dbus-send

TLDR

Send a method call to a service

$ dbus-send --session --dest=[org.freedesktop.Notifications] [/org/freedesktop/Notifications] [org.freedesktop.Notifications.GetCapabilities]

Send notification via D-Bus

$ dbus-send --session --dest=org.freedesktop.Notifications /org/freedesktop/Notifications org.freedesktop.Notifications.Notify string:"app" uint32:0 string:"" string:"[Title]" string:"[Body]" array:string:"" dict:string:string:"" int32:5000

List available services on session bus

$ dbus-send --session --dest=org.freedesktop.DBus --print-reply /org/freedesktop/DBus org.freedesktop.DBus.ListNames

Call system bus method

$ dbus-send --system --print-reply --dest=[org.freedesktop.hostname1] [/org/freedesktop/hostname1] [org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties.GetAll] string:"[org.freedesktop.hostname1]"

Get property value

$ dbus-send --session --print-reply --dest=[destination] [object_path] org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties.Get string:"[interface]" string:"[property]"

SYNOPSIS

dbus-send [options] object-path message

DESCRIPTION

dbus-send sends a message to a D-Bus message bus, either the system-wide bus or a session bus. It can invoke methods on D-Bus objects or emit signals, and optionally wait for and print replies.
The command is useful for scripting interactions with D-Bus services, debugging D-Bus interfaces, and testing service implementations. Arguments are type-annotated (string:, int32:, boolean:, etc.) to construct properly typed D-Bus messages.
Common use cases include sending desktop notifications, querying system properties, and controlling media players or other desktop services that expose D-Bus interfaces.

PARAMETERS

--session

Send to session bus.

--system

Send to system bus.

--dest NAME

Destination service name.

--print-reply

Wait for and print reply.

--type TYPE

Message type: method_call or signal.

OBJECT-PATH

D-Bus object path (e.g., /org/freedesktop/DBus).

MESSAGE

Method name including interface.

string:, int32:, uint32:, etc.

Typed arguments to pass.

--help

Display help information.

CAVEATS

Complex method calls with nested types can be difficult to construct. System bus methods often require elevated privileges. Missing --print-reply means responses are ignored. Type annotations must match service expectations exactly.

HISTORY

dbus-send is part of the D-Bus reference implementation, developed by Red Hat and freedesktop.org starting in 2003. It provides command-line access to the D-Bus IPC system used extensively in Linux desktop environments.