jXa

JXA, short for JavaScript for Automation, is a macOS automation framework that enables scripting of applications and system tasks using JavaScript instead of AppleScript. It was introduced by Apple as part of the OS X Yosemite era to provide a modern alternative for automating macOS workflows.

JXA scripts are executed by the osascript runtime and can be authored in Script Editor or another editor, then run with the JavaScript language option. Core concepts include the Application function, which returns a proxy for a scriptable application, exposing its scripting dictionary through JavaScript objects and methods. A separate System Events interface supports UI scripting. In addition, JXA provides an Objective-C bridge that allows access to macOS Cocoa frameworks as needed.

Typical capabilities include launching and controlling applications, querying and setting properties, manipulating windows or documents, and automating repetitive tasks across multiple apps. Common targets include Finder, Safari, Mail, and Messages. The approach emphasizes JavaScript syntax, first-class objects for apps, and the ability to script both application behavior and user interface events.

Limitations include dependence on scriptable apps and reliable dictionaries, as well as the fragility of some UI scripting tasks. Not all AppleScript idioms translate directly, and JXA is primarily a macOS feature with limited cross-platform applicability. It remains part of macOS automation tooling, offering a JavaScript-based option alongside AppleScript and other automation approaches.

See also: AppleScript, osascript, Script Editor, automation.