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Soft reset (DECSTR)

Category: reset · Baseline: core · Tags: DEC Private Modes, VT510 · Specification ↗

ESC [ ! p
DECSTR (Soft Terminal Reset) resets terminal modes and attributes without clearing the screen. The sequence is ESC [ ! p. Unlike RIS (full reset), DECSTR does not clear the display, scrollback, or cursor position. It resets modes (auto-wrap, origin, insert), SGR attributes, character sets, and scroll regions.
How this is testedautomated
Enable app cursor mode (\x1b[?1h), write text, send \x1b[!p (DECSTR), verify applicationCursor mode is off.

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: vt100.js. Part of the Core TUI baseline. Notes: vt100.js: DECSTR (soft reset) not implemented in vt100.js baseline emulator.

Supported by 10 of 14 backends (71%)

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
vterm0.2.0✓ yes
xterm.js5.5.0✓ yes
Alacritty0.26.0~ partialDECSTR resets modes but headless probe reads stale state
Kitty0.40.0~ partialDECSTR resets modes but headless probe reads stale state
WezTerm0.1.0-fork.5~ partialDECSTR resets modes but headless probe reads stale state
vt100.js0.2.1✗ noDECSTR (soft reset) not implemented in vt100.js baseline emulator