{ "mode": "man", "parameter": "gdbus", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/gdbus/1/json", "generated": "2026-06-11T18:39:00Z", "synopsis": "gdbus introspect [--system | --session | --address address] --dest busname\n--object-path /path/to/object [--xml] [--recurse] [--only-properties]\ngdbus monitor [--system | --session | --address address] --dest busname\n[--object-path /path/to/object]\ngdbus call [--system | --session | --address address] --dest busname\n--object-path /path/to/object --method org.project.InterfaceName.MethodName\n[--timeout seconds | --interactive] ARG1 ARG2...\ngdbus emit [--system | --session | --address address] --object-path /path/to/object\n--signal org.project.InterfaceName.SignalName [--dest uniquebusname] ARG1 ARG2...\ngdbus wait [--system | --session | --address address] --activate busname [--timeout seconds]\nbusname\ngdbus help", "sections": { "NAME": { "content": "gdbus - Tool for working with D-Bus objects\n", "subsections": [] }, "SYNOPSIS": { "content": "gdbus introspect [--system | --session | --address address] --dest busname\n--object-path /path/to/object [--xml] [--recurse] [--only-properties]\n\ngdbus monitor [--system | --session | --address address] --dest busname\n[--object-path /path/to/object]\n\ngdbus call [--system | --session | --address address] --dest busname\n--object-path /path/to/object --method org.project.InterfaceName.MethodName\n[--timeout seconds | --interactive] ARG1 ARG2...\n\ngdbus emit [--system | --session | --address address] --object-path /path/to/object\n--signal org.project.InterfaceName.SignalName [--dest uniquebusname] ARG1 ARG2...\n\ngdbus wait [--system | --session | --address address] --activate busname [--timeout seconds]\nbusname\n\ngdbus help\n", "subsections": [] }, "DESCRIPTION": { "content": "gdbus is a simple tool for working with D-Bus objects.\n", "subsections": [] }, "COMMANDS": { "content": "", "subsections": [ { "name": "introspect", "content": "Prints out interfaces and property values for a remote object. For this to work, the\nowner of the object needs to implement the org.freedesktop.DBus.Introspectable interface.\nIf the --xml option is used, the returned introspection XML is printed, otherwise a\nparsed pretty representation is printed. The --recurse option can be used to introspect\nchildren (and their children and so on) and the --only-properties option can be used to\nonly print the interfaces with properties.\n" }, { "name": "monitor", "content": "Monitors one or all objects owned by the owner of busname.\n" }, { "name": "call", "content": "Invokes a method on a remote object. Each argument to pass to the method must be\nspecified as a serialized GVariant except that strings do not need explicit quotes. The\nreturn values are printed out as serialized GVariant values.\n" }, { "name": "emit", "content": "Emits a signal. Each argument to include in the signal must be specified as a serialized\nGVariant except that strings do not need explicit quotes.\n" }, { "name": "wait", "content": "Waits until busname is owned by some process on the bus. If the --activate is specified,\nthat bus name will be auto-started first. It may be the same as the bus name being waited\nfor, or different.\n" }, { "name": "help", "content": "Prints help and exit.\n" } ] }, "BASH COMPLETION": { "content": "gdbus ships with a bash completion script to complete commands, destinations, bus names,\nobject paths and interface/method names.\n", "subsections": [] }, "EXAMPLES": { "content": "This shows how to introspect an object - note that the value of each\nproperty is displayed:\n\n$ gdbus introspect --system \\\n--dest org.freedesktop.NetworkManager \\\n--object-path /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/0\nnode /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/0 {\ninterface org.freedesktop.DBus.Introspectable {\nmethods:\nIntrospect(out s data);\n};\ninterface org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties {\nmethods:\nGet(in s interface,\nin s propname,\nout v value);\nSet(in s interface,\nin s propname,\nin v value);\nGetAll(in s interface,\nout a{sv} props);\n};\ninterface org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.Device.Wired {\nsignals:\nPropertiesChanged(a{sv} arg0);\nproperties:\nreadonly b Carrier = false;\nreadonly u Speed = 0;\nreadonly s HwAddress = '00:1D:72:88:BE:97';\n};\ninterface org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.Device {\nmethods:\nDisconnect();\nsignals:\nStateChanged(u arg0,\nu arg1,\nu arg2);\nproperties:\nreadonly u DeviceType = 1;\nreadonly b Managed = true;\nreadwrite o Ip6Config = '/';\nreadwrite o Dhcp4Config = '/';\nreadwrite o Ip4Config = '/';\nreadonly u State = 2;\nreadwrite u Ip4Address = 0;\nreadonly u Capabilities = 3;\nreadonly s Driver = 'e1000e';\nreadwrite s Interface = 'eth0';\nreadonly s Udi = '/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:19.0/net/eth0';\n};\n};\n\nThe --recurse and --only-properties options can be useful when wanting to