Enquirer

Stylish CLI prompts that are user-friendly, intuitive and easy to create.
_{>_ Prompts should be more like conversations than inquisitions▌}

_{(Example shows Enquirer's Survey Prompt)}
_{The terminal in all examples is Hyper, theme is hyper-monokai-extended.}

See more prompt examples

Created by jonschlinkert and doowb, Enquirer is fast, easy to use, and lightweight enough for small projects, while also being powerful and customizable enough for the most advanced use cases.

Fast - Loads in ~4ms (that's about 3-4 times faster than a single frame of a HD movie at 60fps)
Lightweight - Only one dependency, the excellent ansi-colors by Brian Woodward.
Easy to implement - Uses promises and async/await and sensible defaults to make prompts easy to create and implement.
Easy to use - Thrill your users with a better experience! Navigating around input and choices is a breeze. You can even create quizzes, or record and playback key bindings to aid with tutorials and videos.
Intuitive - Keypress combos are available to simplify usage.
Flexible - All prompts can be used standalone or chained together.
Stylish - Easily override semantic styles and symbols for any part of the prompt.
Extensible - Easily create and use custom prompts by extending Enquirer's built-in prompts.
Pluggable - Add advanced features to Enquirer using plugins.
Validation - Optionally validate user input with any prompt.
Well tested - All prompts are well-tested, and tests are easy to create without having to use brittle, hacky solutions to spy on prompts or "inject" values.
Examples - There are numerous examples available to help you get started.

If you like Enquirer, please consider starring or tweeting about this project to show your support. Thanks!

>_ Ready to start making prompts your users will love? ▌

❯ Getting started

Get started with Enquirer, the most powerful and easy-to-use Node.js library for creating interactive CLI prompts.

Install
Usage
Enquirer
Prompts
- Built-in Prompts
- Custom Prompts
Key Bindings
Options
Release History
Performance
About

❯ Install

Install with npm:

npm install enquirer --save

Install with yarn:

yarn add enquirer

(Requires Node.js 8.6 or higher. Please let us know if you need support for an earlier version by creating an issue.)

❯ Usage

Single prompt

The easiest way to get started with enquirer is to pass a question object to the prompt method.

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');

const response = await prompt({
  type: 'input',
  name: 'username',
  message: 'What is your username?'
});

console.log(response); // { username: 'jonschlinkert' }

(Examples with await need to be run inside an async function)

Multiple prompts

Pass an array of "question" objects to run a series of prompts.

const response = await prompt([
  {
    type: 'input',
    name: 'name',
    message: 'What is your name?'
  },
  {
    type: 'input',
    name: 'username',
    message: 'What is your username?'
  }
]);

console.log(response); // { name: 'Edward Chan', username: 'edwardmchan' }

Different ways to run enquirer

1. By importing the specific `built-in prompt`

const { Confirm } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Confirm({
  name: 'question',
  message: 'Did you like enquirer?'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer));

2. By passing the options to `prompt`

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');

prompt({
  type: 'confirm',
  name: 'question',
  message: 'Did you like enquirer?'
})
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer));

Jump to: Getting Started · Prompts · Options · Key Bindings

❯ Enquirer

Enquirer is a prompt runner

Add Enquirer to your JavaScript project with following line of code.

const Enquirer = require('enquirer');

The main export of this library is the Enquirer class, which has methods and features designed to simplify running prompts.

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');
const questions = [
  {
    type: 'input',
    name: 'username',
    message: 'What is your username?'
  },
  {
    type: 'password',
    name: 'password',
    message: 'What is your password?'
  }
];

const answers = await prompt(questions);
console.log(answers);

Prompts control how values are rendered and returned

Each individual prompt is a class with special features and functionality for rendering the types of values you want to show users in the terminal, and subsequently returning the types of values you need to use in your application.

How can I customize prompts?

Below in this guide you will find information about creating custom prompts. For now, we'll focus on how to customize an existing prompt.

All of the individual prompt classes in this library are exposed as static properties on Enquirer. This allows them to be used directly without using enquirer.prompt().

Use this approach if you need to modify a prompt instance, or listen for events on the prompt.

Example

const { Input } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new Input({
  name: 'username',
  message: 'What is your username?'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Username:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Enquirer

Create an instance of Enquirer.

Params

options {Object}: (optional) Options to use with all prompts.
answers {Object}: (optional) Answers object to initialize with.

