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App cursor keys (DECCKM)

Category: modes · Baseline: modern · Tags: DEC Private Modes, VT100 · Specification ↗

ESC [ ? 1 h
DECCKM changes the escape sequences generated by arrow keys. Enable with ESC [ ? 1 h. In normal mode, arrow keys send CSI sequences (ESC [ A); in application mode, they send SS3 sequences (ESC O A). Full-screen applications typically enable application cursor mode to get unambiguous key input.
How this is testedautomated
Send \x1b[?1h (DECCKM), verify applicationCursor mode is active.

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 all 12 tested terminals — universal adoption. Part of the Modern TUI baseline.

Supported by 14 of 14 backends (100%)

Terminal Applications

TerminalVersionSupportNotes
iTerm23.6.9✓ yesDECRPM: mode reset
Ghostty1.3.1✓ yesDECRPM: mode reset
VS Code✓ yes
Warp✓ yes
Cursor✓ yes
Terminal.app✓ yes

Headless Backends

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

BackendVersionSupportNotes
Alacritty0.26.0✓ yes
Kitty0.40.0✓ yes
vt100.js0.2.1✓ yes
vterm0.2.0✓ yes
WezTerm0.1.0-fork.5✓ yes
xterm.js5.5.0✓ yes