# openDocument An action in the environment that presents an existing document. ``` var openDocument: OpenDocumentAction { get } ``` ## Discussion Use the `openDocument` environment value to get the instance of the [`OpenDocumentAction`](/documentation/SwiftUI/OpenDocumentAction) structure for a given [`Environment`](/documentation/SwiftUI/Environment). Then call the instance to present an existing document. You call the instance directly because it defines a [`callAsFunction(at:)`](/documentation/SwiftUI/OpenDocumentAction/callAsFunction(at:)) method that Swift calls when you call the instance. For example, you can create a button that opens the document at the specified URL: ``` struct OpenDocumentButton: View { var url: URL @Environment(\.openDocument) private var openDocument var body: some View { Button(url.deletingPathExtension().lastPathComponent) { Task { do { try await openDocument(at: url) } catch { // Handle error } } } } } ``` The above example uses a `do-catch` statement to handle any errors that the open document action might throw. It also places the action inside a task and awaits the result because the action operates asynchronously. To present an existing document, your app must define a [`DocumentGroup`](/documentation/SwiftUI/DocumentGroup) that handles the content type of the specified file. For a document that’s already open, the system brings the existing window to the front. Otherwise, the system opens a new window. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)