Provided by: sway_1.11-3_amd64 
NAME
sway-ipc - IPC protocol for sway
DESCRIPTION
This details the interprocess communication (IPC) protocol for sway(1). This IPC protocol can be used to
control or obtain information from a sway process.
The IPC protocol uses a UNIX socket as the method of communication. The path to the socket is stored in
the environment variable SWAYSOCK and, for backwards compatibility with i3, I3SOCK. You can also retrieve
the socket path by calling sway --get-socketpath.
MESSAGE AND REPLY FORMAT
The format for messages and replies is:
<magic-string> <payload-length> <payload-type> <payload>
Where
<magic-string> is i3-ipc, for compatibility with i3
<payload-length> is a 32-bit integer in native byte order
<payload-type> is a 32-bit integer in native byte order
For example, sending the exit command would look like the following hexdump:
00000000 | 69 33 2d 69 70 63 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 65 78 |i3-ipc........ex|
00000010 | 69 74 |it |
The payload for replies will be a valid serialized JSON data structure.
MESSAGES AND REPLIES
The following message types and their corresponding reply types are currently supported. For all replies,
any properties not listed are subject to removal.
┌─────────────┬───────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ TYPE NUMBER │ MESSAGE NAME │ PURPOSE │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 0 │ RUN_COMMAND │ Runs the payload as sway │
│ │ │ commands │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 1 │ GET_WORKSPACES │ Get the list of current │
│ │ │ workspaces │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 2 │ SUBSCRIBE │ Subscribe the IPC connection │
│ │ │ to the events listed in the │
│ │ │ payload │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 3 │ GET_OUTPUTS │ Get the list of current │
│ │ │ outputs │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 4 │ GET_TREE │ Get the node layout tree │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 5 │ GET_MARKS │ Get the names of all the │
│ │ │ marks currently set │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 6 │ GET_BAR_CONFIG │ Get the specified bar config │
│ │ │ or a list of bar config │
│ │ │ names │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 7 │ GET_VERSION │ Get the version of sway that │
│ │ │ owns the IPC socket │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 8 │ GET_BINDING_MODES │ Get the list of binding mode │
│ │ │ names │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 9 │ GET_CONFIG │ Returns the config that was │
│ │ │ last loaded │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 10 │ SEND_TICK │ Sends a tick event with the │
│ │ │ specified payload │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 11 │ SYNC │ Replies failure object for │
│ │ │ i3 compatibility │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 12 │ GET_BINDING_STATE │ Request the current binding │
│ │ │ state, e.g. the currently │
│ │ │ active binding mode name. │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 100 │ GET_INPUTS │ Get the list of input │
│ │ │ devices │
├─────────────┼───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 101 │ GET_SEATS │ Get the list of seats │
└─────────────┴───────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
0. RUN_COMMAND
MESSAGE
Parses and runs the payload as sway commands
REPLY
An array of objects corresponding to each command that was parsed. Each object has the property success,
which is a boolean indicating whether the command was successful. The object may also contain the
properties error and parse_error. The error property is a human readable error message while parse_error
is a boolean indicating whether the reason the command failed was because the command was unknown or not
able to be parsed.
Example Reply:
[
{
"success": true
},
{
"success": false,
"parse_error": true,
"error": "Invalid/unknown command"
}
]
1. GET_WORKSPACES
MESSAGE
Retrieves the list of workspaces.
REPLY
The reply is an array of objects corresponding to each workspace. Each object has the following
properties:
┌──────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ num │ integer │ The workspace number or -1 │
│ │ │ for workspaces that do not │
│ │ │ start with a number │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ name │ string │ The name of the workspace │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ visible │ boolean │ Whether the workspace is │
│ │ │ currently visible on any │
│ │ │ output │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ focused │ boolean │ Whether the workspace is │
│ │ │ currently focused by the │
│ │ │ default seat (seat0) │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ urgent │ boolean │ Whether a window on the │
│ │ │ workspace has the urgent │
│ │ │ flag set │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ rect │ object │ The bounds of the workspace. │
│ │ │ It consists of x, y, width, │
│ │ │ and height │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ output │ string │ The name of the output that │
│ │ │ the workspace is on │
└──────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
[
{
"num": 1,
"name": "1",
"visible": true,
"focused": true,
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 23,
"width": 1920,
"height": 1057
},
"output": "eDP-1"
},
]
2. SUBSCRIBE
MESSAGE
Subscribe this IPC connection to the event types specified in the message payload. The payload should be
a valid JSON array of events. See the EVENTS section for the list of supported events.
REPLY
A single object that contains the property success, which is a boolean value indicating whether the
subscription was successful or not.
