How to get window properties and information

Use the xprop command to get a list of properties for the selected window, such as its name and state, and xwininfo to get information about the window, such as its size and position. Run the command and click a window. You’ll get output a little like this:

me@pc ~ $ xprop
_NET_WM_ICON_GEOMETRY(CARDINAL) = 805, 1050, 200, 30
_NET_FRAME_EXTENTS(CARDINAL) = 1, 1, 22, 4
_NET_WM_ALLOWED_ACTIONS(ATOM) = _NET_WM_ACTION_CLOSE, _NET_WM_ACTION_ABOVE, _NET_WM_ACTION_BELOW, _NET_WM_ACTION_FULLSCREEN, _NET_WM_ACTION_MOVE, _NET_WM_ACTION_RESIZE, _NET_WM_ACTION_MAXIMIZE_HORZ, _NET_WM_ACTION_MAXIMIZE_VERT, _NET_WM_ACTION_SHADE, _NET_WM_ACTION_MINIMIZE, _NET_WM_ACTION_CHANGE_DESKTOP, _NET_WM_ACTION_STICK
WM_STATE(WM_STATE):
		window state: Normal
		icon window: 0x237cda0
_NET_WM_DESKTOP(CARDINAL) = 0
_NET_WM_STATE(ATOM) = 
WM_HINTS(WM_HINTS):
		Client accepts input or input focus: True
		Initial state is Normal State.
		bitmap id # to use for icon: 0x2a0006b
		bitmap id # of mask for icon: 0x2a0006c
		window id # of group leader: 0x2a00001
WM_WINDOW_ROLE(STRING) = "browser"
XdndAware(ATOM) = BITMAP
_MOTIF_DRAG_RECEIVER_INFO(_MOTIF_DRAG_RECEIVER_INFO) = 0x6c, 0x0, 0x5, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x10, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0
_NET_WM_ICON(CARDINAL) = 	Icon (16 x 16):
	 ░   ░▒▒▒▒░     
	 ▒▒░▒▒▒  ░▒▒▒   
	░▒░▒▒░▒  ░░▒░▒  
	░░░░░░▒▒▓░░▒░░▒ 
	▒░░░░░▒▒▓░░▒░ ░░
	▒░░░░░░▒░░░▒▒ ░░
	▒░░░░░░▒░▒▒▒▒ ░▒
	▒░░▒▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▒▒ ░▒
	▒░░░▒▒▓▒▒▒▒▒▒ ░▒
	░▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓░░░░
	 ▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▓▒░░░▒░
	 ▒▒░░░░▒▒▒▒░░▒▒ 
	  ▒▒░░░░░░░░░▒  
	   ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░  
	    ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░   
	     ░░▒▒░░     

	Icon (32 x 32):
	            ░▒▒▒▓▒▒▒░           
	          ▒▒▒░     ░▒▒▒         
	        ░▓▒░         ░▒▒░       
	    ░  ▒▓▒░           ▒▒▒▒░     
	   ▒▒░▒▓▒▒░░░░        ░▒▒░▒░    
	   ▓▒▒▓▒▒▒▒▒▓░       ░░░▒▒ ▒▒   
	   ▓▒░░░░░▒▒▒░     ░░░░▒░░░ ▒▒  
	  ░▒░░░░░▒▒▓▒       ░░░░▓░  ░▒░ 
	  ▒▒░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░     ░░░▒▒  ░░▒ 
	 ░▒░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░▒▒▓░   ▒ 
	 ▒▒░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░ ░▒░░░░░░░▒▒▓▒   ▒░
	 ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░  ▒▒
	 ▓░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░▒░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▓░▒░  ▒▓
	 ▓░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▒    ▒▓
	 ▓░▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▒    ▒▓
	░▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▒ ░ ░▒▓
	 ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▒ ░ ░░▒
	 ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒░░ ░▓▓▓▓▒░ ░░░░▒
	 ░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░▒▒▒▓▓▓▓░░░░░░▒░
	  ▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░░▒ 
	  ▒▓▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒░░░░░▒▒ 
	  ░▓▓▓▒▒▒▒░░░▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒░░░░░▒▓░ 
	   ▒▓▓▓▒▒▒▒░░░░▒▓▓▓▓▒░░░░░▒▒▓▒  
	    ▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▒░  
	    ░▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░▒░   
	     ▒▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░▒▒    
	      ▒▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░▒▒▒▒     
	      ░▒▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░▒▒▒░     
	       ░▒▒▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░     
	        ░░▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒░░       
	          ░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░         
	                                

