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Reverse Wrap (Mode 45)

Category: cursor · Baseline: rich · Tags: Xterm Extensions · Specification ↗

Reverse wrap mode (mode 45) allows backspace at column 0 to wrap to the end of the previous line. Without this mode, backspace at column 0 is a no-op. Useful for command-line editing across wrapped lines.
How this is testedautomated
Enable auto-wrap + reverse wrap, fill row 0 to trigger wrap to row 1, backspace — verify cursor reverse-wraps to end of row 0 via getCursor().

The same probe runs against headless backends (via Termless) and real terminal apps (via a daemon launched in each terminal). This lets us distinguish parser correctness from rendering correctness.

Analysis2026-04-06

Supported by 11 of 12 terminals (92%). Not supported by: Alacritty. Part of the Rich TUI baseline. Notes: Alacritty: Reverse wrap not supported in alacritty headless mode.

Supported by 13 of 14 backends (93%)

Terminal Applications

TerminalVersionSupportNotes
iTerm23.6.9✓ yes
Ghostty1.3.1✓ yes
VS Code✓ yes
Warp✓ yes
Cursor✓ yes
Terminal.app✓ yes

Headless Backends

Parser correctness only — a means the parser accepts the sequence.

BackendVersionSupportNotes
Kitty0.40.0✓ yes
vt100.js0.2.1✓ yes
vterm0.2.0✓ yes
WezTerm0.1.0-fork.5✓ yes
xterm.js5.5.0✓ yes
Alacritty0.26.0✗ noReverse wrap not supported in alacritty headless mode