Example

const Enquirer = require('enquirer');
const enquirer = new Enquirer();

register()

Register a custom prompt type.

Params

type {String}
fn {Function|Prompt}: Prompt class, or a function that returns a Prompt class.
returns {Object}: Returns the Enquirer instance

Example

const Enquirer = require('enquirer');
const enquirer = new Enquirer();
enquirer.register('customType', require('./custom-prompt'));

prompt()

Prompt function that takes a "question" object or array of question objects, and returns an object with responses from the user.

Params

questions {Array|Object}: Options objects for one or more prompts to run.
returns {Promise}: Promise that returns an "answers" object with the user's responses.

Example

const Enquirer = require('enquirer');
const enquirer = new Enquirer();

const response = await enquirer.prompt({
  type: 'input',
  name: 'username',
  message: 'What is your username?'
});
console.log(response);

use()

Use an enquirer plugin.

Params

plugin {Function}: Plugin function that takes an instance of Enquirer.
returns {Object}: Returns the Enquirer instance.

Example

const Enquirer = require('enquirer');
const enquirer = new Enquirer();
const plugin = enquirer => {
  // do stuff to enquire instance
};
enquirer.use(plugin);

Enquirer#prompt

Prompt function that takes a "question" object or array of question objects, and returns an object with responses from the user.

Params

questions {Array|Object}: Options objects for one or more prompts to run.
returns {Promise}: Promise that returns an "answers" object with the user's responses.

Example

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');
const response = await prompt({
  type: 'input',
  name: 'username',
  message: 'What is your username?'
});
console.log(response);

❯ Prompts

This section is about Enquirer's prompts: what they look like, how they work, how to run them, available options, and how to customize the prompts or create your own prompt concept.

Getting started with Enquirer's prompts

Prompt - The base Prompt class used by other prompts
- Prompt Options
Built-in prompts
Prompt Types - The base Prompt class used by other prompts
Custom prompts - Enquirer 2.0 introduced the concept of prompt "types", with the goal of making custom prompts easier than ever to create and use.

Prompt

The base Prompt class is used to create all other prompts.

const { Prompt } = require('enquirer');
class MyCustomPrompt extends Prompt {}

See the documentation for creating custom prompts to learn more about how this works.

Prompt Options

Each prompt takes an options object (aka "question" object), that implements the following interface:

{
  // required
  type: string | function,
  name: string | function,
  message: string | function | async function,

  // optional
  skip: boolean | function | async function,
  initial: string | function | async function,
  format: function | async function,
  result: function | async function,
  validate: function | async function,
}

Each property of the options object is described below:

Property	Required?	Type	Description
`type`	yes	`string\|function`	Enquirer uses this value to determine the type of prompt to run, but it's optional when prompts are run directly.
`name`	yes	`string\|function`	Used as the key for the answer on the returned values (answers) object.
`message`	yes	`string\|function`	The message to display when the prompt is rendered in the terminal.
`skip`	no	`boolean\|function`	If `true` it will not ask that prompt.
`initial`	no	`string\|function`	The default value to return if the user does not supply a value.
`format`	no	`function`	Function to format user input in the terminal.
`result`	no	`function`	Function to format the final submitted value before it's returned.
`validate`	no	`function`	Function to validate the submitted value before it's returned. This function may return a boolean or a string. If a string is returned it will be used as the validation error message.

Example usage

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');

const question = {
  type: 'input',
  name: 'username',
  message: 'What is your username?'
};

prompt(question)
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Built-in prompts

AutoComplete Prompt
BasicAuth Prompt
Confirm Prompt
Form Prompt
Input Prompt
Invisible Prompt
List Prompt
MultiSelect Prompt
Numeral Prompt
Password Prompt
Quiz Prompt
Survey Prompt
Scale Prompt
Select Prompt
Sort Prompt
Snippet Prompt
Toggle Prompt

AutoComplete Prompt

Prompt that auto-completes as the user types, and returns the selected value as a string.