Example Reply:
{
"success": true
}
3. GET_OUTPUTS
MESSAGE
Retrieve the list of outputs
REPLY
An array of objects corresponding to each output. Each object has the following properties:
┌───────────────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ name │ string │ The name of the output. On │
│ │ │ DRM, this is the connector │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ make │ string │ The make of the output │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ model │ string │ The model of the output │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ serial │ string │ The output's serial number │
│ │ │ as a hexadecimal string │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ active │ boolean │ Whether this output is │
│ │ │ active/enabled │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ dpms │ boolean │ (Deprecated, use power │
│ │ │ instead) Whether this output │
│ │ │ is on/off (via DPMS) │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ power │ boolean │ Whether this output is │
│ │ │ on/off │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ primary │ boolean │ For i3 compatibility, this │
│ │ │ will be false. It does not │
│ │ │ make sense in Wayland │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ scale │ float │ The scale currently in use │
│ │ │ on the output or -1 for │
│ │ │ disabled outputs │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ subpixel_hinting │ string │ The subpixel hinting current │
│ │ │ in use on the output. This │
│ │ │ can be rgb, bgr, vrgb, vbgr, │
│ │ │ or none │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ transform │ string │ The transform currently in │
│ │ │ use for the output. This can │
│ │ │ be normal, 90, 180, 270, │
│ │ │ flipped-90, flipped-180, or │
│ │ │ flipped-270 │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ current_workspace │ string │ The workspace currently │
│ │ │ visible on the output or │
│ │ │ null for disabled outputs │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ modes │ array │ An array of supported mode │
│ │ │ objects. Each object │
│ │ │ contains width, height, and │
│ │ │ refresh │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ current_mode │ object │ An object representing the │
│ │ │ current mode containing │
│ │ │ width, height, and refresh │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ rect │ object │ The bounds for the output │
│ │ │ consisting of x, y, width, │
│ │ │ and height │
└───────────────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
[
{
"name": "HDMI-A-2",
"make": "Unknown",
"model": "NS-19E310A13",
"serial": "0x00000001",
"active": true,
"primary": false,
"scale": 1.0,
"subpixel_hinting": "rgb",
"transform": "normal",
"current_workspace": "1",
"modes": [
{
"width": 640,
"height": 480,
"refresh": 59940
},
{
"width": 800,
"height": 600,
"refresh": 60317
},
{
"width": 1024,
"height": 768,
"refresh": 60004
},
{
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"refresh": 60000
}
],
"current_mode": {
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"refresh": 60000
}
}
]
4. GET_TREE
MESSAGE
Retrieve a JSON representation of the tree
REPLY
An array of objects that represent the current tree. Each object represents one node and will have the
following properties:
┌─────────────────────────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ id │ integer │ The internal unique ID for │
│ │ │ this node │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ name │ string │ The name of the node such as │
│ │ │ the output name or window │
│ │ │ title. For the scratchpad, │
│ │ │ this will be __i3_scratch │
│ │ │ for compatibility with i3. │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ type │ string │ The node type. It can be │
│ │ │ root, output, workspace, │
│ │ │ con, or floating_con │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ border │ string │ The border style for the │
│ │ │ node. It can be normal, │
│ │ │ none, pixel, or csd │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ current_border_width │ integer │ Number of pixels used for │
│ │ │ the border width │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ layout │ string │ The node's layout. It can │
│ │ │ either be splith, splitv, │
│ │ │ stacked, tabbed, or output │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ orientation │ string │ The node's orientation. It │
│ │ │ can be vertical, horizontal, │
│ │ │ or none │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ percent │ float │ The percentage of the node's │
│ │ │ parent that it takes up or │
│ │ │ null for the root and other │
│ │ │ special nodes such as the │
│ │ │ scratchpad │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ rect │ object │ The absolute geometry of the │
│ │ │ node. The window decorations │
│ │ │ are excluded from this, but │
│ │ │ borders are included. │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ window_rect │ object │ The geometry of the content │
│ │ │ inside the node. These │
│ │ │ coordinates are relative to │
│ │ │ the node itself. Window │
│ │ │ decorations and borders are │
│ │ │ outside the window_rect │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ deco_rect │ object │ The geometry of the │
│ │ │ decorations for the node │
│ │ │ relative to the parent node │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ geometry │ object │ The natural geometry of the │
│ │ │ contents if it were to size │
│ │ │ itself │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ urgent │ boolean │ Whether the node or any of │
│ │ │ its descendants has the │
│ │ │ urgent hint set. Note: This │
│ │ │ may not exist when compiled │
│ │ │ without xwayland support │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ sticky │ boolean │ Whether the node is sticky │
│ │ │ (shows on all workspaces) │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ marks │ array │ List of marks assigned to │
│ │ │ the node │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ focused │ boolean │ Whether the node is │
│ │ │ currently focused by the │
│ │ │ default seat (seat0) │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ focus │ array │ Array of child node IDs in │
│ │ │ the current focus order │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ nodes │ array │ The tiling children nodes │
│ │ │ for the node │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ floating_nodes │ array │ The floating children nodes │
│ │ │ for the node │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ representation │ string │ (Only workspaces) A string │
│ │ │ representation of the layout │