	Icon (48 x 48):
	                  ░▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▒▒░                   
	               ░▒▓▓▒░░    ░░▒▓▒░                
	             ▒▓▓▒             ▒▓▓▒              
	           ░▓▓▒░               ░░▒▓░            
	          ▒▓▓▒░                ░░ ░▓▒           
	    ░░  ░▓▓▓▒▒░░                ░▒  ▒▓░         
	    ▒░ ░▓▓▓▒▒░░░░░░             ░░▒░ ░▒▒        
	   ░░░░▓▓▓▓▒▒▒░▒▒▒░            ░░░▒▒░  ▒▒       
	   ▒░▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░             ░░▒░░▒   ▒▒      
	   ▒▒▒▒░░░░░░▒▒▒▒░          ░░░░░▒▒░ ░   ▒░     
	   ▒▒▒░░▒▒▒░▒▒▒▒▒░          ░░░░░░▒▒     ░▒     
	   ▒░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░           ░░░░░░▒▒     ▒░    
	   ▒░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░         ░░░░▒▓░  ░ ░     
	   ░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒      ░░░░░░▒▒▒   ░      
	  ░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░▒░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▓          
	  ░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░   ░▒░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▓░         
	 ░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░   ▒▒▒░░░░░▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▓░     ░   
	 ░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░▒▒░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▒▒▒░░   ░░  
	 ░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░▒▒░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▒ ▒ ░░  ░▒░ 
	 ░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░▒░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▒   ░░  ░▒▒ 
	 ░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓    ░  ░▓▒ 
	 ░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓       ░▓▒ 
	 ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓   ░   ▒▒░ 
	░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░  ░  ░▒░░ 
	░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░ ░░ ░░░░░ 
	░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒░  ░░░░░░  
	 ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░▒▒░░░░░  ▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▒░░  ░░░░░░  
	 ░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░▒▒▒░▒▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░ ░░░░░░░  
	 ░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░▒   
	  ▒▒▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒░░░░░░░░▒░   
	  ░▒▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░▒▒▓▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░▒░   
	   ▒▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒░░░░░░░░▒▒░   
	   ▒▒▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒░░░░░░░░░▒▒    
	    ▒▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒░░░░░░░░░░░▒▓░    
	    ▒▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒░     
	     ▒▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░▒▒░░░░░░░▒▒░░      
	     ░▒▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░▒░░░░░░░░      
	      ░▒▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░       
	       ░▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░        
	        ░▒▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░         
	         ░▒▒▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒          
	         ░░▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░         
	         ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░▒▒▒▒░░          
	          ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░▒▒▒░░           
	            ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░            
	              ░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░               
	                  ░░░░░░░░░░░                   
	                                                


_NET_WM_SYNC_REQUEST_COUNTER(CARDINAL) = 44040298
_NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE(ATOM) = _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_NORMAL
_NET_WM_USER_TIME_WINDOW(WINDOW): window id # 0x2a00069
WM_CLIENT_LEADER(WINDOW): window id # 0x2a00001
_NET_WM_PID(CARDINAL) = 2835
WM_LOCALE_NAME(STRING) = "en_GB.UTF-8"
WM_CLIENT_MACHINE(STRING) = "bpc"
WM_NORMAL_HINTS(WM_SIZE_HINTS):
		program specified minimum size: 0 by 0
		window gravity: NorthWest
WM_PROTOCOLS(ATOM): protocols  WM_DELETE_WINDOW, WM_TAKE_FOCUS, _NET_WM_PING, _NET_WM_SYNC_REQUEST
WM_CLASS(STRING) = "Navigator", "Firefox"
WM_ICON_NAME(STRING) = "Welcome to mindspill.net | mindspill.net - Mozilla Firefox"
_NET_WM_ICON_NAME(UTF8_STRING) = "Welcome to mindspill.net | mindspill.net - Mozilla Firefox"
WM_NAME(STRING) = "Welcome to mindspill.net | mindspill.net - Mozilla Firefox"
_NET_WM_NAME(UTF8_STRING) = "Welcome to mindspill.net | mindspill.net - Mozilla Firefox"
me@pc ~ $ xwininfo

xwininfo: Please select the window about which you
          would like information by clicking the
          mouse in that window.

xwininfo: Window id: 0x2a00068 "Welcome to mindspill.net | mindspill.net - Mozilla Firefox"

  Absolute upper-left X:  645
  Absolute upper-left Y:  22
  Relative upper-left X:  1
  Relative upper-left Y:  22
  Width: 1274
  Height: 1023
  Depth: 24
  Visual: 0x21
  Visual Class: TrueColor
  Border width: 0
  Class: InputOutput
  Colormap: 0x20 (installed)
  Bit Gravity State: NorthWestGravity
  Window Gravity State: NorthWestGravity
  Backing Store State: NotUseful
  Save Under State: no
  Map State: IsViewable
  Override Redirect State: no
  Corners:  +645+22  -1921+22  -1921-35  +645-35
  -geometry 1274x1023+644+0

These details can be used with programs like devilspie to apply window rules for resizing, positioning, etc of windows.

Last modified: 15/09/2012 Tags: ,

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