Example Usage

const { AutoComplete } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new AutoComplete({
  name: 'flavor',
  message: 'Pick your favorite flavor',
  limit: 10,
  initial: 2,
  choices: [
    'Almond',
    'Apple',
    'Banana',
    'Blackberry',
    'Blueberry',
    'Cherry',
    'Chocolate',
    'Cinnamon',
    'Coconut',
    'Cranberry',
    'Grape',
    'Nougat',
    'Orange',
    'Pear',
    'Pineapple',
    'Raspberry',
    'Strawberry',
    'Vanilla',
    'Watermelon',
    'Wintergreen'
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

AutoComplete Options

Option	Type	Default	Description
`highlight`	`function`	`dim` version of primary style	The color to use when "highlighting" characters in the list that match user input.
`multiple`	`boolean`	`false`	Allow multiple choices to be selected.
`suggest`	`function`	Greedy match, returns choices where `choice.message` contains the input string.	Function that filters choices. Takes user input and a choices array, and returns a list of matching choices.
`initial`	`number`	0	Preselected item in the list of choices.
`footer`	`function`	None	Function that displays footer text

Related prompts

Select
MultiSelect
Survey

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

BasicAuth Prompt

Prompt that asks for username and password to authenticate the user. The default implementation of authenticate function in BasicAuth prompt is to compare the username and password with the values supplied while running the prompt. The implementer is expected to override the authenticate function with a custom logic such as making an API request to a server to authenticate the username and password entered and expect a token back.

Example Usage

const { BasicAuth } = require('enquirer');

 const prompt = new BasicAuth({
  name: 'password',
  message: 'Please enter your password',
  username: 'rajat-sr',
  password: '123',
  showPassword: true
});

 prompt
  .run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

Confirm Prompt

Prompt that returns true or false.

Example Usage

const { Confirm } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Confirm({
  name: 'question',
  message: 'Want to answer?'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

Input
Numeral
Password

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

Form Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to enter and submit multiple values on a single terminal screen.

Example Usage

const { Form } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Form({
  name: 'user',
  message: 'Please provide the following information:',
  choices: [
    { name: 'firstname', message: 'First Name', initial: 'Jon' },
    { name: 'lastname', message: 'Last Name', initial: 'Schlinkert' },
    { name: 'username', message: 'GitHub username', initial: 'jonschlinkert' }
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(value => console.log('Answer:', value))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

Input
Survey

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

Input Prompt

Prompt that takes user input and returns a string.

Example Usage

const { Input } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new Input({
  message: 'What is your username?',
  initial: 'jonschlinkert'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.log);

You can use data-store to store input history that the user can cycle through (see source).

Related prompts

Confirm
Numeral
Password

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

Invisible Prompt

Prompt that takes user input, hides it from the terminal, and returns a string.

Example Usage

const { Invisible } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new Invisible({
  name: 'secret',
  message: 'What is your secret?'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', { secret: answer }))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

Password
Input

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

List Prompt

Prompt that returns a list of values, created by splitting the user input. The default split character is , with optional trailing whitespace.

Example Usage

const { List } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new List({
  name: 'keywords',
  message: 'Type comma-separated keywords'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

Sort
Select

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

MultiSelect Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to select multiple items from a list of options.

Example Usage

const { MultiSelect } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new MultiSelect({
  name: 'value',
  message: 'Pick your favorite colors',
  limit: 7,
  choices: [
    { name: 'aqua', value: '#00ffff' },
    { name: 'black', value: '#000000' },
    { name: 'blue', value: '#0000ff' },
    { name: 'fuchsia', value: '#ff00ff' },
    { name: 'gray', value: '#808080' },
    { name: 'green', value: '#008000' },
    { name: 'lime', value: '#00ff00' },
    { name: 'maroon', value: '#800000' },
    { name: 'navy', value: '#000080' },
    { name: 'olive', value: '#808000' },
    { name: 'purple', value: '#800080' },
    { name: 'red', value: '#ff0000' },
    { name: 'silver', value: '#c0c0c0' },
    { name: 'teal', value: '#008080' },
    { name: 'white', value: '#ffffff' },
    { name: 'yellow', value: '#ffff00' }
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

// Answer: ['aqua', 'blue', 'fuchsia']

Example key-value pairs

Optionally, pass a result function and use the .map method to return an object of key-value pairs of the selected names and values: example

const { MultiSelect } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new MultiSelect({
  name: 'value',
  message: 'Pick your favorite colors',
  limit: 7,
  choices: [
    { name: 'aqua', value: '#00ffff' },
    { name: 'black', value: '#000000' },
    { name: 'blue', value: '#0000ff' },
    { name: 'fuchsia', value: '#ff00ff' },
    { name: 'gray', value: '#808080' },
    { name: 'green', value: '#008000' },
    { name: 'lime', value: '#00ff00' },
    { name: 'maroon', value: '#800000' },
    { name: 'navy', value: '#000080' },
    { name: 'olive', value: '#808000' },
    { name: 'purple', value: '#800080' },
    { name: 'red', value: '#ff0000' },
    { name: 'silver', value: '#c0c0c0' },
    { name: 'teal', value: '#008080' },
    { name: 'white', value: '#ffffff' },
    { name: 'yellow', value: '#ffff00' }
  ],
  result(names) {
   return this.map(names);
  }
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

