JavaFx 8: open a link in a browser without reference to Application

Question

Have got a Hyperlink. When clicked I want a link to be opened in an external browser.

The usual method cited on the web seems to be:

final Hyperlink         


        

Answer 1

Another way would be to use java.awt.Desktop

Try (untested):

URI uri = ...;
if (Desktop.isDesktopSupported()){
    Desktop desktop = Desktop.getDesktop();
    if (desktop.isSupported(Desktop.Action.BROWSE)){
        desktop.browse(uri);
    }
}

Note however that this will introduce a dependency to the AWT stack. This is probably not an issue if you're working with the full JRE, but it might become an issue if you want to work with a tailored JRE (Java SE 9 & Jigsaw) or if you want to run your application on mobile device (javafxports).

There is an open issue to support Desktop in JavaFX in the future.