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Double underline (SGR 21)

Category: sgr · Baseline: modern · Tags: ECMA-48 Standard · Specification ↗

ESC [ 21 m
SGR 21 draws a double underline beneath text. The sequence is ESC [ 21 m. Also accessible via the Kitty sub-parameter syntax as ESC [ 4:2 m. Reset with SGR 24. Support varies — some older terminals treat SGR 21 as bold-off rather than double underline.
How this is testedautomated
Send \x1b[21mX, verify underline === "double". Tests whether SGR 21 is interpreted as double underline rather than bold-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 Modern TUI baseline. Notes: vt100.js: Not in VT100/VT220 — only single underline supported.

Supported by 12 of 14 backends (86%)

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
vterm0.2.0✓ yes
WezTerm0.1.0-fork.5✓ yes
xterm.js5.5.0✓ yes
Alacritty0.26.0~ partialAlacritty supports double underline in app but not in headless mode
vt100.js0.2.1✗ noNot in VT100/VT220 — only single underline supported