// Answer: { aqua: '#00ffff', blue: '#0000ff', fuchsia: '#ff00ff' }

Example alternate labels

const { MultiSelect } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new MultiSelect({
  name: 'color',
  message: 'Pick a flavor',
  choices: [
    { message: 'Negative Red', name: 'cyan', value: '#00ffff' },
    { message: 'Lights Out', name: 'black', value: '#000000' },
    { message: 'The Ocean', name: 'blue', value: '#0000ff' },
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

AutoComplete
Select
Survey

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

Numeral Prompt

Prompt that takes a number as input.

Example Usage

const { NumberPrompt } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new NumberPrompt({
  name: 'number',
  message: 'Please enter a number'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

Input
Confirm

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

Password Prompt

Prompt that takes user input and masks it in the terminal. Also see the invisible prompt

Example Usage

const { Password } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Password({
  name: 'password',
  message: 'What is your password?'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

Input
Invisible

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

Quiz Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to play multiple-choice quiz questions.

Example Usage

const { Quiz } = require('enquirer');

 const prompt = new Quiz({
  name: 'countries',
  message: 'How many countries are there in the world?',
  choices: ['165', '175', '185', '195', '205'],
  correctChoice: 3
});

 prompt
  .run()
  .then(answer => {
    if (answer.correct) {
      console.log('Correct!');
    } else {
      console.log(`Wrong! Correct answer is ${answer.correctAnswer}`);
    }
  })
  .catch(console.error);

Quiz Options

Option	Type	Required	Description
`choices`	`array`	Yes	The list of possible answers to the quiz question.
`correctChoice`	`number`	Yes	Index of the correct choice from the `choices` array.

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

Survey Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to provide feedback for a list of questions.

Example Usage

const { Survey } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Survey({
  name: 'experience',
  message: 'Please rate your experience',
   scale: [
    { name: '1', message: 'Strongly Disagree' },
    { name: '2', message: 'Disagree' },
    { name: '3', message: 'Neutral' },
    { name: '4', message: 'Agree' },
    { name: '5', message: 'Strongly Agree' }
  ],
  margin: [0, 0, 2, 1],
  choices: [
    {
      name: 'interface',
      message: 'The website has a friendly interface.'
    },
    {
      name: 'navigation',
      message: 'The website is easy to navigate.'
    },
    {
      name: 'images',
      message: 'The website usually has good images.'
    },
    {
      name: 'upload',
      message: 'The website makes it easy to upload images.'
    },
    {
      name: 'colors',
      message: 'The website has a pleasing color palette.'
    }
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(value => console.log('ANSWERS:', value))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

Scale
Snippet
Select

Scale Prompt

A more compact version of the Survey prompt, the Scale prompt allows the user to quickly provide feedback using a Likert Scale.

Example Usage

const { Scale } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new Scale({
  name: 'experience',
  message: 'Please rate your experience',
  scale: [
    { name: '1', message: 'Strongly Disagree' },
    { name: '2', message: 'Disagree' },
    { name: '3', message: 'Neutral' },
    { name: '4', message: 'Agree' },
    { name: '5', message: 'Strongly Agree' }
  ],
  margin: [0, 0, 2, 1],
  choices: [
    {
      name: 'interface',
      message: 'The website has a friendly interface.',
      initial: 2
    },
    {
      name: 'navigation',
      message: 'The website is easy to navigate.',
      initial: 2
    },
    {
      name: 'images',
      message: 'The website usually has good images.',
      initial: 2
    },
    {
      name: 'upload',
      message: 'The website makes it easy to upload images.',
      initial: 2
    },
    {
      name: 'colors',
      message: 'The website has a pleasing color palette.',
      initial: 2
    }
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(value => console.log('ANSWERS:', value))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

AutoComplete
Select
Survey

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

Select Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to select from a list of options.