inspect all objects\nowned by a particular process:\n\n$ gdbus introspect --system --dest org.freedesktop.UPower --object-path / --recurse --only-properties\nnode / {\nnode /org {\nnode /org/freedesktop {\nnode /org/freedesktop/UPower {\ninterface org.freedesktop.UPower {\nproperties:\nreadonly b IsDocked = true;\nreadonly b LidForceSleep = false;\nreadonly b LidIsPresent = false;\nreadonly b LidIsClosed = false;\nreadonly b OnLowBattery = false;\nreadonly b OnBattery = false;\nreadonly b CanHibernate = true;\nreadonly b CanSuspend = true;\nreadonly s DaemonVersion = '0.9.10';\n};\nnode /org/freedesktop/UPower/Policy {\n};\nnode /org/freedesktop/UPower/Wakeups {\ninterface org.freedesktop.UPower.Wakeups {\nproperties:\nreadonly b HasCapability = true;\n};\n};\n};\n};\n};\n};\n\nIn a similar fashion, the introspect command can be used to learn details about the Notify\nmethod:\n\n[...]\ninterface org.freedesktop.Notifications {\nmethods:\nGetServerInformation(out s returnname,\nout s returnvendor,\nout s returnversion,\nout s returnspecversion);\nGetCapabilities(out as returncaps);\nCloseNotification(in u id);\nNotify(in s appname,\nin u id,\nin s icon,\nin s summary,\nin s body,\nin as actions,\nin a{sv} hints,\nin i timeout,\nout u returnid);\n};\n[...]\n\nWith this information, it's easy to use the call command to display a notification\n\n$ gdbus call --session \\\n--dest org.freedesktop.Notifications \\\n--object-path /org/freedesktop/Notifications \\\n--method org.freedesktop.Notifications.Notify \\\nmyappname \\\n42 \\\ngtk-dialog-info \\\n\"The Summary\" \\\n\"Here's the body of the notification\" \\\n[] \\\n{} \\\n5000\n(uint32 12,)\n\nCall a method with file handle argument:\n\n$ gdbus call --session \\\n--dest org.example.foo \\\n--object-path /org/example/foo \\\n--method SendFDs \\\n1 \\\n10 \\\n10},)\n/org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/AccessPoint/4141: org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.AccessPoint.PropertiesChanged ({'Strength': },)\n/org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/AccessPoint/4141: org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.AccessPoint.PropertiesChanged ({'Strength': },)\n/org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/AccessPoint/4141: org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.AccessPoint.PropertiesChanged ({'Strength': },)\n\nEmitting a signal:\n\n$ gdbus emit --session --object-path /foo --signal org.bar.Foo \"['foo', 'bar', 'baz']\"\n\nEmitting a signal to a specific process:\n\n$ gdbus emit --session --object-path /bar --signal org.bar.Bar someString --dest :1.42\n\nWaiting for a well-known name to be owned on the bus; this will not auto-start the service:\n\n$ gdbus wait --session org.bar.SomeName\n\nAuto-starting then waiting for a well-known name to be owned on the bus:\n\n$ gdbus wait --session --activate org.bar.SomeName\n\nAuto-starting a different service, then waiting for a well-known name to be owned on the bus.\nThis is useful in situations where SomeName is not directly activatable:\n\n$ gdbus wait --session --activate org.bar.PrerequisiteName org.bar.SomeName\n\nWaiting for a well-known name and giving up after 30 seconds. By default, the timeout is\ndisabled; or set --timeout to 0 to disable it:\n\n$ gdbus wait --session --timeout 30 org.bar.SomeName\n", "subsections": [] }, "BUGS": { "content": "Please send bug reports to either the distribution bug tracker or the upstream bug tracker at\nhttps://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/glib/issues/new.\n", "subsections": [] }, "SEE ALSO": { "content": "dbus-send(1)\n\n\n\nGIO GDBUS(1)", "subsections": [] } }, "summary": "gdbus - Tool for working with D-Bus objects", "flags": [], "examples": [ "This shows how to introspect an object - note that the value of each", "property is displayed:", "$ gdbus introspect --system \\", "--dest org.freedesktop.NetworkManager \\", "--object-path /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/0", "node /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/0 {", "interface org.freedesktop.DBus.Introspectable {", "methods:", "Introspect(out s data);", "};", "interface org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties {", "methods:", "Get(in s interface,", "in s propname,", "out v value);", "Set(in s interface,", "in s propname,", "in v value);", "GetAll(in s interface,", "out a{sv} props);", "};", "interface org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.Device.Wired {", "signals:", "PropertiesChanged(a{sv} arg0);", "properties:", "readonly b Carrier = false;", "readonly u Speed = 0;", "readonly s HwAddress = '00:1D:72:88:BE:97';", "};", "interface org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.Device {", "methods:", "Disconnect();", "signals:", "StateChanged(u arg0,", "u arg1,", "u arg2);", "properties:", "readonly u DeviceType = 1;", "readonly b Managed = true;", "readwrite o Ip6Config = '/';", "readwrite o Dhcp4Config = '/';", "readwrite o Ip4Config = '/';", "readonly