NSRunningApplicationactivateoptions

NSRunningApplication is a class in AppKit that represents an application currently running on macOS. It provides programmatic access to information about a running app and allows basic control over its state. An NSRunningApplication instance can correspond to foreground, background, or the frontmost application, enabling developers to query and manage running processes from within another app.

Key properties typically available include processIdentifier, which exposes the app’s POSIX process ID; localizedName, the user-visible name; bundleIdentifier, the app’s bundle identifier; and executableURL, the location of the executable. Status flags such as isActive, isHidden, isTerminated, and isFinishedLaunching describe the app’s current state. Some implementations also expose information about the app’s launch date and other metadata.

Common operations involve activating the application to bring it to the front, usually with a variant of an activate method, or terminating the application gracefully. A terminationHandler can be provided to respond when the app terminates. NSRunningApplication instances are typically obtained from the system workspace, such as via NSWorkspace.shared.runningApplications, which returns the set or array of currently running applications.

Typical use cases include automation or utility apps that need to switch focus to a particular application, monitor running processes, or perform lifecycle actions like activation or termination. The API is designed for macOS development using Objective-C or Swift and may require appropriate permissions depending on the context and security policies of the running system.