Example Usage

const { Select } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Select({
  name: 'color',
  message: 'Pick a flavor',
  choices: ['apple', 'grape', 'watermelon', 'cherry', 'orange']
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Example key-value pairs

const { Select } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Select({
  name: 'color',
  message: 'Pick a color',
  choices: [
    { name: 'cyan', value: '#00ffff' },
    { name: 'black', value: '#000000' },
    { name: 'blue', value: '#0000ff' },
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Example alternate labels

const { Select } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Select({
  name: 'color',
  message: 'Pick a color',
  choices: [
    { message: 'Negative Red', name: 'cyan', value: '#00ffff' },
    { message: 'Lights Out', name: 'black', value: '#000000' },
    { message: 'The Ocean', name: 'blue', value: '#0000ff' },
  ]
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

AutoComplete
MultiSelect

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

Sort Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to sort items in a list.

Example

In this example, custom styling is applied to the returned values to make it easier to see what's happening.

Example Usage

const colors = require('ansi-colors');
const { Sort } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new Sort({
  name: 'colors',
  message: 'Sort the colors in order of preference',
  hint: 'Top is best, bottom is worst',
  numbered: true,
  choices: ['red', 'white', 'green', 'cyan', 'yellow'].map(n => ({
    name: n,
    message: colors[n](n)
  }))
});

prompt.run()
  .then(function(answer = []) {
    console.log(answer);
    console.log('Your preferred order of colors is:');
    console.log(answer.map(key => colors[key](key)).join('\n'));
  })
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

List
Select

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

Snippet Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to replace placeholders in a snippet of code or text.

Example Usage

const semver = require('semver');
const { Snippet } = require('enquirer');
const prompt = new Snippet({
  name: 'username',
  message: 'Fill out the fields in package.json',
  required: true,
  fields: [
    {
      name: 'author_name',
      message: 'Author Name'
    },
    {
      name: 'version',
      validate(value, state, item, index) {
        if (item && item.name === 'version' && !semver.valid(value)) {
          return prompt.styles.danger('version should be a valid semver value');
        }
        return true;
      }
    }
  ],
  template: `{
  "name": "\${name}",
  "description": "\${description}",
  "version": "\${version}",
  "homepage": "https://github.com/\${username}/\${name}",
  "author": "\${author_name} (https://github.com/\${username})",
  "repository": "\${username}/\${name}",
  "license": "\${license:ISC}"
}
`
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer.result))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

Survey
AutoComplete

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

Toggle Prompt

Prompt that allows the user to toggle between two values then returns true or false.

Example Usage

const { Toggle } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new Toggle({
  message: 'Want to answer?',
  enabled: 'Yep',
  disabled: 'Nope'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Answer:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

Confirm
Input
Sort

↑ back to: Getting Started · Prompts

Prompt Types

There are 5 (soon to be 6!) type classes:

ArrayPrompt
AuthPrompt
BooleanPrompt
DatePrompt (Coming Soon!)
NumberPrompt
StringPrompt

Each type is a low-level class that may be used as a starting point for creating higher level prompts. Continue reading to learn how.

ArrayPrompt

The ArrayPrompt class is used for creating prompts that display a list of choices in the terminal. For example, Enquirer uses this class as the basis for the Select and Survey prompts.

Options

In addition to the options available to all prompts, Array prompts also support the following options.

Option	Required?	Type	Description
`autofocus`	`no`	`string\|number`	The index or name of the choice that should have focus when the prompt loads. Only one choice may have focus at a time.
`stdin`	`no`	`stream`	The input stream to use for emitting keypress events. Defaults to `process.stdin`.
`stdout`	`no`	`stream`	The output stream to use for writing the prompt to the terminal. Defaults to `process.stdout`.

Properties

Array prompts have the following instance properties and getters.

Property name	Type	Description
`choices`	`array`	Array of choices that have been normalized from choices passed on the prompt options.
`cursor`	`number`	Position of the cursor relative to the user input (string).
`enabled`	`array`	Returns an array of enabled choices.
`focused`	`array`	Returns the currently selected choice in the visible list of choices. This is similar to the concept of focus in HTML and CSS. Focused choices are always visible (on-screen). When a list of choices is longer than the list of visible choices, and an off-screen choice is focused, the list will scroll to the focused choice and re-render.
`focused`	Gets the currently selected choice. Equivalent to `prompt.choices[prompt.index]`.
`index`	`number`	Position of the pointer in the visible list (array) of choices.
`limit`	`number`	The number of choices to display on-screen.
`selected`	`array`	Either a list of enabled choices (when `options.multiple` is true) or the currently focused choice.
`visible`	`string`

Methods

Method	Description
`pointer()`	Returns the visual symbol to use to identify the choice that currently has focus. The `❯` symbol is often used for this. The pointer is not always visible, as with the `autocomplete` prompt.
`indicator()`	Returns the visual symbol that indicates whether or not a choice is checked/enabled.
`focus()`	Sets focus on a choice, if it can be focused.