│ │ │ of the workspace that can be │
│ │ │ used as an aid in submitting │
│ │ │ reproduction steps for bug │
│ │ │ reports │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ fullscreen_mode │ integer │ (Only containers and │
│ │ │ windows) The fullscreen mode │
│ │ │ of the node. 0 means none, 1 │
│ │ │ means full workspace, and 2 │
│ │ │ means global fullscreen │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ floating │ string │ Floating state of container. │
│ │ │ Can be either "auto_off" or │
│ │ │ "user_on" │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ scratchpad_state │ string │ Whether the window is in the │
│ │ │ scratchpad. Can be either │
│ │ │ "none" or "fresh" │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ app_id │ string │ (Only windows) For an xdg- │
│ │ │ shell window, the name of │
│ │ │ the application, if set. │
│ │ │ Otherwise, null │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ pid │ integer │ (Only windows) The PID of │
│ │ │ the application that owns │
│ │ │ the window │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ foreign_toplevel_identifier │ string │ (Only windows) The ext- │
│ │ │ foreign-toplevel-list-v1 │
│ │ │ toplevel identifier of this │
│ │ │ node. │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ visible │ boolean │ (Only windows) Whether the │
│ │ │ node is visible │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ shell │ string │ (Only windows) The shell of │
│ │ │ the window, such as │
│ │ │ xdg_shell or xwayland │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ inhibit_idle │ boolean │ (Only windows) Whether the │
│ │ │ window is inhibiting the │
│ │ │ idle state │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ idle_inhibitors │ object │ (Only windows) An object │
│ │ │ containing the state of the │
│ │ │ application and user idle │
│ │ │ inhibitors. application can │
│ │ │ be enabled or none. user │
│ │ │ can be focus, fullscreen, │
│ │ │ open, visible or none. │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ sandbox_engine │ string │ (Only windows) The │
│ │ │ associated sandbox engine │
│ │ │ (or null) │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ sandbox_app_id │ string │ (Only windows) The app ID │
│ │ │ provided by the associated │
│ │ │ sandbox engine (or null) │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ sandbox_instance_id │ string │ (Only windows) The instance │
│ │ │ ID provided by the │
│ │ │ associated sandbox engine │
│ │ │ (or null) │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ window │ integer │ (Only xwayland windows) The │
│ │ │ X11 window ID for the │
│ │ │ xwayland window │
├─────────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ window_properties │ object │ (Only xwayland windows) An │
│ │ │ object containing the title, │
│ │ │ class, instance, │
│ │ │ window_role, window_type, │
│ │ │ and transient_for for the │
│ │ │ window │
└─────────────────────────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
{
"id": 1,
"name": "root",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
3
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "splith",
"orientation": "horizontal",
"percent": null,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"type": "root",
"nodes": [
{
"id": 2147483647,
"name": "__i3",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
2147483646
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "output",
"orientation": "horizontal",
"percent": null,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"type": "output",
"nodes": [
{
"id": 2147483646,
"name": "__i3_scratch",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "splith",
"orientation": "horizontal",
"percent": null,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"type": "workspace"
}
]
},
{
"id": 3,
"name": "eDP-1",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
4
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "output",
"orientation": "none",
"percent": 1.0,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"type": "output",
"active": true,
"primary": false,
"make": "Unknown",
"model": "0x38ED",
"serial": "0x00000000",
"scale": 1.0,
"transform": "normal",
"current_workspace": "1",
"modes": [
{
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"refresh": 60052
}
],
"current_mode": {
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"refresh": 60052
},
"nodes": [
{
"id": 4,
"name": "1",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 23,
"width": 1920,
"height": 1057
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
6,
5
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "splith",
"orientation": "horizontal",
"percent": null,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"num": 1,
"output": "eDP-1",
"type": "workspace",
"representation": "H[URxvt termite]",
"nodes": [
{
"id": 5,
"name": "urxvt",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 23,
"width": 960,
"height": 1057
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
],
"border": "normal",
"current_border_width": 2,
"layout": "none",
"orientation": "none",
"percent": 0.5,
"window_rect": {
"x": 2,
"y": 0,
"width": 956,
"height": 1030
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 960,
"height": 25
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 1124,
"height": 422
},
"window": 4194313,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"type": "con",
"fullscreen_mode": 0,
"pid": 23959,
"app_id": null,
"visible": true,
"shell": "xwayland",
"inhibit_idle": true,
"idle_inhibitors": {
"application": "none",
"user": "visible",
},
"window_properties": {
"class": "URxvt",
"instance": "urxvt",
"title": "urxvt",
"transient_for": null
},
"nodes": [
]
},
{
"id": 6,
"name": "",
"rect": {
"x": 960,
"y": 23,
"width": 960,
"height": 1057
},
"focused": true,
"focus": [
],
"border": "normal",
"current_border_width": 2,
"layout": "none",
"orientation": "none",
"percent": 0.5,
"window_rect": {
"x": 2,
"y": 0,
"width": 956,
"height": 1030
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 960,
"height": 25
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 817,
"height": 458
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"type": "con",
"fullscreen_mode": 0,
"pid": 25370,
"app_id": "termite",
"visible": true,
"shell": "xdg_shell",
"inhibit_idle": false,
"idle_inhibitors": {
"application": "none",
"user": "fullscreen",
},
"nodes": [
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
5. GET_MARKS
MESSAGE
Retrieve the currently set marks
REPLY
An array of marks current set. Since each mark can only be set for one container, this is a set so each
value is unique and the order is undefined.
