Practical Guidance On How To Check If App Is Wayland Native Using Xprop

Oriana Fall

2 min read

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22-02-2025

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Wayland is rapidly becoming the preferred display server for Linux distributions, offering improved performance and security compared to its predecessor, X11. However, not all applications are created equal. Some are fully Wayland-native, leveraging its features for optimal functionality, while others are simply X11 applications running within a Wayland compositor using a compatibility layer (like Xwayland). Knowing whether an application is truly Wayland-native is crucial for troubleshooting performance issues and understanding its behavior. This guide provides practical steps on how to use the xprop command to determine this.

Understanding Wayland and X11

Before diving into the practical aspects, let's briefly clarify the difference:

• Wayland: A modern display server protocol designed for better performance and security. Wayland-native applications directly interact with the Wayland compositor.
• X11 (X Window System): The older, more established display server protocol. While still widely used, it's less efficient and secure than Wayland.

Applications running under Xwayland within a Wayland session are essentially X11 applications disguised as Wayland ones. This can impact performance and feature availability.

Using xprop to Identify Wayland Native Applications

The xprop command is a powerful tool for inspecting window properties. We'll leverage it to check the _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE property. This property reveals crucial information about the window's type, including whether it's a Wayland native application or not.

Steps:

1. Identify the Application Window: First, open the application you want to check. Make sure its window is focused (actively selected).

2. Run xprop: Open your terminal and type the following command:

   xprop | grep _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE
   

   This command pipes the output of xprop (which lists all window properties) to grep, filtering the output to show only lines containing _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE.

3. Interpret the Result: The output will look something like this:

   _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE = _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_NORMAL
   

   or

   _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE = _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DIALOG
   

   Crucially, the presence of _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE without any further information about a specific Wayland window type does not indicate a Wayland native app.

   To truly confirm if the app is Wayland-native, the output should ideally show something beyond the basic types like _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_NORMAL or _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DIALOG. There isn't a universally standardized Wayland-specific property. The lack of such a specific property often implies an Xwayland application.

4. Troubleshooting: If you're unsure about the result, try running xprop on several known Wayland-native applications and Xwayland applications to observe the pattern. This will help you better understand the output and draw conclusions.

Beyond xprop: Other Methods for Determining Wayland Compatibility

While xprop provides a quick check, it's not always foolproof. Consider these additional methods for a more comprehensive assessment:

• Check the Application's Documentation: The official documentation or website of the application might explicitly mention its Wayland support.
• Community Forums and Reviews: Online communities and user reviews often discuss compatibility issues and whether an application is fully Wayland-compatible.

Conclusion

Using xprop to check the _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE property provides a practical way to get clues about whether an application is using Wayland directly. Remember that the absence of a specific Wayland indicator suggests it's likely running within Xwayland. Supplementing xprop with other methods like consulting documentation and community forums will give you a more accurate and complete picture of an application's Wayland compatibility. Understanding this compatibility is crucial for optimizing your Wayland desktop experience.