yargs-parser

What is yargs-parser?

The yargs-parser package is a Node.js library that parses command line arguments. It takes an array of arguments, typically process.argv, and generates an object with the parsed keys and values. It supports various features such as boolean flags, numbers, strings, arrays, and nested objects.

What are yargs-parser's main functionalities?

Boolean Flags

Parses command line flags (e.g., --debug) as boolean values. If a flag is present without a value, it is set to true; otherwise, it is set to false.

{"_": [], "debug": true, "verbose": false}

Numbers

Automatically detects and parses numeric arguments, allowing you to specify numbers on the command line.

{"_": [], "port": 8080}

Strings

Parses command line arguments as strings, ensuring that numeric values or flags are treated as text.

{"_": [], "host": "localhost"}

Arrays

Supports array arguments, allowing multiple values to be collected into a single array.

{"_": [], "files": ["file1.txt", "file2.txt"]}

Nested Objects

Allows for nested object structures, enabling complex configurations to be passed via the command line.

{"_": [], "config": {"url": "http://example.com", "port": 80}}

Other packages similar to yargs-parser

commander

Commander is another popular npm package for parsing command line options. It provides a high-level API for defining commands, options, and handling input. Commander is more feature-rich and is designed for building complex CLI applications, whereas yargs-parser is a lower-level tool for argument parsing.

minimist

Minimist is a minimalistic argument parsing library. It is simpler and has fewer features compared to yargs-parser, making it a good choice for smaller projects or when you need a lightweight solution.

meow

Meow is a CLI app helper that wraps around minimist. It provides a more user-friendly interface and additional features like help text generation. Meow is more opinionated than yargs-parser and is designed for quick CLI development.

arg

Arg is a simple argument parser with a focus on performance and strict type validation. It is less feature-rich than yargs-parser but offers a straightforward API for projects that require strict type checks.

README

yargs-parser

The mighty option parser used by yargs.

visit the yargs website for more examples, and thorough usage instructions.

Example

npm i yargs-parser --save

var argv = require('yargs-parser')(process.argv.slice(2))
console.log(argv)

node example.js --foo=33 --bar hello
{ _: [], foo: 33, bar: 'hello' }

or parse a string!

var argv = require('yargs-parser')('--foo=99 --bar=33')
console.log(argv)

{ _: [], foo: 99, bar: 33 }

Convert an array of mixed types before passing to yargs-parser:

var parse = require('yargs-parser')
parse(['-f', 11, '--zoom', 55].join(' '))   // <-- array to string
parse(['-f', 11, '--zoom', 55].map(String)) // <-- array of strings

Deno Example

As of v19 yargs-parser supports Deno:

import parser from "https://github.com/yargs/yargs-parser/raw/deno/deno.ts";

const argv = parser('--foo=99 --bar=9987930', {
  string: ['bar']
})
console.log(argv)

ESM Example

API

require('yargs-parser')(args, opts={})

Parses command line arguments returning a simple mapping of keys and values.

expects:

• args: a string or array of strings representing the options to parse.
• opts: provide a set of hints indicating how args should be parsed:
  • opts.alias: an object representing the set of aliases for a key: {alias: {foo: ['f']}}.
  • opts.array: indicate that keys should be parsed as an array: {array: ['foo', 'bar']}.
    Indicate that keys should be parsed as an array and coerced to booleans / numbers:
    {array: [{ key: 'foo', boolean: true }, {key: 'bar', number: true}]}.
  • opts.boolean: arguments should be parsed as booleans: {boolean: ['x', 'y']}.
  • opts.coerce: provide a custom synchronous function that returns a coerced value from the argument provided (or throws an error). For arrays the function is called only once for the entire array:
    {coerce: {foo: function (arg) {return modifiedArg}}}.
  • opts.config: indicate a key that represents a path to a configuration file (this file will be loaded and parsed).
  • opts.configObjects: configuration objects to parse, their properties will be set as arguments:
    {configObjects: [{'x': 5, 'y': 33}, {'z': 44}]}.
  • opts.configuration: provide configuration options to the yargs-parser (see: configuration).
  • opts.count: indicate a key that should be used as a counter, e.g., -vvv = {v: 3}.
  • opts.default: provide default values for keys: {default: {x: 33, y: 'hello world!'}}.
  • opts.envPrefix: environment variables (process.env) with the prefix provided should be parsed.
  • opts.narg: specify that a key requires n arguments: {narg: {x: 2}}.
  • opts.normalize: path.normalize() will be applied to values set to this key.
  • opts.number: keys should be treated as numbers.
  • opts.string: keys should be treated as strings (even if they resemble a number -x 33).

returns:

• obj: an object representing the parsed value of args
  • key/value: key value pairs for each argument and their aliases.
  • _: an array representing the positional arguments.
  • [optional] --: an array with arguments after the end-of-options flag --.

require('yargs-parser').detailed(args, opts={})

Parses a command line string, returning detailed information required by the yargs engine.

expects:

• args: a string or array of strings representing options to parse.
• opts: provide a set of hints indicating how args, inputs are identical to require('yargs-parser')(args, opts={}).

returns:

• argv: an object representing the parsed value of args
  • key/value: key value pairs for each argument and their aliases.
  • _: an array representing the positional arguments.
  • [optional] --: an array with arguments after the end-of-options flag --.
• error: populated with an error object if an exception occurred during parsing.
• aliases: the inferred list of aliases built by combining lists in opts.alias.
• newAliases: any new aliases added via camel-case expansion:
  • boolean: { fooBar: true }
• defaulted: any new argument created by opts.default, no aliases included.
  • boolean: { foo: true }
• configuration: given by default settings and opts.configuration.