Example Reply:
[
"one",
"test"
]
6. GET_BAR_CONFIG (WITHOUT A PAYLOAD)
MESSAGE
When sending without a payload, this retrieves the list of configured bar IDs
REPLY
An array of bar IDs, which are strings
Example Reply:
[
"bar-0",
"bar-1"
]
6. GET_BAR_CONFIG (WITH A PAYLOAD)
MESSAGE
When sent with a bar ID as the payload, this retrieves the config associated with the specified by the
bar ID in the payload. This is used by swaybar, but could also be used for third party bars
REPLY
An object that represents the configuration for the bar with the bar ID sent as the payload. The
following properties exists and more information about what their value mean can be found in sway-bar(5):
┌────────────────────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ id │ string │ The bar ID │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ mode │ string │ The mode for the bar. It can │
│ │ │ be dock, hide, or invisible │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ position │ string │ The bar's position. It can │
│ │ │ currently either be bottom │
│ │ │ or top │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ status_command │ string │ The command which should be │
│ │ │ run to generate the status │
│ │ │ line │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ font │ string │ The font to use for the text │
│ │ │ on the bar │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ workspace_buttons │ boolean │ Whether to display the │
│ │ │ workspace buttons on the bar │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ workspace_min_width │ integer │ Minimum width in px for the │
│ │ │ workspace buttons on the bar │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ binding_mode_indicator │ boolean │ Whether to display the │
│ │ │ current binding mode on the │
│ │ │ bar │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ verbose │ boolean │ For i3 compatibility, this │
│ │ │ will be the boolean value │
│ │ │ false. │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ colors │ object │ An object containing the │
│ │ │ #RRGGBBAA colors to use for │
│ │ │ the bar. See below for more │
│ │ │ information │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ gaps │ object │ An object representing the │
│ │ │ gaps for the bar consisting │
│ │ │ of top, right, bottom, and │
│ │ │ left. │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ bar_height │ integer │ The absolute height to use │
│ │ │ for the bar or 0 to │
│ │ │ automatically size based on │
│ │ │ the font │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ status_padding │ integer │ The vertical padding to use │
│ │ │ for the status line │
├────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ status_edge_padding │ integer │ The horizontal padding to │
│ │ │ use for the status line when │
│ │ │ at the end of an output │
└────────────────────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
The colors object contains the following properties, which are all strings containing the #RRGGBBAA
representation of the color:
┌───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DESCRIPTION │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ background │ The color to use for the bar │
│ │ background on unfocused outputs │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ statusline │ The color to use for the status line │
│ │ text on unfocused outputs │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ separator │ The color to use for the separator │
│ │ text on unfocused outputs │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ focused_background │ The color to use for the background │
│ │ of the bar on the focused output │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ focused_statusline │ The color to use for the status line │
│ │ text on the focused output │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ focused_separator │ The color to use for the separator │
│ │ text on the focused output │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ focused_workspace_text │ The color to use for the text of the │
│ │ focused workspace button │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ focused_workspace_bg │ The color to use for the background │
│ │ of the focused workspace button │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ focused_workspace_border │ The color to use for the border of │
│ │ the focused workspace button │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ active_workspace_text │ The color to use for the text of the │
│ │ workspace buttons for the visible │
│ │ workspaces on unfocused outputs │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ active_workspace_bg │ The color to use for the background │
│ │ of the workspace buttons for the │
│ │ visible workspaces on unfocused │
│ │ outputs │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ active_workspace_border │ The color to use for the border of │
│ │ the workspace buttons for the visible │
│ │ workspaces on unfocused outputs │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ inactive_workspace_text │ The color to use for the text of the │
│ │ workspace buttons for workspaces that │
