docs » hs.uielement

A generalized framework for working with OSX UI elements

Submodules

API Overview

API Documentation

Functions

focusedElement
Signature hs.uielement.focusedElement() -> element or nil
Type Function
Description

Gets the currently focused UI element

Parameters:

  • None

Returns:

  • An hs.uielement object or nil if no object could be found

Constructors

newWatcher
Signature hs.uielement:newWatcher(handler[, userData]) -> hs.uielement.watcher or nil
Type Constructor
Description

Creates a new watcher for the element represented by self (the object the method is being invoked for).

Parameters:

  • a function to be called when a watched event occurs. The argument will be passed the following arguments:
    • element: The element the event occurred on. Note this is not always the element being watched.
    • event: The name of the event that occurred.
    • watcher: The watcher object being created.
    • userData: The userData you included, if any.
  • an optional userData object which will be included as the final argument to the callback function when it is called.

Returns:

  • An hs.uielement.watcher object, or nil if an error occurred

Methods

isApplication
Signature hs.uielement:isApplication() -> bool
Type Method
Description

Returns whether the UI element represents an application.

Parameters:

  • None

Returns:

  • A boolean, true if the UI element is an application
isWindow
Signature hs.uielement:isWindow() -> bool
Type Method
Description

Returns whether the UI element represents a window.

Parameters:

  • None

Returns:

  • A boolean, true if the UI element is a window, otherwise false
role
Signature hs.uielement:role() -> string
Type Method
Description

Returns the role of the element.

Parameters:

  • None

Returns:

  • A string containing the role of the UI element
selectedText
Signature hs.uielement:selectedText() -> string or nil
Type Method
Description

Returns the selected text in the element

Parameters:

  • None

Returns:

  • A string containing the selected text, or nil if none could be found

Notes:

  • Many applications (e.g. Safari, Mail, Firefox) do not implement the necessary accessibility features for this to work in their web views