Choices

Array prompts support the choices option, which is the array of choices users will be able to select from when rendered in the terminal.

Type: string|object

Example

const { prompt } = require('enquirer');

const questions = [{
  type: 'select',
  name: 'color',
  message: 'Favorite color?',
  initial: 1,
  choices: [
    { name: 'red',   message: 'Red',   value: '#ff0000' }, //<= choice object
    { name: 'green', message: 'Green', value: '#00ff00' }, //<= choice object
    { name: 'blue',  message: 'Blue',  value: '#0000ff' }  //<= choice object
  ]
}];

let answers = await prompt(questions);
console.log('Answer:', answers.color);

Defining choices

Whether defined as a string or object, choices are normalized to the following interface:

{
  name: string;
  message: string | undefined;
  value: string | undefined;
  hint: string | undefined;
  disabled: boolean | string | undefined;
}

Example

const question = {
  name: 'fruit',
  message: 'Favorite fruit?',
  choices: ['Apple', 'Orange', 'Raspberry']
};

Normalizes to the following when the prompt is run:

const question = {
  name: 'fruit',
  message: 'Favorite fruit?',
  choices: [
    { name: 'Apple', message: 'Apple', value: 'Apple' },
    { name: 'Orange', message: 'Orange', value: 'Orange' },
    { name: 'Raspberry', message: 'Raspberry', value: 'Raspberry' }
  ]
};

Choice properties

The following properties are supported on choice objects.

Option	Type	Description
`name`	`string`	The unique key to identify a choice
`message`	`string`	The message to display in the terminal. `name` is used when this is undefined.
`value`	`string`	Value to associate with the choice. Useful for creating key-value pairs from user choices. `name` is used when this is undefined.
`choices`	`array`	Array of "child" choices.
`hint`	`string`	Help message to display next to a choice.
`role`	`string`	Determines how the choice will be displayed. Currently the only role supported is `separator`. Additional roles may be added in the future (like `heading`, etc). Please create a [feature request]
`enabled`	`boolean`	Enabled a choice by default. This is only supported when `options.multiple` is true or on prompts that support multiple choices, like MultiSelect.
`disabled`	`boolean\|string`	Disable a choice so that it cannot be selected. This value may either be `true`, `false`, or a message to display.
`indicator`	`string\|function`	Custom indicator to render for a choice (like a check or radio button).

Related prompts

AutoComplete
Form
MultiSelect
Select
Survey

AuthPrompt

The AuthPrompt is used to create prompts to log in user using any authentication method. For example, Enquirer uses this class as the basis for the BasicAuth Prompt. You can also find prompt examples in examples/auth/ folder that utilizes AuthPrompt to create OAuth based authentication prompt or a prompt that authenticates using time-based OTP, among others.

AuthPrompt has a factory function that creates an instance of AuthPrompt class and it expects an authenticate function, as an argument, which overrides the authenticate function of the AuthPrompt class.

Methods

Method	Description
`authenticate()`	Contain all the authentication logic. This function should be overridden to implement custom authentication logic. The default `authenticate` function throws an error if no other function is provided.

Choices

Auth prompt supports the choices option, which is the similar to the choices used in Form Prompt.

Example

const { AuthPrompt } = require('enquirer');

function authenticate(value, state) {
  if (value.username === this.options.username && value.password === this.options.password) {
    return true;
  }
  return false;
}

const CustomAuthPrompt = AuthPrompt.create(authenticate);

const prompt = new CustomAuthPrompt({
  name: 'password',
  message: 'Please enter your password',
  username: 'rajat-sr',
  password: '1234567',
  choices: [
    { name: 'username', message: 'username' },
    { name: 'password', message: 'password' }
  ]
});

prompt
  .run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Authenticated?', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Related prompts

BasicAuth Prompt

BooleanPrompt

The BooleanPrompt class is used for creating prompts that display and return a boolean value.

