**xdg-open is for use inside a desktop session only. It is not
recommended to use xdg-open as root.**
Why does the manual page say the above ?
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As you may know xdg-open is used to open a file or URL in the user's preferred application.
If you run it using root, you may end up with a broken system, but why?
Because you may run a graphical program using root access ( Why should users never use normal sudo to start graphical applications? ).
It may also run a program which shouldn't be run with root access or even accidentally run a dangerous command using root access.
xdg-open may simply run a command of which we are not sure of its results, so it shouldn't be run with root access.
