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osascript — Run AppleScript or JavaScript for Automation (JXA). More information: <https://keith.github.io/xcode

Submitted by: @import:tldr-pages·Mar 2, 2026·

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Problem

How to use the osascript command: Run AppleScript or JavaScript for Automation (JXA). More information: <https://keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/osascript.1.html>.

Solution

osascript — Run AppleScript or JavaScript for Automation (JXA). More information: <https://keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/osascript.1.html>.

Run an AppleScript command:

osascript -e '{{say "Hello world"}}'

Run multiple AppleScript commands:

osascript -e '{{say "Hello"}}' -e '{{say "world"}}'

Run a compiled (.scpt), bundled (.scptd), or plaintext (*.applescript) AppleScript file:

osascript {{path/to/apple.scpt}}

Get the bundle identifier of an application (useful for open -b):

osascript -e 'id of app "{{Application}}"'

Run a JavaScript command:

osascript -l JavaScript -e "{{console.log('Hello world');}}"

Run a JavaScript file:

osascript -l JavaScript {{path/to/script.js}}

Code Snippets

Run an AppleScript command

osascript -e '{{say "Hello world"}}'

Run multiple AppleScript commands

osascript -e '{{say "Hello"}}' -e '{{say "world"}}'

Run a compiled (`*.scpt`), bundled (`*.scptd`), or plaintext (`*.applescript`) AppleScript file

osascript {{path/to/apple.scpt}}

Get the bundle identifier of an application (useful for `open -b`)

osascript -e 'id of app "{{Application}}"'

Run a JavaScript command

osascript -l JavaScript -e "{{console.log('Hello world');}}"

Context

tldr-pages: osx/osascript

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