const { BooleanPrompt } = require('enquirer');

const  prompt = new  BooleanPrompt({
  header:  '========================',
  message:  'Do you love enquirer?',
  footer:  '========================',
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer  =>  console.log('Selected:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Returns: boolean

NumberPrompt

The NumberPrompt class is used for creating prompts that display and return a numerical value.

const { NumberPrompt } = require('enquirer');

const  prompt = new  NumberPrompt({
  header:  '************************',
  message:  'Input the Numbers:',
  footer:  '************************',
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer  =>  console.log('Numbers are:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Returns: string|number (number, or number formatted as a string)

StringPrompt

The StringPrompt class is used for creating prompts that display and return a string value.

const { StringPrompt } = require('enquirer');

const prompt = new StringPrompt({
  header: '************************',
  message: 'Input the String:',
  footer: '************************'
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('String is:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

Returns: string

❯ Custom prompts

With Enquirer 2.0, custom prompts are easier than ever to create and use.

How do I create a custom prompt?

Custom prompts are created by extending either:

Enquirer's Prompt class
one of the built-in prompts, or
low-level types.

const { Prompt } = require('enquirer');

class HaiKarate extends Prompt {
  constructor(options = {}) {
    super(options);
    this.value = options.initial || 0;
    this.cursorHide();
  }
  up() {
    this.value++;
    this.render();
  }
  down() {
    this.value--;
    this.render();
  }
  render() {
    this.clear(); // clear previously rendered prompt from the terminal
    this.write(`${this.state.message}: ${this.value}`);
  }
}

// Use the prompt by creating an instance of your custom prompt class.
const prompt = new HaiKarate({
  message: 'How many sprays do you want?',
  initial: 10
});

prompt.run()
  .then(answer => console.log('Sprays:', answer))
  .catch(console.error);

If you want to be able to specify your prompt by type so that it may be used alongside other prompts, you will need to first create an instance of Enquirer.

const Enquirer = require('enquirer');
const enquirer = new Enquirer();

Then use the .register() method to add your custom prompt.

enquirer.register('haikarate', HaiKarate);

Now you can do the following when defining "questions".

let spritzer = require('cologne-drone');
let answers = await enquirer.prompt([
  {
    type: 'haikarate',
    name: 'cologne',
    message: 'How many sprays do you need?',
    initial: 10,
    async onSubmit(name, value) {
      await spritzer.activate(value); //<= activate drone
      return value;
    }
  }
]);

❯ Key Bindings

All prompts

These key combinations may be used with all prompts.

command	description
`ctrl` + `c`	Cancel the prompt.
`ctrl` + `g`	Reset the prompt to its initial state.

Move cursor

These combinations may be used on prompts that support user input (eg. input prompt, password prompt, and invisible prompt).

command	description
`left`	Move the cursor back one character.
`right`	Move the cursor forward one character.
`ctrl` + `a`	Move cursor to the start of the line
`ctrl` + `e`	Move cursor to the end of the line
`ctrl` + `b`	Move cursor back one character
`ctrl` + `f`	Move cursor forward one character
`ctrl` + `x`	Toggle between first and cursor position

Edit Input

These key combinations may be used on prompts that support user input (eg. input prompt, password prompt, and invisible prompt).

command	description
`ctrl` + `a`	Move cursor to the start of the line
`ctrl` + `e`	Move cursor to the end of the line
`ctrl` + `b`	Move cursor back one character
`ctrl` + `f`	Move cursor forward one character
`ctrl` + `x`	Toggle between first and cursor position

command (Mac)	command (Windows)	description
`delete`	`backspace`	Delete one character to the left.
`fn` + `delete`	`delete`	Delete one character to the right.
`option` + `up`	`alt` + `up`	Scroll to the previous item in history (Input prompt only, when history is enabled).
`option` + `down`	`alt` + `down`	Scroll to the next item in history (Input prompt only, when history is enabled).

Select choices

These key combinations may be used on prompts that support multiple choices, such as the multiselect prompt, or the select prompt when the multiple options is true.

command	description
`space`	Toggle the currently selected choice when `options.multiple` is true.
`number`	Move the pointer to the choice at the given index. Also toggles the selected choice when `options.multiple` is true.
`a`	Toggle all choices to be enabled or disabled.
`i`	Invert the current selection of choices.
`g`	Toggle the current choice group.

Hide/show choices

command	description
`fn` + `up`	Decrease the number of visible choices by one.
`fn` + `down`	Increase the number of visible choices by one.

