---
name: "fyi"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "fyi"
version: "1.0.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fyi"
---

# fyi(1)

send desktop notifications

## NAME

fyi - send desktop notifications

## SYNOPSIS

**fyi** \[*OPTION*\]... *TITLE* \[*MESSAGE*\]\
 **fyi --close**=*ID*\
 **fyi --server-info**\
 **fyi --server-capabilities**

## DESCRIPTION

**fyi** is a command line utility to send desktop notifications to the user via a notification daemon implementing XDG desktop notifications.

It is similar to the well-known [**notify-send**(1)](/notify-send/1.md) utility. Indeed, most of the options are identical.

When used without any options, **fyi** sends the notification and immediately exits, without printing anything on stdout.

Use **--print-id** to have **fyi** print the daemon assigned notification ID on stdout, in the format:

**id=***ID*

To see why the notification was closed, use **--print-reason**. The reason is printed on stdout, in the format:

**reason=***REASON*

**fyi** can also block until the notification has been closed, using the **--wait** option. Sending SIGINT to the **fyi** process will force-close the notification.

**fyi** will also block if the notification has any actions. When an action is triggered, **fyi** prints the name of the action on stdout, in the format:

**action=***NAME*

Some notification daemons can send an "activation token". This is typically done when the user clicks the notification, or triggers the default action. The token can be used to focus (activate) a window. To see the token, use **--print-token**. The token is printed on stdout, in the format:

**xdgtoken=***TOKEN*

## OPTIONS

- **-a**,**--app-name**=*NAME*

  Application name. Notification daemons will either display it as text, or use it to select an icon to show (unless **--icon** is used). Default: *fyi*

- **-i**,**--icon**=*ICON*

  Icon to display, either as a symbolic icon name (e.g. *firefox*) or a filename. Default: *none*

- **-u**,**--urgency**=**low\|normal\|critical**

  Notification urgency. Shortcut for **--hint=byte:urgency:0\|1\|2**. Default: *normal*.

- **-c**,**--category**=*CATEGORY*

  Notification category. Shortcut for **--hint=string:category:CATEGORY**. Default: *none*.

- **-A**,**--action**=*NAME*:*LABEL*

  Defines an action to display (e.g. as a button, or in a list, depending on notification daemon). *LABEL* is what the notification daemon will display for the user. When the user triggers an action, **fyi** will print the corresponding *NAME*, in the format:

  **action=***NAME*

  This option can be specified multiple times, to define multiple actions.

  Using this option implies **--wait**.

- **-H**,**--hint**=*TYPE*:*NAME*:*VALUE*

  Defines a custom hint. How these are interpreted depends on the notification daemon. One common use case is to display a progress bar of some kind; most notification daemon recognizes **int:value:\<percent\>**.

  Another common hint is **string:x-canonical-private-synchronous:\<name\>**. Many notification daemons will replace any existing notification with the same *name*. This is similar to **--replaces**, except you do not need a notification ID.

  **fyi** recognizes the following types:

  - •

    boolean

  - •

    byte

  - •

    int

  - •

    double

  - •

    string

- **-r**,**--replaces**=*ID*

  If there is an existing notification with the specified ID, replace it. Otherwise, create a new notification.

- **-t**,**--expire-time**=*TIME*

  The notification will be closed automatically after *TIME* milliseconds.

- **--transient**

  By-pass the server's persistence capability, if any. Shortcut for **--hint=boolean:transient=true**.

- **-C**,**--close**=*ID*

  If there is an existing notification with the specified ID, close it.

- **-p**,**--print-id**

  Print the daemon assigned notification ID, in the format **id=***ID*.

- **-R**,**--print-reason**

  Print the reason the notification was closed, in the format:

  - •

    **reason=expired**

  - •

    **reason=dismissed**

  - •

    **reason=force-closed**

  - •

    **reason=unknown**

  Using this option implies **--wait**.

- **-T**,**--print-token**

  Print the activation token, if any, in the format:

  **xdgtoken=***TOKEN*

  Some notification daemons send an activation token when the notification is dismissed; either when the notification is clicked, or the default action is invoked. Others will send it regardless of which action was invoked. Some will only send it when an action is invoked, while others will send it when the notification is dismissed, regardless of how.

  The token can be used to focus (activate, raise) a window. It is not directly useable by **fyi**, but programs using **fyi** as a helper to display notifications can use it.

  Using this option implies **--wait**.

- **-w**,**--wait**

  Wait for the notification to be closed before exiting. If the user triggered an action, the name of the action will be printed (see **-A**,**--action**).

  This option is implied when the any of the following options are used:

  - •

    **-A**,**--action**

  - •

    **-R**,**--print-reason**

  - •

    **-T**,**--print-token**

- **--image-data**=*FILE*

  Sets the **image-data** hint in the notification, with the raw pixel data from *FILE*. The data is assumed to be raw RGBA data. You must also provide the image size, see **--image-size**.

- **--image-size=WIDTHxHEIGHT**

  The dimensions of the image loaded by **--image-data**.

- **--server-info**

  Display notification daemon name and version.

- **--server-capabilities**

  Display notification daemon capabilities.

- **-v**,**--version**

  Show the version number and quit.

## SEE ALSO

- •

  [**notify-send**(1)](/notify-send/1.md)

- •

  [**gdbus**(1)](/gdbus/1.md)