in HTML and CSS. Focused choices are always visible (on-screen). When a list of choices is longer than the list of visible choices, and an off-screen choice is focused, the list will scroll to the focused choice and re-render.
focusedGets the currently selected choice. Equivalent to prompt.choices[prompt.index].
indexnumberPosition of the pointer in the visible list (array) of choices.
limitnumberThe number of choices to display on-screen.
selectedarrayEither a list of enabled choices (when options.multiple is true) or the currently focused choice.
visiblestring
Methods
MethodDescription
pointer()Returns the visual symbol to use to identify the choice that currently has focus. The symbol is often used for this. The pointer is not always visible, as with the autocomplete prompt.
indicator()Returns the visual symbol that indicates whether or not a choice is checked/enabled.
focus()Sets focus on a choice, if it can be focused.
Choices

Array prompts support the choices option, which is the array of choices users will be able to select from when rendered in the terminal.

Type: string|object

Example

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');

const questions = [{
  type: 'select',
  name: 'color',
  message: 'Favorite color?',
  initial: 1,
  choices: [
    { name: 'red',   message: 'Red',   value: '#ff0000' }, //<= choice object
    { name: 'green', message: 'Green', value: '#00ff00' }, //<= choice object
    { name: 'blue',  message: 'Blue',  value: '#0000ff' }  //<= choice object
  ]
}];

let answers = await prompt(questions);
console.log('Answer:', answers.color);
Defining choices

Whether defined as a string or object, choices are normalized to the following interface:

{
  name: string;
  message: string | undefined;
  value: string | undefined;
  hint: string | undefined;
  disabled: boolean | string | undefined;
}

Example

const question = {
  name: 'fruit',
  message: 'Favorite fruit?',
  choices: ['Apple', 'Orange', 'Raspberry']
};

Normalizes to the following when the prompt is run:

const question = {
  name: 'fruit',
  message: 'Favorite fruit?',
  choices: [
    { name: 'Apple', message: 'Apple', value: 'Apple' },
    { name: 'Orange', message: 'Orange', value: 'Orange' },
    { name: 'Raspberry', message: 'Raspberry', value: 'Raspberry' }
  ]
};
Choice properties

The following properties are supported on choice objects.

OptionTypeDescription
namestringThe unique key to identify a choice
messagestringThe message to display in the terminal. name is used when this is undefined.
valuestringValue to associate with the choice. Useful for creating key-value pairs from user choices. name is used when this is undefined.
choicesarrayArray of "child" choices.
hintstringHelp message to display next to a choice.
rolestringDetermines how the choice will be displayed. Currently the only role supported is separator. Additional roles may be added in the future (like heading, etc). Please create a [feature request]
enabledbooleanEnabled a choice by default. This is only supported when options.multiple is true or on prompts that support multiple choices, like MultiSelect.
disabledboolean|stringDisable a choice so that it cannot be selected. This value may either be true, false, or a message to display.
indicatorstring|functionCustom indicator to render for a choice (like a check or radio button).

AuthPrompt

The AuthPrompt is used to create prompts to log in user using any authentication method. For example, Enquirer uses this class as the basis for the BasicAuth Prompt. You can also find prompt examples in examples/auth/ folder that utilizes AuthPrompt to create OAuth based authentication prompt or a prompt that authenticates using time-based OTP, among others.

AuthPrompt has a factory function that creates an instance of AuthPrompt class and it expects an authenticate function, as an argument, which overrides the authenticate function of the AuthPrompt class.

Methods
MethodDescription
authenticate()Contain all the authentication logic. This function should be overridden to implement custom authentication logic. The default authenticate function throws an error if no other function is provided.
Choices

Auth prompt supports the choices option, which is the similar to the choices used in Form Prompt.

Example

const { AuthPrompt } = require('enquirer');

function authenticate(value, state) {
  if (value.username === this.options.username && value.password === this.options.password) {
    return true;
  }
  return false;
}

const CustomAuthPrompt = AuthPrompt.create(authenticate);

const prompt = new CustomAuthPrompt({
  name: 'password',
  message: 'Please enter your password',
  username: 'rajat-sr',
  password: '1234567',
  choices: [
    { name: 'username', message: 'username' },
    { name: 'password', message: 'password' }
  ]
});

prompt
  .run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Authenticated?', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

BooleanPrompt

The BooleanPrompt class is used for creating prompts that display and return a boolean value.

const { BooleanPrompt } = require('enquirer');

const  prompt = new  BooleanPrompt({
  header:  '========================',
  message:  'Do you love enquirer?',
  footer:  '========================',
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer  =>  console.log('Selected:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Returns: boolean


NumberPrompt

The NumberPrompt class is used for creating prompts that display and return a numerical value.

const { NumberPrompt } = require('enquirer');

const  prompt = new  NumberPrompt({
  header:  '************************',
  message:  'Input the Numbers:',
  footer:  '************************',
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer  =>  console.log('Numbers are:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Returns: string|number (number, or number formatted as a string)


StringPrompt

The StringPrompt class is used for creating prompts that display and return a string value.

const { StringPrompt } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new StringPrompt({
  header: '************************',
  message: 'Input the String:',
  footer: '************************'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('String is:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Returns: string


❯ Custom prompts

With Enquirer 2.0, custom prompts are easier than ever to create and use.