│ │ are not visible │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ inactive_workspace_bg │ The color to use for the background │
│ │ of the workspace buttons for │
│ │ workspaces that are not visible │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ inactive_workspace_border │ The color to use for the border of │
│ │ the workspace buttons for workspaces │
│ │ that are not visible │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ urgent_workspace_text │ The color to use for the text of the │
│ │ workspace buttons for workspaces that │
│ │ contain an urgent window │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ urgent_workspace_bg │ The color to use for the background │
│ │ of the workspace buttons for │
│ │ workspaces that contain an urgent │
│ │ window │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ urgent_workspace_border │ The color to use for the border of │
│ │ the workspace buttons for workspaces │
│ │ that contain an urgent window │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ binding_mode_text │ The color to use for the text of the │
│ │ binding mode indicator │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ binding_mode_bg │ The color to use for the background │
│ │ of the binding mode indicator │
├───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ binding_mode_border │ The color to use for the border of │
│ │ the binding mode indicator │
└───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
{
"id": "bar-0",
"mode": "dock",
"position": "top",
"status_command": "while date +'%Y-%m-%d %l:%M:%S %p'; do sleep 1; done",
"font": "monospace 10",
"gaps": {
"top": 0,
"right": 0,
"bottom": 0,
"left": 0
},
"bar_height": 0,
"status_padding": 1,
"status_edge_padding": 3,
"workspace_buttons": true,
"workspace_min_width": 0,
"binding_mode_indicator": true,
"verbose": false,
"pango_markup": false,
"colors": {
"background": "#323232ff",
"statusline": "#ffffffff",
"separator": "#666666ff",
"focused_background": "#323232ff",
"focused_statusline": "#ffffffff",
"focused_separator": "#666666ff",
"focused_workspace_border": "#4c7899ff",
"focused_workspace_bg": "#285577ff",
"focused_workspace_text": "#ffffffff",
"inactive_workspace_border": "#32323200",
"inactive_workspace_bg": "#32323200",
"inactive_workspace_text": "#5c5c5cff",
"active_workspace_border": "#333333ff",
"active_workspace_bg": "#5f676aff",
"active_workspace_text": "#ffffffff",
"urgent_workspace_border": "#2f343aff",
"urgent_workspace_bg": "#900000ff",
"urgent_workspace_text": "#ffffffff",
"binding_mode_border": "#2f343aff",
"binding_mode_bg": "#900000ff",
"binding_mode_text": "#ffffffff"
},
}
7. GET_VERSION
MESSAGE
Retrieve version information about the sway process
REPLY
An object containing the following properties:
┌─────────────────────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ major │ integer │ The major version of the │
│ │ │ sway process │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ minor │ integer │ The minor version of the │
│ │ │ sway process │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ patch │ integer │ The patch version of the │
│ │ │ sway process │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ human_readable │ string │ A human readable version │
│ │ │ string that will likely │
│ │ │ contain more useful │
│ │ │ information such as the git │
│ │ │ commit short hash and git │
│ │ │ branch │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ loaded_config_file_name │ string │ The path to the loaded │
│ │ │ config file │
└─────────────────────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
{
"human_readable": "1.0-rc1-117-g2f7247e0 (Feb 24 2019, branch 'master')",
"major": 1,
"minor": 0,
"patch": 0,
"loaded_config_file_name": "/home/redsoxfan/.config/sway/config"
}
8. GET_BINDING_MODES
MESSAGE
Retrieve the list of binding modes that currently configured
REPLY
An array of strings, with each string being the name of a binding mode. This will always contain at least
one mode (currently default), which is the default binding mode
Example Reply:
[
"default",
"resize",
]
9. GET_CONFIG
MESSAGE
Retrieve the contents of the config that was last loaded
REPLY
An object with a single string property containing the contents of the config
Example Reply:
{
"config": "set $mod Mod4\nbindsym $mod+q exit\n"
}
10. SEND_TICK
MESSAGE
Issues a TICK event to all clients subscribing to the event to ensure that all events prior to the tick
were received. If a payload is given, it will be included in the TICK event
REPLY
A single object contains the property success, which is a boolean value indicating whether the TICK event
was sent.
Example Reply:
{
"success": true
}
11. SYNC
MESSAGE
For i3 compatibility, this command will just return a failure object since it does not make sense to
implement in sway due to the X11 nature of the command. If you are curious about what this IPC command
does in i3, refer to the i3 documentation.
REPLY
A single object that contains the property success, which is set to the boolean value false.
Exact Reply:
{
"success": false
}
12. GET_BINDING_STATE
MESSAGE
Returns the currently active binding mode.
REPLY
A single object that contains the property name, which is set to the currently active binding mode as a
string.
