How to Use the Command 'sensible-browser' (with Examples)

‘sensible-browser’ is a utility on Debian-based systems that provides an easy way to open a default web browser. This command abstracts the complexity of figuring out which browser is set as the default, and it ensures that the right application is launched based on the user’s environment settings. It’s particularly useful in scripts and automation where browser operations are necessary without hardcoding a specific browser.

Use Case 1: Open a New Window of the Default Browser

Code:

sensible-browser

Motivation:

You might want to simply open a web browser without specifying a particular application, especially when you are working on shared projects or scripts that will be run by different users with potentially different preferred browsers. By using ‘sensible-browser’, you respect the system’s configuration concerning the user’s default browser choice, making your script or automation more flexible and user-friendly.

Explanation:

The ‘sensible-browser’ command, when executed without any arguments, opens a new window of the default web browser. The command doesn’t need additional arguments to determine which browser to open because it automatically retrieves this information from the system’s settings. This makes it extremely straightforward to use, particularly in scenarios where you might not know or want to dictate which browser is installed as default on a particular machine.

Example Output:

After running the command, users will see a new window open with their default web browser (e.g., Firefox, Chrome, Chromium, or any other configured browser). There is no direct output to the terminal, but the visual confirmation is the new browser window that appears.

Use Case 2: Open a URL in the Default Browser

Code:

sensible-browser http://www.example.com

Motivation:

Suppose you receive a notification about an important update on a website, or you need to automate the task of opening a web page at specific intervals. In such cases, scripting the action of opening a URL can save time and increase efficiency. Using ‘sensible-browser’ to open a URL ensures that the page opens in the user’s preferred web browser, respecting their personal settings.

Explanation:

The command ‘sensible-browser’ requires a single argument when you need to open a specific URL. This argument is the URL itself. The inclusion of the URL tells the ‘sensible-browser’ utility to not just open a new window of the default browser, but to load the specified web page within that window. This is particularly powerful for scripting and automation tasks that require interaction with web resources.

Example Output:

Executing the command will result in the default browser opening and loading the specified URL (e.g., “http://www.example.com ”). Again, there isn’t any output in the terminal window; the confirmation comes from the browser window opening and displaying the webpage you directed it to open.

Conclusion:

The ‘sensible-browser’ command is a convenient tool for managing web browser interactions from the command line in a way that respects the user’s preferences for their environment. By providing an interface to open the default browser directly or navigate to specific URLs, it abstracts away the complexities of determining and launching browser applications, which can otherwise vary from one system to another. This makes ‘sensible-browser’ an essential utility for scripting, automation, and any tasks that require consistent browser interactions across different user environments.