# Linux commands: open

> Learn how the macOS open command opens a file, a folder in Finder, or an application, and why open . is so handy, with xdg-open as the Linux equivalent.

Author: [Flavio Copes](https://flaviocopes.com/about/) | Published: 2020-09-25 | Topics: [CLI](https://flaviocopes.com/tags/cli/) | Canonical: https://flaviocopes.com/linux-command-open/

The `open` command lets you open a file using this syntax:

```bash
open <filename>
```

You can also open a directory, which on macOS opens the Finder app with the current directory open:

```bash
open <directory name>
```

I use it all the time to open the current directory:

```bash
open .
```

> The special `.` symbol points to the current directory, as `..` points to the parent directory

The same command can also be be used to run an application:

```bash
open <application name>
```

> The `open` command works on macOS only. Use `xdg-open` on Linux