opn

What is opn?

The 'opn' npm package is a utility that can open stuff like websites, files, executables, etc., with their default applications. It is particularly useful for opening URLs in the default web browser from Node.js scripts.

What are opn's main functionalities?

Open websites in the default browser

This feature allows you to open a website URL in the default web browser from a Node.js script.

const opn = require('opn');
opn('https://www.example.com');

Open files with the default application

This feature allows you to open a file with its default application. For example, a PDF would be opened with the system's default PDF viewer.

const opn = require('opn');
opn('path/to/file.pdf');

Open executables

This feature allows you to open an executable file, which can be useful for launching applications from a Node.js script.

const opn = require('opn');
opn('path/to/application.exe');

Specify the app to open with

This feature allows you to specify which application to use when opening a URL or file, overriding the system default.

const opn = require('opn');
opn('https://www.example.com', {app: 'firefox'});

Other packages similar to opn

open

The 'open' package is a fork of 'opn' with more features and maintenance. It provides similar functionality to open URLs, files, and executables with their default applications or a specified one.

execa

While 'execa' is not a direct alternative to 'opn', it is a process execution tool that can be used to run any system command, including opening files and URLs with specific applications.

start

The 'start' package is a simple utility to open a file or URL with its default application. It is less feature-rich compared to 'opn' but serves a similar basic purpose.

README

opn

A better node-open. Opens stuff like websites, files, executables. Cross-platform.

Why?

• Actively maintained
• Supports app arguments
• Safer as it uses spawn instead of exec
• Fixes most of the open node-open issues
• Comes with a CLI for use in your scripts
• Includes the latest xdg-open script for Linux

Install

$ npm install --save opn

Usage

var opn = require('opn');

opn('unicorn.png');
// opens the image in the default image viewer

opn('http://sindresorhus.com');
// opens the url in the default browser

opn('http://sindresorhus.com', 'firefox');
// specify the app to open in

opn('http://sindresorhus.com', ['google chrome', '--incognito']);
// specify app arguments

API

Uses the command open on OS X, start on Windows and xdg-open on other platforms.

opn(target, [app], [callback])

Returns the spawned child process. You'd normally not need to use this for anything, but it can be useful if you'd like to attach custom event listeners or perform other operations directly on the spawned process.

target

Required Type: string

The thing you want to open. Can be a URL, file, or executable.

Opens in the default app for the file type. Eg. URLs opens in your default browser.

app

Type: string, array

Specify the app to open the target with, or an array with the app and app arguments.

The app name is platform dependent. Don't hard code it in reusable modules. Eg. Chrome is google chrome on OS X, google-chrome on Linux and chrome on Windows.

callback(error)

Type: function

Called when the opened app exits.

On Windows you have to explicitly specify an app for it to be able to wait.

CLI

$ npm install --global opn

$ opn --help

  Usage
    $ opn <file|url> [app] [app arguments]

  Example
    $ opn http://sindresorhus.com
    $ opn http://sindresorhus.com firefox
    $ opn http://sindresorhus.com 'google chrome' --incognito
    $ opn unicorn.png

License

MIT © Sindre Sorhus