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CHT forward tab (CSI I)

Category: text · Baseline: core · Tags: ECMA-48 Standard · Specification ↗

CSI Ps I
CHT (Cursor Horizontal Forward Tab) advances the cursor forward by N tab stops. The sequence is CSI Ps I where Ps is the number of tab stops to advance (default 1). Unlike a simple tab character (HT, 0x09) which advances by one tab stop, CHT can jump multiple tab stops in a single sequence. With default 8-column tab stops, CSI 2 I from column 0 would advance to column 16.
How this is testedautomated
From column 0, send \x1b[2I (CHT 2) with default 8-column tab stops, verify cursor advanced to column 16 (two tab stops forward).

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 3 of 9 terminals (33%). Part of the Core TUI baseline. Notes: vterm.js: Tab stop manipulation not implemented in vterm.js; vt100.js: Tab stop manipulation not implemented in vt100.js.

Supported by 4 of 14 backends (29%)

Terminal Applications

TerminalVersionSupportNotes
iTerm23.6.9✗ nocursor at col 80, expected 17
Ghostty1.3.1✗ nocursor at col 270, expected 17
VS Code✗ no
Warp✗ no
Cursor✗ no
Terminal.app✗ no

Headless Backends

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

BackendVersionSupportNotes
Alacritty0.26.0✓ yes
Kitty0.40.0✓ yes
WezTerm0.1.0-fork.5✓ yes
xterm.js5.5.0✓ yes
vt100.js0.2.1✗ noTab stop manipulation not implemented in vt100.js
vterm0.2.0✗ noTab stop manipulation not implemented in vterm.js