Configuration

The yargs-parser applies several automated transformations on the keys provided in args. These features can be turned on and off using the configuration field of opts.

var parsed = parser(['--no-dice'], {
  configuration: {
    'boolean-negation': false
  }
})

short option groups

• default: true.
• key: short-option-groups.

Should a group of short-options be treated as boolean flags?

node example.js -abc
{ _: [], a: true, b: true, c: true }

if disabled:

node example.js -abc
{ _: [], abc: true }

camel-case expansion

• default: true.
• key: camel-case-expansion.

Should hyphenated arguments be expanded into camel-case aliases?

node example.js --foo-bar
{ _: [], 'foo-bar': true, fooBar: true }

if disabled:

node example.js --foo-bar
{ _: [], 'foo-bar': true }

dot-notation

• default: true
• key: dot-notation

Should keys that contain . be treated as objects?

node example.js --foo.bar
{ _: [], foo: { bar: true } }

if disabled:

node example.js --foo.bar
{ _: [], "foo.bar": true }

parse numbers

• default: true
• key: parse-numbers

Should keys that look like numbers be treated as such?

node example.js --foo=99.3
{ _: [], foo: 99.3 }

if disabled:

node example.js --foo=99.3
{ _: [], foo: "99.3" }

boolean negation

• default: true
• key: boolean-negation

Should variables prefixed with --no be treated as negations?

node example.js --no-foo
{ _: [], foo: false }

if disabled:

node example.js --no-foo
{ _: [], "no-foo": true }

combine arrays

• default: false
• key: combine-arrays

Should arrays be combined when provided by both command line arguments and a configuration file.

duplicate arguments array

• default: true
• key: duplicate-arguments-array

Should arguments be coerced into an array when duplicated:

node example.js -x 1 -x 2
{ _: [], x: [1, 2] }

if disabled:

node example.js -x 1 -x 2
{ _: [], x: 2 }

flatten duplicate arrays

• default: true
• key: flatten-duplicate-arrays

Should array arguments be coerced into a single array when duplicated:

node example.js -x 1 2 -x 3 4
{ _: [], x: [1, 2, 3, 4] }

if disabled:

node example.js -x 1 2 -x 3 4
{ _: [], x: [[1, 2], [3, 4]] }

greedy arrays

• default: true
• key: greedy-arrays

Should arrays consume more than one positional argument following their flag.

node example --arr 1 2
{ _[], arr: [1, 2] }

if disabled:

node example --arr 1 2
{ _[2], arr: [1] }

Note: in v18.0.0 we are considering defaulting greedy arrays to false.

nargs eats options

• default: false
• key: nargs-eats-options

Should nargs consume dash options as well as positional arguments.

negation prefix

• default: no-
• key: negation-prefix

The prefix to use for negated boolean variables.

node example.js --no-foo
{ _: [], foo: false }

if set to quux:

node example.js --quuxfoo
{ _: [], foo: false }

populate --

• default: false.
• key: populate--

Should unparsed flags be stored in -- or _.

If disabled:

node example.js a -b -- x y
{ _: [ 'a', 'x', 'y' ], b: true }

If enabled:

node example.js a -b -- x y
{ _: [ 'a' ], '--': [ 'x', 'y' ], b: true }

set placeholder key

• default: false.
• key: set-placeholder-key.

Should a placeholder be added for keys not set via the corresponding CLI argument?

If disabled:

node example.js -a 1 -c 2
{ _: [], a: 1, c: 2 }

If enabled:

node example.js -a 1 -c 2
{ _: [], a: 1, b: undefined, c: 2 }

halt at non-option

• default: false.
• key: halt-at-non-option.

Should parsing stop at the first positional argument? This is similar to how e.g. ssh parses its command line.

If disabled:

node example.js -a run b -x y
{ _: [ 'b' ], a: 'run', x: 'y' }

If enabled:

node example.js -a run b -x y
{ _: [ 'b', '-x', 'y' ], a: 'run' }

strip aliased

• default: false
• key: strip-aliased

Should aliases be removed before returning results?

If disabled:

node example.js --test-field 1
{ _: [], 'test-field': 1, testField: 1, 'test-alias': 1, testAlias: 1 }

If enabled:

node example.js --test-field 1
{ _: [], 'test-field': 1, testField: 1 }

strip dashed

• default: false
• key: strip-dashed

Should dashed keys be removed before returning results? This option has no effect if camel-case-expansion is disabled.

If disabled:

node example.js --test-field 1
{ _: [], 'test-field': 1, testField: 1 }

If enabled:

node example.js --test-field 1
{ _: [], testField: 1 }

unknown options as args

• default: false
• key: unknown-options-as-args

Should unknown options be treated like regular arguments? An unknown option is one that is not configured in opts.

If disabled

node example.js --unknown-option --known-option 2 --string-option --unknown-option2
{ _: [], unknownOption: true, knownOption: 2, stringOption: '', unknownOption2: true }

If enabled

node example.js --unknown-option --known-option 2 --string-option --unknown-option2
{ _: ['--unknown-option'], knownOption: 2, stringOption: '--unknown-option2' }

Supported Node.js Versions

Libraries in this ecosystem make a best effort to track Node.js' release schedule. Here's a post on why we think this is important.

Special Thanks

The yargs project evolves from optimist and minimist. It owes its existence to a lot of James Halliday's hard work. Thanks substack beep boop \o/

License

ISC