How to use the command 'xdg-open' (with examples)

The xdg-open command is a utility that opens a file or URL in the user’s preferred application. It is used to open a wide range of files, such as directories, URLs, images, and PDFs, using the default applications specified by the user.

Use case 1: Open the current directory in the default file explorer

Code:

xdg-open .

Motivation: Opening the current directory in the default file explorer can be useful when you want to navigate through your files and folders quickly without having to manually open the file explorer and locate the directory.

Explanation: The . argument is used to specify the current directory. When you execute the command xdg-open ., it will open the current directory in the default file explorer specified by your system.

Example output: The default file explorer will open, displaying the contents of the current directory.

Use case 2: Open a URL in the default browser

Code:

xdg-open https://example.com

Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to quickly open a URL without manually copy-pasting it into your browser. It allows you to directly open a URL in your default browser by simply executing a single command.

Explanation: The URL (e.g., https://example.com) is provided as an argument to the xdg-open command. The command will then open the provided URL in the default browser set by your system.

Example output: The default browser will open, displaying the contents of the specified URL (https://example.com).

Use case 3: Open an image in the default image viewer

Code:

xdg-open path/to/image

Motivation: Opening an image in the default image viewer is useful when you want to quickly view an image without having to manually open an image viewer and navigate to the specific file.

Explanation: The file path to the image (e.g., path/to/image) is provided as an argument to the xdg-open command. The command will then open the provided image file in the default image viewer set by your system.

Example output: The default image viewer will open, displaying the specified image (path/to/image).

Use case 4: Open a PDF in the default PDF viewer

Code:

xdg-open path/to/pdf

Motivation: Similar to opening an image in the default image viewer, opening a PDF in the default PDF viewer allows you to easily view PDF files without having to manually open a PDF viewer application and locate the file.

Explanation: The file path to the PDF (e.g., path/to/pdf) is provided as an argument to the xdg-open command. The command will then open the provided PDF file in the default PDF viewer set by your system.

Example output: The default PDF viewer will open, displaying the specified PDF document (path/to/pdf).

Use case 5: Display help

Code:

xdg-open --help

Motivation: When you need assistance or want to explore the available options and commands provided by xdg-open, you can use the --help option. It will display the help message, which includes a summary of the command’s usage and available options.

Explanation: The --help option is used to display the help message. When you execute the command xdg-open --help, the help message will be printed in the console, providing information about how to use xdg-open and its available options.

Example output: The help message for xdg-open will be displayed, providing a summary of the command’s usage and available options.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the xdg-open command is a versatile utility that allows you to open various types of files and URLs in your default applications. Whether you want to open directories, URLs, images, or PDFs, xdg-open provides a convenient way to do so with a simple command. Additionally, the --help option is handy for getting assistance or exploring the available options provided by xdg-open.