Move/lock Pointer

command	description
`number`	Move the pointer to the choice at the given index. Also toggles the selected choice when `options.multiple` is true.
`up`	Move the pointer up.
`down`	Move the pointer down.
`ctrl` + `a`	Move the pointer to the first visible choice.
`ctrl` + `e`	Move the pointer to the last visible choice.
`shift` + `up`	Scroll up one choice without changing pointer position (locks the pointer while scrolling).
`shift` + `down`	Scroll down one choice without changing pointer position (locks the pointer while scrolling).

command (Mac)	command (Windows)	description
`fn` + `left`	`home`	Move the pointer to the first choice in the choices array.
`fn` + `right`	`end`	Move the pointer to the last choice in the choices array.

❯ Release History

Please see CHANGELOG.md.

❯ Performance

System specs

MacBook Pro, Intel Core i7, 2.5 GHz, 16 GB.

Load time

Time it takes for the module to load the first time (average of 3 runs):

enquirer: 4.013ms
inquirer: 286.717ms

❯ About

Contributing

Pull requests and stars are always welcome. For bugs and feature requests, please create an issue.

Todo

We're currently working on documentation for the following items. Please star and watch the repository for updates!

Customizing symbols
Customizing styles (palette)
Customizing rendered input
Customizing returned values
Customizing key bindings
Question validation
Choice validation
Skipping questions
Async choices
Async timers: loaders, spinners and other animations
Links to examples

Running Tests

Running and reviewing unit tests is a great way to get familiarized with a library and its API. You can install dependencies and run tests with the following command:

npm install && npm test

yarn && yarn test

Building docs

(This project's readme.md is generated by verb, please don't edit the readme directly. Any changes to the readme must be made in the .verb.md readme template.)

To generate the readme, run the following command:

npm install -g verbose/verb#dev verb-generate-readme && verb

Contributors

Commits	Contributor
312	jonschlinkert
86	doowb
32	rajat-sr
20	318097
15	g-plane
12	pixelass
5	adityavyas611
5	satotake
3	hongaar
3	Ovyerus
3	swyxio
2	GabeL7r
2	Andarist
1	ahmadawais
1	AlCalzone
1	hipstersmoothie
1	TrySound
1	brentjanderson
1	camilaibs
1	AgentEnder
1	danieldelcore
1	deve-sh
1	shortercode
1	ImgBotApp
1	shumkov
1	jsonkao
1	JounQin
1	knpwrs
1	yeskunall
1	mischah
1	starpit
1	remcohaszing
1	renarsvilnis
1	rstagi
1	sbugert
1	skellock
1	tinesoft
1	busticated
1	cha147
1	jmlee2k
1	lef237
1	peterroe
1	spwoodall
1	whxaxes
1	holynewbie
1	xulingling0

Author

Jon Schlinkert

GitHub Profile
Twitter Profile
LinkedIn Profile

Credit

Thanks to derhuerst, creator of prompt libraries such as prompt-skeleton, which influenced some of the concepts we used in our prompts.

Files

README.md

Latest commit

History

README.md

File metadata and controls

Enquirer

❯ Getting started

❯ Install

❯ Usage

Single prompt

Multiple prompts

Different ways to run enquirer

1. By importing the specific built-in prompt

2. By passing the options to prompt

❯ Enquirer

Enquirer

register()

prompt()

use()

Enquirer#prompt

❯ Prompts

Prompt

Prompt Options

Built-in prompts

AutoComplete Prompt

BasicAuth Prompt

Confirm Prompt

Form Prompt

Input Prompt

Invisible Prompt

List Prompt

MultiSelect Prompt

Numeral Prompt

Password Prompt

Quiz Prompt

Survey Prompt

Scale Prompt

Select Prompt

Sort Prompt

Snippet Prompt

Toggle Prompt

Prompt Types

ArrayPrompt

Options

Properties

Methods

Choices

Defining choices

Choice properties

Related prompts

AuthPrompt

Methods

Choices

Related prompts

BooleanPrompt

NumberPrompt

StringPrompt

❯ Custom prompts

❯ Key Bindings

All prompts

Move cursor

Edit Input

Select choices

Hide/show choices

Move/lock Pointer

❯ Release History

❯ Performance

System specs

Load time

❯ About

Todo

Contributors

Author

Credit

License

1. By importing the specific `built-in prompt`

2. By passing the options to `prompt`