> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://pinvokeisalive.gitbook.io/pinvoke/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://pinvokeisalive.gitbook.io/pinvoke/desktopfunctions/shell32/shellexecute.md).

# ShellExecute

### C# Signature:

```cs
[DllImport("Shell32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto, SetLastError = true)]
static extern IntPtr ShellExecute(IntPtr hwnd, string lpOperation, string lpFile, string lpParameters, string lpDirectory, int nShowCmd);
```

### VB Signature:

```cs
<DllImport("Shell32", CharSet:=CharSet.Auto, SetLastError:=True)> _
Public Shared Function ShellExecute(hwnd as IntPtr, lpOperation as String, lpFile as String, pParameters as String, lpDirectory as String, nShowCmd as Integer) As IntPtr
End Function
```

### Sample Code:

```cs
//Opens a URL in the default browser
IntPtr result = ShellExecute(IntPtr.Zero, "open", "http://www.google.com", null, null, 1);
```