# open
> Open stuff like URLs, files, executables. Cross-platform.
This is meant to be used in command-line tools and scripts, not in the browser.
If you need this for Electron, use [`shell.openPath()`](https://www.electronjs.org/docs/api/shell#shellopenpathpath) instead.
Note: The original [`open` package](https://github.com/pwnall/node-open) was previously deprecated in favor of this package, and we got the name, so this package is now named `open` instead of `opn`. If you're upgrading from the original `open` package (`open@0.0.5` or lower), keep in mind that the API is different.
#### Why?
- Actively maintained.
- Supports app arguments.
- Safer as it uses `spawn` instead of `exec`.
- Fixes most of the original `node-open` issues.
- Includes the latest [`xdg-open` script](https://cgit.freedesktop.org/xdg/xdg-utils/commit/?id=c55122295c2a480fa721a9614f0e2d42b2949c18) for Linux.
- Supports WSL paths to Windows apps.
## Install
```
$ npm install open
```
## Usage
```js
const open = require('open');
// Opens the image in the default image viewer and waits for the opened app to quit.
await open('unicorn.png', {wait: true});
console.log('The image viewer app quit');
// Opens the URL in the default browser.
await open('https://sindresorhus.com');
// Opens the URL in a specified browser.
await open('https://sindresorhus.com', {app: {name: 'firefox'}});
// Specify app arguments.
await open('https://sindresorhus.com', {app: {name: 'google chrome', arguments: ['--incognito']}});
```
## API
It uses the command `open` on macOS, `start` on Windows and `xdg-open` on other platforms.
### open(target, options?)
Returns a promise for the [spawned child process](https://nodejs.org/api/child_process.html#child_process_class_childprocess). You would 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
Type: `string`
The thing you want to open. Can be a URL, file, or executable.
Opens in the default app for the file type. For example, URLs opens in your default browser.
#### options
Type: `object`
##### wait
Type: `boolean`\
Default: `false`
Wait for the opened app to exit before fulfilling the promise. If `false` it's fulfilled immediately when opening the app.
Note that it waits for the app to exit, not just for the window to close.
On Windows, you have to explicitly specify an app for it to be able to wait.
##### background (macOS only)
Type: `boolean`\
Default: `false`
Do not bring the app to the foreground.
##### newInstance (macOS only)
Type: `boolean`\
Default: `false`
Open a new instance of the app even it's already running.
A new instance is always opened on other platforms.
##### app
Type: `{name: string | string[], arguments?: string[]} | Array<{name: string | string[], arguments: string[]}>`
Specify the `name` of the app to open the `target` with and optionally, app `arguments`. `app` can be an array of apps to try to open and `name` can be an array of app names to try. If each app fails, the last error will be thrown.
The app name is platform dependent. Don't hard code it in reusable modules. For example, Chrome is `google chrome` on macOS, `google-chrome` on Linux and `chrome` on Windows. If possible, use [`open.apps`](#openapps) which auto-detects the correct binary to use.
You may also pass in the app's full path. For example on WSL, this can be `/mnt/c/Program Files (x86)/Google/Chrome/Application/chrome.exe` for the Windows installation of Chrome.
##### allowNonzeroExitCode
Type: `boolean`\
Default: `false`
Allow the opened app to exit with nonzero exit code when the `wait` option is `true`.
We do not recommend setting this option. The convention for success is exit code zero.
### open.apps
An object containing auto-detected binary names for common apps. Useful to work around [cross-platform differences](#app).
```js
const open = require('open');
await open('https://google.com', {
app: {
name: open.apps.chrome
}
});
```
#### Supported apps
- [`chrome`](https://www.google.com/chrome) - Web browser
- [`firefox`](https://www.mozilla.org/firefox) - Web browser
- [`edge`](https://www.microsoft.com/edge) - Web browser
## Related
- [open-cli](https://github.com/sindresorhus/open-cli) - CLI for this module
- [open-editor](https://github.com/sindresorhus/open-editor) - Open files in your editor at a specific line and column
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