How to use the command 'firefox' (with examples)

Firefox is a free and open-source web browser that provides users with a wide range of features and customization options. This article will guide you through various use cases of the ‘firefox’ command, demonstrating how to launch Firefox, open new windows, use private mode, search the web, take screenshots in headless mode, run separate instances with different profiles, and set Firefox as the default browser.

Use case 1: Launch Firefox and open a web page

Code:

firefox https://www.duckduckgo.com

Motivation: This use case allows you to quickly open a specific website in Firefox without going through the hassle of manually opening the browser and typing the URL.

Explanation: The command ‘firefox’ is followed by the URL of the webpage you want to open. This will launch Firefox and load the webpage automatically.

Example output: This command will open Firefox and load the DuckDuckGo website.

Use case 2: Open a new window

Code:

firefox --new-window https://www.duckduckgo.com

Motivation: The use of the ‘–new-window’ option enables you to open a new window in Firefox, rather than reusing an existing one.

Explanation: By adding the ‘–new-window’ option before the URL, you can instruct Firefox to open the specified webpage in a new window.

Example output: This command will open a new Firefox window and load the DuckDuckGo website.

Use case 3: Open a private (incognito) window

Code:

firefox --private-window

Motivation: Using a private window in Firefox allows you to browse the web without leaving any traces, including history, cookies, and cache.

Explanation: The ‘–private-window’ option triggers the launch of Firefox in a private (incognito) window, ensuring that your browsing activity is not saved.

Example output: This command will open a private window in Firefox, enabling you to browse the web without leaving any traces.

Use case 4: Search for “wikipedia” using the default search engine

Code:

firefox --search "wikipedia"

Motivation: Searching for a specific term directly from the command line can provide a faster and more efficient way to find information.

Explanation: The ‘–search’ option allows you to perform a search for a particular term using the default search engine in Firefox. In this case, the term is “wikipedia”.

Example output: This command will launch Firefox and perform a search for “wikipedia” using the default search engine.

Use case 5: Launch Firefox in safe mode, with all extensions disabled

Code:

firefox --safe-mode

Motivation: Running Firefox in safe mode can help troubleshoot issues related to extensions or themes that might be causing problems.

Explanation: The ‘–safe-mode’ option launches Firefox in safe mode, disabling all installed extensions, themes, and customizations.

Example output: This command will open Firefox in safe mode, allowing you to diagnose potential issues caused by extensions or themes.

Use case 6: Take a screenshot of a web page in headless mode

Code:

firefox --headless --screenshot path/to/output_file.png https://example.com/

Motivation: Taking a screenshot of a web page in headless mode can be useful for automated testing, generating website thumbnails, or capturing content for documentation purposes.

Explanation: The ‘–headless’ option allows Firefox to run without a graphical user interface (GUI). Together with the ‘–screenshot’ option, you can specify the path where the screenshot should be saved and the URL of the web page you want to capture.

Example output: This command will run Firefox in headless mode, visit the specified URL, and save a screenshot of the web page as ‘output_file.png’ in the specified directory.

Use case 7: Use a specific profile to allow multiple separate instances of Firefox to run at once

Code:

firefox --profile path/to/directory https://example.com/

Motivation: Using different profiles enables you to run multiple instances of Firefox concurrently, each with its own set of bookmarks, extensions, and preferences.

Explanation: The ‘–profile’ option allows you to specify the path to a directory containing the profile you want to use. This way, you can launch separate instances of Firefox, each with its own profile settings.

Example output: This command will open Firefox using the profile located in the specified directory while loading the specified web page.

Use case 8: Set Firefox as the default browser

Code:

firefox --setDefaultBrowser

Motivation: Setting Firefox as the default browser ensures that links from other applications or websites will be automatically opened in Firefox.

Explanation: The ‘–setDefaultBrowser’ option sets Firefox as the default browser on your system, modifying the necessary settings to handle links from other applications.

Example output: This command will set Firefox as the default browser, allowing it to handle links from other applications or websites.

Conclusion:

The ‘firefox’ command provides a versatile solution for launching Firefox and performing various tasks directly from the command line. Whether you want to open specific web pages, customize your browsing experience, capture screenshots, or run multiple instances, these use cases demonstrate the functionality and flexibility of the command. By familiarizing yourself with these examples, you can enhance your productivity and efficiency when using Firefox.