Exact Reply:
{
"name": "default"
}
100. GET_INPUTS
MESSAGE
Retrieve a list of the input devices currently available
REPLY
An array of objects corresponding to each input device. Each object has the following properties:
┌─────────────────────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ identifier │ string │ The identifier for the input │
│ │ │ device │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ name │ string │ The human readable name for │
│ │ │ the device │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ vendor │ integer │ The vendor code for the │
│ │ │ input device │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ product │ integer │ The product code for the │
│ │ │ input device │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ type │ string │ The device type. Currently │
│ │ │ this can be keyboard, │
│ │ │ pointer, touch, tablet_tool, │
│ │ │ tablet_pad, or switch │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ xkb_active_layout_name │ string │ (Only keyboards) The name of │
│ │ │ the active keyboard layout │
│ │ │ in use │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ xkb_layout_names │ array │ (Only keyboards) A list a │
│ │ │ layout names configured for │
│ │ │ the keyboard │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ xkb_active_layout_index │ integer │ (Only keyboards) The index │
│ │ │ of the active keyboard │
│ │ │ layout in use │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ scroll_factor │ floating │ (Only pointers) Multiplier │
│ │ │ applied on scroll event │
│ │ │ values. │
├─────────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ libinput │ object │ (Only libinput devices) An │
│ │ │ object describing the │
│ │ │ current device settings. See │
│ │ │ below for more information │
└─────────────────────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
The libinput object describes the device configuration for libinput devices. Only properties that are
supported for the device will be added to the object. In addition to the possible options listed, all
string properties may also be unknown, in the case that a new option is added to libinput. See sway-
input(5) for information on the meaning of the possible values. The following properties will be included
for devices that support them:
┌────────────────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ send_events │ string │ Whether events are being │
│ │ │ sent by the device. It can │
│ │ │ be enabled, disabled, or │
│ │ │ disabled_on_external_mouse │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ tap │ string │ Whether tap to click is │
│ │ │ enabled. It can be enabled │
│ │ │ or disabled │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ tap_button_map │ string │ The finger to button mapping │
│ │ │ in use for tapping. It can │
│ │ │ be lmr or lrm │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ tap_drag │ string │ Whether tap-and-drag is │
│ │ │ enabled. It can be enabled │
│ │ │ or disabled │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ tap_drag_lock │ string │ Whether drag-lock is │
│ │ │ enabled. It can be enabled, │
│ │ │ disabled or enabled_sticky │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ accel_speed │ double │ The pointer-acceleration in │
│ │ │ use │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ accel_profile │ string │ The acceleration profile in │
│ │ │ use. It can be none, flat, │
│ │ │ or adaptive │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ natural_scroll │ string │ Whether natural scrolling is │
│ │ │ enabled. It can be enabled │
│ │ │ or disabled │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ left_handed │ string │ Whether left-handed mode is │
│ │ │ enabled. It can be enabled │
│ │ │ or disabled │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ click_method │ string │ The click method in use. It │
│ │ │ can be none, button_areas, │
│ │ │ or clickfinger │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ click_button_map │ string │ The finger to button mapping │
│ │ │ in use for clickfinger. It │
│ │ │ can be lmr or lrm │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ middle_emulation │ string │ Whether middle emulation is │
│ │ │ enabled. It can be enabled │
│ │ │ or disabled │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ scroll_method │ string │ The scroll method in use. It │
│ │ │ can be none, two_finger, │
│ │ │ edge, or on_button_down │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ scroll_button │ int │ The scroll button to use │
│ │ │ when scroll_method is │
│ │ │ on_button_down. This will be │
│ │ │ given as an input event code │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ scroll_button_lock │ string │ Whether scroll button lock │
│ │ │ is enabled. It can be │
│ │ │ enabled or disabled │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ dwt │ string │ Whether disable-while-typing │
│ │ │ is enabled. It can be │
│ │ │ enabled or disabled │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ dwtp │ string │ Whether disable-while- │
│ │ │ trackpointing is enabled. It │
│ │ │ can be enabled or_disabled_ │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ calibration_matrix │ array │ An array of 6 floats │
│ │ │ representing the calibration │
│ │ │ matrix for absolute devices │
│ │ │ such as touchscreens │
└────────────────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
[
{
"identifier": "1:1:AT_Translated_Set_2_keyboard",
"name": "AT Translated Set 2 keyboard",
"vendor": 1,
"product": 1,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "1267:5:Elan_Touchpad",
"name": "Elan Touchpad",
"vendor": 1267,
"product": 5,
"type": "pointer",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled",
"tap": "enabled",
"tap_button_map": "lmr",
"tap_drag": "enabled",
"tap_drag_lock": "disabled",
"accel_speed": 0.0,
"accel_profile": "none",
"natural_scroll", "disabled",
"left_handed": "disabled",
"click_method": "button_areas",
"middle_emulation": "disabled",
"scroll_method": "edge",
"dwt": "enabled",
"dwtp": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "3034:22494:USB2.0_VGA_UVC_WebCam:_USB2.0_V",
"name": "USB2.0 VGA UVC WebCam: USB2.0 V",
"vendor": 3034,
"product": 22494,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:3:Sleep_Button",
"name": "Sleep Button",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 3,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:5:Lid_Switch",
"name": "Lid Switch",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 5,
"type": "switch",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:6:Video_Bus",
"name": "Video Bus",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 6,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:1:Power_Button",
"name": "Power Button",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 1,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
}
]
101. GET_SEATS
MESSAGE
Retrieve a list of the seats currently configured
