Albert is a keyboard launcher that opens files, applications, and runs commands by typing search queries into a search bar. It functions as a keyboard-driven workflow tool, enabling users to navigate their file system, launch installed applications, and execute shell commands without touching a mouse.
The launcher processes user input through a plugin-based modular architecture, where functionality is extended by dynamically loaded C++ and Python plugins. Queries are dispatched to all enabled handlers in parallel, with results merged and ranked by a combination of match quality and historical usage frequency. When primary handlers return no matches, a fallback handler chain displays alternative results, and trigger-based input routing allows specific handlers to be invoked exclusively.
The project supports community plugin installation and provides frameworks for developing both native C++ shared library plugins with full Qt access and Python modules following a stub file interface. Plugin modules can be loaded, unloaded, enabled, or disabled at runtime through settings or query handlers. The search system includes configurable string matching strategies, input history navigation, and result item activation with default or alternative actions via keyboard shortcuts.
Installation is available through package managers, Homebrew cask, prebuilt binaries, or source code compilation, with release history review for tracking updates.