xdg-open

Open a file or URL in the user’s preferred application.

Syntax
      xdg-open file

      xdg-open URL

      xdg-open --help

      xdg-open --manual

      xdg-open --version 

Options:
   files    The filename(s) to open, wildcards are accepted.

If a URL is provided the URL will be opened in the user’s preferred web browser. If a file is provided the file will be opened in the preferred application for files of that type. xdg-open supports file, ftp, http and https URLs.

xdg-open is for use inside a desktop session only. It is not recommended to use xdg-open as root.

Exit Codes

A non-zero exit code indicates failure:

0 Success
1 Error in command line syntax.
2 One of the files passed on the command line did not exist.
3 A required tool could not be found.
4 The action failed.

Examples

Open the SS64.com website in the user’s default browser:

$ xdg-open 'https://ss64.com/'

Open a cat picture in the user’s default image viewing application:

$ xdg-open /tmp/foxtrot_the_cat.png

“Do not run; scorn running with thy heels” ~ Shakespeare

Related Linux commands

kill - Stop a process from running.
open - Open a file in its default application.
Equivalent Windows command: START - Start a program or command.