automator

Automator is a macOS application that enables the creation of automated workflows to perform repetitive tasks without programming. Using a graphical interface based on drag-and-drop actions, users assemble a sequence of actions into a workflow that can be run on files, folders, or apps.

Workflows can be saved in several forms: as an application (.app), as a workflow (.workflow) that runs inside Automator, as a Quick Action or Service (to appear in menus), or as a Folder Action attached to a folder. They can be triggered from the Finder, the Services menu, or by automation triggers in other apps or the Dock.

Automator includes a library of actions that perform common tasks (renaming files, resizing images, moving items, extracting data, etc.) and can incorporate scripts written in AppleScript, JavaScript for Automation (JXA), or shell scripts via the Run AppleScript or Run Shell Script actions. The workflow operates in a non-destructive way and can be tested within Automator before saving.

Although Automator remains included in recent macOS versions, Apple has promoted Shortcuts as the preferred cross-application automation framework, with Automator continuing to offer long-standing compatibility and a large repository of legacy workflows.

Limitations include restricted access for some system tasks, varying behavior across macOS versions, and the fact that Automator actions must be built or maintained to support new features. It remains a popular tool for batch-processing tasks such as image resizing, file renaming, and repetitive data extraction.