REPLY
An array of objects corresponding to each seat. There will always be at least one seat. Each object has
the following properties:
┌──────────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├──────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ name │ string │ The unique name for the seat │
├──────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ capabilities │ integer │ The number of capabilities │
│ │ │ that the seat has │
├──────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ focus │ integer │ The id of the node currently │
│ │ │ focused by the seat or 0 │
│ │ │ when the seat is not │
│ │ │ currently focused by a node │
│ │ │ (i.e. a surface layer or │
│ │ │ xwayland unmanaged has │
│ │ │ focus) │
├──────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ devices │ array │ An array of input devices │
│ │ │ that are attached to the │
│ │ │ seat. Currently, this is an │
│ │ │ array of objects that are │
│ │ │ identical to those returned │
│ │ │ by GET_INPUTS │
└──────────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
[
{
"name": "seat0",
"capabilities": 3,
"focus": 7,
"devices": [
{
"identifier": "1:1:AT_Translated_Set_2_keyboard",
"name": "AT Translated Set 2 keyboard",
"vendor": 1,
"product": 1,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "1267:5:Elan_Touchpad",
"name": "Elan Touchpad",
"vendor": 1267,
"product": 5,
"type": "pointer",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled",
"tap": "enabled",
"tap_button_map": "lmr",
"tap_drag": "enabled",
"tap_drag_lock": "disabled",
"accel_speed": 0.0,
"accel_profile": "none",
"natural_scroll", "disabled",
"left_handed": "disabled",
"click_method": "button_areas",
"middle_emulation": "disabled",
"scroll_method": "edge",
"dwt": "enabled",
"dwtp": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "3034:22494:USB2.0_VGA_UVC_WebCam:_USB2.0_V",
"name": "USB2.0 VGA UVC WebCam: USB2.0 V",
"vendor": 3034,
"product": 22494,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:3:Sleep_Button",
"name": "Sleep Button",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 3,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:5:Lid_Switch",
"name": "Lid Switch",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 5,
"type": "switch",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:6:Video_Bus",
"name": "Video Bus",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 6,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:1:Power_Button",
"name": "Power Button",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 1,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
}
]
}
]
EVENTS
Events are a way for client to get notified of changes to sway. A client can subscribe to any events it
wants to be notified of changes for. The event is sent in the same format as a reply. The following
events are currently available:
┌────────────┬──────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ EVENT TYPE │ NAME │ DESCRIPTION │
├────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 0x80000000 │ workspace │ Sent whenever an event │
│ │ │ involving a workspace occurs │
│ │ │ such as initialization of a │
│ │ │ new workspace or a different │
│ │ │ workspace gains focus │
├────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 0x80000001 │ output │ Sent when outputs are │
│ │ │ updated │
├────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 0x80000002 │ mode │ Sent whenever the binding │
│ │ │ mode changes │
├────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 0x80000003 │ window │ Sent whenever an event │
│ │ │ involving a window occurs │
│ │ │ such as being reparented, │
│ │ │ focused, or closed │
├────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 0x80000004 │ barconfig_update │ Sent whenever a bar config │
│ │ │ changes │
├────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 0x80000005 │ binding │ Sent when a configured │
│ │ │ binding is executed │
├────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 0x80000006 │ shutdown │ Sent when the ipc shuts down │
│ │ │ because sway is exiting │
├────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 0x80000007 │ tick │ Sent when an ipc client │
│ │ │ sends a SEND_TICK message │
├────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 0x80000014 │ bar_state_update │ Send when the visibility of │
│ │ │ a bar should change due to a │
│ │ │ modifier │
├────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 0x80000015 │ input │ Sent when something related │
│ │ │ to input devices changes │
└────────────┴──────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
0x80000000. WORKSPACE
Sent whenever a change involving a workspace occurs. The event consists of a single object with the
following properties:
┌──────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ change │ string │ The type of change that │
│ │ │ occurred. See below for more │
│ │ │ information │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ current │ object │ An object representing the │
│ │ │ workspace effected or null │
│ │ │ for reload changes │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ old │ object │ For a focus change, this is │
│ │ │ will be an object │
│ │ │ representing the workspace │
│ │ │ being switched from. │
│ │ │ Otherwise, it is null │
└──────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
The following change types are currently available:
┌────────┬───────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ init │ The workspace was created │
├────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ empty │ The workspace is empty and is being │
│ │ destroyed since it is not visible │
├────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ focus │ The workspace was focused. See the │
│ │ old property for the previous focus │
├────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ move │ The workspace was moved to a │
│ │ different output │
├────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ rename │ The workspace was renamed │
├────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ urgent │ A window on the workspace has had │
│ │ their urgency hint set or all urgency │
│ │ hints for windows on the workspace │
│ │ have been cleared │
├────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ reload │ The configuration file has been │
│ │ reloaded │
└────────┴───────────────────────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"change": "init",
"old": null,
"current": {
"id": 10,
"name": "2",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "splith",
"percent": null,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"num": 2,
"output": "eDP-1",
"type": "workspace",
"representation": null,
"nodes": [
]
}
}
0x80000001. OUTPUT
Sent whenever an output is added, removed, or its configuration is changed. The event is a single object
with the property change, which is a string containing the reason for the change. Currently, the only
value for change is unspecified.