u State = 2;", "readwrite u Ip4Address = 0;", "readonly u Capabilities = 3;", "readonly s Driver = 'e1000e';", "readwrite s Interface = 'eth0';", "readonly s Udi = '/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:19.0/net/eth0';", "};", "};", "The --recurse and --only-properties options can be useful when wanting to inspect all objects", "owned by a particular process:", "$ gdbus introspect --system --dest org.freedesktop.UPower --object-path / --recurse --only-properties", "node / {", "node /org {", "node /org/freedesktop {", "node /org/freedesktop/UPower {", "interface org.freedesktop.UPower {", "properties:", "readonly b IsDocked = true;", "readonly b LidForceSleep = false;", "readonly b LidIsPresent = false;", "readonly b LidIsClosed = false;", "readonly b OnLowBattery = false;", "readonly b OnBattery = false;", "readonly b CanHibernate = true;", "readonly b CanSuspend = true;", "readonly s DaemonVersion = '0.9.10';", "};", "node /org/freedesktop/UPower/Policy {", "};", "node /org/freedesktop/UPower/Wakeups {", "interface org.freedesktop.UPower.Wakeups {", "properties:", "readonly b HasCapability = true;", "};", "};", "};", "};", "};", "};", "In a similar fashion, the introspect command can be used to learn details about the Notify", "method:", "[...]", "interface org.freedesktop.Notifications {", "methods:", "GetServerInformation(out s returnname,", "out s returnvendor,", "out s returnversion,", "out s returnspecversion);", "GetCapabilities(out as returncaps);", "CloseNotification(in u id);", "Notify(in s appname,", "in u id,", "in s icon,", "in s summary,", "in s body,", "in as actions,", "in a{sv} hints,", "in i timeout,", "out u returnid);", "};", "[...]", "With this information, it's easy to use the call command to display a notification", "$ gdbus call --session \\", "--dest org.freedesktop.Notifications \\", "--object-path /org/freedesktop/Notifications \\", "--method org.freedesktop.Notifications.Notify \\", "myappname \\", "42 \\", "gtk-dialog-info \\", "\"The Summary\" \\", "\"Here's the body of the notification\" \\", "[] \\", "{} \\", "5000", "(uint32 12,)", "Call a method with file handle argument:", "$ gdbus call --session \\", "--dest org.example.foo \\", "--object-path /org/example/foo \\", "--method SendFDs \\", "1 \\", "10 \\", "10},)", "/org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/AccessPoint/4141: org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.AccessPoint.PropertiesChanged ({'Strength': },)", "/org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/AccessPoint/4141: org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.AccessPoint.PropertiesChanged ({'Strength': },)", "/org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/AccessPoint/4141: org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.AccessPoint.PropertiesChanged ({'Strength': },)", "Emitting a signal:", "$ gdbus emit --session --object-path /foo --signal org.bar.Foo \"['foo', 'bar', 'baz']\"", "Emitting a signal to a specific process:", "$ gdbus emit --session --object-path /bar --signal org.bar.Bar someString --dest :1.42", "Waiting for a well-known name to be owned on the bus; this will not auto-start the service:", "$ gdbus wait --session org.bar.SomeName", "Auto-starting then waiting for a well-known name to be owned on the bus:", "$ gdbus wait --session --activate org.bar.SomeName", "Auto-starting a different service, then waiting for a well-known name to be owned on the bus.", "This is useful in situations where SomeName is not directly activatable:", "$ gdbus wait --session --activate org.bar.PrerequisiteName org.bar.SomeName", "Waiting for a well-known name and giving up after 30 seconds. By default, the timeout is", "disabled; or set --timeout to 0 to disable it:", "$ gdbus wait --session --timeout 30 org.bar.SomeName" ], "see_also": [ { "name": "dbus-send", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/dbus-send/1/json" }, { "name": "GDBUS", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/GDBUS/1/json" } ], "tldr": { "source": "official", "description": "Interact with D-Bus objects.", "examples": [ { "description": "List all names on the session bus", "command": "gdbus list-names --session" }, { "description": "List all names on the system bus", "command": "gdbus list-names --system" }, { "description": "Introspect an object to see its interfaces and methods", "command": "gdbus introspect --session --dest {{destination_bus_name}} --object-path /{{path/to/object}}" }, { "description": "Call a method on an object with arguments", "command": "gdbus call --session --dest {{destination_bus_name}} --object-path /{{path/to/object}} --method {{interface.method_name}} {{argument1 argument2 ...}}" }, { "description": "Emit a signal from an object with arguments", "command": "gdbus emit --session --object-path /{{path/to/object}} --signal {{interface.signal_name}} {{argument1 argument2 ...}}" }, { "description": "Monitor all messages on the session bus", "command": "gdbus monitor --session" } ] } }