How do I create a custom prompt?

Custom prompts are created by extending either:

  • Enquirer's Prompt class
  • one of the built-in prompts, or
  • low-level types.
const { Prompt } = require('enquirer');

class HaiKarate extends Prompt {
  constructor(options = {}) {
    super(options);
    this.value = options.initial || 0;
    this.cursorHide();
  }
  up() {
    this.value++;
    this.render();
  }
  down() {
    this.value--;
    this.render();
  }
  render() {
    this.clear(); // clear previously rendered prompt from the terminal
    this.write(`${this.state.message}: ${this.value}`);
  }
}

// Use the prompt by creating an instance of your custom prompt class.
const prompt = new HaiKarate({
  message: 'How many sprays do you want?',
  initial: 10
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Sprays:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

If you want to be able to specify your prompt by type so that it may be used alongside other prompts, you will need to first create an instance of Enquirer.

const Enquirer = require('enquirer');
const enquirer = new Enquirer();

Then use the .register() method to add your custom prompt.

enquirer.register('haikarate', HaiKarate);

Now you can do the following when defining "questions".

let spritzer = require('cologne-drone');
let answers = await enquirer.prompt([
  {
    type: 'haikarate',
    name: 'cologne',
    message: 'How many sprays do you need?',
    initial: 10,
    async onSubmit(name, value) {
      await spritzer.activate(value); //<= activate drone
      return value;
    }
  }
]);

❯ Key Bindings

All prompts

These key combinations may be used with all prompts.

commanddescription
ctrl + cCancel the prompt.
ctrl + gReset the prompt to its initial state.

Move cursor

These combinations may be used on prompts that support user input (eg. input prompt, password prompt, and invisible prompt).

commanddescription
leftMove the cursor back one character.
rightMove the cursor forward one character.
ctrl + aMove cursor to the start of the line
ctrl + eMove cursor to the end of the line
ctrl + bMove cursor back one character
ctrl + fMove cursor forward one character
ctrl + xToggle between first and cursor position

Edit Input

These key combinations may be used on prompts that support user input (eg. input prompt, password prompt, and invisible prompt).

commanddescription
ctrl + aMove cursor to the start of the line
ctrl + eMove cursor to the end of the line
ctrl + bMove cursor back one character
ctrl + fMove cursor forward one character
ctrl + xToggle between first and cursor position

command (Mac)command (Windows)description
deletebackspaceDelete one character to the left.
fn + deletedeleteDelete one character to the right.
option + upalt + upScroll to the previous item in history (Input prompt only, when history is enabled).
option + downalt + downScroll to the next item in history (Input prompt only, when history is enabled).

Select choices

These key combinations may be used on prompts that support multiple choices, such as the multiselect prompt, or the select prompt when the multiple options is true.

commanddescription
spaceToggle the currently selected choice when options.multiple is true.
numberMove the pointer to the choice at the given index. Also toggles the selected choice when options.multiple is true.
aToggle all choices to be enabled or disabled.
iInvert the current selection of choices.
gToggle the current choice group.

Hide/show choices

commanddescription
fn + upDecrease the number of visible choices by one.
fn + downIncrease the number of visible choices by one.

Move/lock Pointer

commanddescription
numberMove the pointer to the choice at the given index. Also toggles the selected choice when options.multiple is true.
upMove the pointer up.
downMove the pointer down.
ctrl + aMove the pointer to the first visible choice.
ctrl + eMove the pointer to the last visible choice.
shift + upScroll up one choice without changing pointer position (locks the pointer while scrolling).
shift + downScroll down one choice without changing pointer position (locks the pointer while scrolling).

command (Mac)command (Windows)description
fn + lefthomeMove the pointer to the first choice in the choices array.
fn + rightendMove the pointer to the last choice in the choices array.

❯ Release History

Please see CHANGELOG.md.

❯ Performance

System specs

MacBook Pro, Intel Core i7, 2.5 GHz, 16 GB.

Load time

Time it takes for the module to load the first time (average of 3 runs):

enquirer: 4.013ms
inquirer: 286.717ms

❯ About

Contributing

Pull requests and stars are always welcome. For bugs and feature requests, please create an issue.

Todo

We're currently working on documentation for the following items. Please star and watch the repository for updates!

  • Customizing symbols
  • Customizing styles (palette)
  • Customizing rendered input
  • Customizing returned values
  • Customizing key bindings
  • Question validation
  • Choice validation
  • Skipping questions
  • Async choices
  • Async timers: loaders, spinners and other animations
  • Links to examples
Running Tests

Running and reviewing unit tests is a great way to get familiarized with a library and its API. You can install dependencies and run tests with the following command:

npm install && npm test
yarn && yarn test
Building docs

(This project's readme.md is generated by verb, please don't edit the readme directly. Any changes to the readme must be made in the .verb.md readme template.)

To generate the readme, run the following command:

npm install -g verbose/verb#dev verb-generate-readme && verb
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Author

Jon Schlinkert

Credit

Thanks to derhuerst, creator of prompt libraries such as prompt-skeleton, which influenced some of the concepts we used in our prompts.

License

Copyright © 2018-present, Jon Schlinkert. Released under the MIT License.

Keywords

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Last updated on 28 Jul 2023

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