Example Event:
{
"change": "unspecified"
}
0x80000002. MODE
Sent whenever the binding mode changes. The event consists of a single object with the following
properties:
┌──────────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├──────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ change │ string │ The binding mode that became │
│ │ │ active │
├──────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ pango_markup │ boolean │ Whether the mode should be │
│ │ │ parsed as pango markup │
└──────────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"change": "default",
"pango_markup": false
}
0x80000003. WINDOW
Sent whenever a change involving a window occurs. The event consists of a single object with the
following properties:
┌───────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├───────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ change │ string │ The type of change that │
│ │ │ occurred. See below for more │
│ │ │ information │
├───────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ container │ object │ An object representing the │
│ │ │ window effected │
└───────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
The following change types are currently available:
┌─────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ new │ The window was created │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ close │ The window was closed │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ focus │ The window was focused │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ title │ The window's title has changed │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ fullscreen_mode │ The window's fullscreen mode has │
│ │ changed │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ move │ The window has been reparented in the │
│ │ tree │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ floating │ The window has become floating or is │
│ │ no longer floating │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ urgent │ The window's urgency hint has changed │
│ │ status │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ mark │ A mark has been added or removed from │
│ │ the window │
└─────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"change": "new",
"container": {
"id": 12,
"name": null,
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "none",
"percent": 0.0,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 1124,
"height": 422
},
"window": 4194313,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"type": "con",
"pid": 19787,
"app_id": null,
"window_properties": {
"class": "URxvt",
"instance": "urxvt",
"transient_for": null
},
"nodes": [
]
}
}
0x80000004. BARCONFIG_UPDATE
Sent whenever a config for a bar changes. The event is identical to that of GET_BAR_CONFIG when a bar ID
is given as a payload. See 6. GET_BAR_CONFIG (WITH A PAYLOAD) above for more information.
0x80000005. BINDING
Sent whenever a binding is executed. The event is a single object with the following properties:
┌──────────────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ change │ string │ The change that occurred for │
│ │ │ the binding. Currently this │
│ │ │ will only be run │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ command │ string │ The command associated with │
│ │ │ the binding │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ event_state_mask │ array │ An array of strings that │
│ │ │ correspond to each modifier │
│ │ │ key for the binding │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ input_code │ integer │ For keyboard bindcodes, this │
│ │ │ is the key code for the │
│ │ │ binding. For mouse bindings, │
│ │ │ this is the X11 button │
│ │ │ number, if there is an │
│ │ │ equivalent. In all other │
│ │ │ cases, this will be 0. │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ symbol │ string │ For keyboard bindsyms, this │
│ │ │ is the bindsym for the │
│ │ │ binding. Otherwise, this │
│ │ │ will be null │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ input_type │ string │ The input type that │
│ │ │ triggered the binding. This │
│ │ │ is either keyboard or mouse │
└──────────────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"change": "run",
"binding": {
"command": "workspace 2",
"event_state_mask": [
"Mod4"
],
"input_code": 0,
"symbol": "2",
"input_type": "keyboard"
}
}
0x80000006. SHUTDOWN
Sent whenever the IPC is shutting down. The event is a single object with the property change, which is a
string containing the reason for the shutdown. Currently, the only value for change is exit, which is
issued when sway is exiting.
Example Event:
{
"change": "exit"
}
0x80000007. TICK
Sent when first subscribing to tick events or by a SEND_TICK message. The event is a single object with
the following properties:
┌──────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ first │ boolean │ Whether this event was │
│ │ │ triggered by subscribing to │
│ │ │ the tick events │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ payload │ string │ The payload given with a │
│ │ │ SEND_TICK message, if any. │
│ │ │ Otherwise, an empty string │
└──────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"first": true
"payload": ""
}
0x80000014. BAR_STATE_UPDATE
Sent when the visibility of a bar changes due to a modifier being pressed. The event is a single object
with the following properties:
┌─────────────────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ id │ string │ The bar ID effected │
├─────────────────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ visible_by_modifier │ boolean │ Whether the bar should be │
│ │ │ made visible due to a │
│ │ │ modifier being pressed │
└─────────────────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"id": "bar-0",
"visible_by_modifier": true
}
0x80000015. INPUT
Sent when something related to the input devices changes. The event is a single object with the following
properties:
┌──────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ change │ string │ What has changed │
├──────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ input │ object │ An object representing the │
│ │ │ input that is identical the │
│ │ │ ones GET_INPUTS gives │
└──────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
The following change types are currently available:
┌─────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ added │ The input device became available │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ removed │ The input device is no longer │
│ │ available │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ xkb_keymap │ (Keyboards only) The keymap for the │
│ │ keyboard has changed │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ xkb_layout │ (Keyboards only) The effective layout │
│ │ in the keymap has changed │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ libinput_config │ (libinput device only) A libinput │
│ │ config option for the device changed │
└─────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"change": "xkb_layout",
"input": {
"identifier": "1:1:AT_Translated_Set_2_keyboard",
"name": "AT Translated Set 2 keyboard",
"vendor": 1,
"product": 1,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_layout_names": [
"English (US)",
"English (Dvorak)"
],
"xkb_active_layout_index": 1,
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (Dvorak)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
}
}
SEE ALSO
sway(1) sway(5) sway-bar(5) swaymsg(1) sway-input(5) sway-output(5)
2025-10-05 sway-ipc(7)