Research on Terminals

January 1, 2025 · View on GitHub

All tested with their latest version obtainable of Arch Linux (or macOS 11, Windows 10) as of writing. Version tested is noted where possible, but otherwise compare to the git blame date.

To contribute entries:

  • Insert in the correct category, in lexicographic order
  • Test with both the terminal’s own terminfo, and with xterm-256color.
  • If the terminal doesn’t have its own terminfo, note that, and note which it is trying to emulate.
    • And consider filing a bug to tell them to provide their own terminfo!
  • If a terminal has forks, especially if there’s a lot of them, only document a fork if its behaviour is different.
  • If the terminal is based on a common library, mention it.
  • If the terminal is web-based, mention that.
  • Document the current selection of ::default().
  • Document the behaviour of at least:
    • Terminfo
    • TerminfoScreen
    • TerminfoScrollback
    • VtRis
    • XtermClear
  • “Normal” behaviour refers to:
    • ::default(): screen and scrollback (if at all possible) cleared
    • Terminfo: at least screen cleared, and optionally scrollback
    • TerminfoScreen: only screen cleared
    • TerminfoScrollback: only scrollback cleared
    • VtRis: screen and scrollback cleared, and (at least some modes of) terminal reset
    • XtermClear: screen and scrollback cleared
    • Cls: screen and scrollback cleared
    • WindowsVtClear: screen and scrollback cleared
  • There is zero tolerance for advertising via this document.

How to test:

First link the clscli example program into your PATH, e.g.

ln -s $(pwd)/target/debug/examples/clscli ~/.local/share/bin/clscli

Open the terminal in its default profile, or as it comes when first installed.

Then use env | grep TERM to see what the TERM and other related variables look like (make note!).

Look into /usr/share/terminfo for a terminfo that matches the terminal, or wherever it is on your system. If there's a separate but official package for the terminal’s terminfo, use it.

First test with the native terminfo: set it either in the terminal’s settings, or use env TERM=name $SHELL, then with the TERM the terminal first starts with by default, and finally with xterm-256color if that’s not been covered yet.

  1. First run clscli auto. Look quick, the name of the variant selected by default will be printed, and one second later, hopefully, the screen will clear. Document that variant.
  2. Then run clscli Variant where the variant is: Terminfo, TerminfoScreen, TerminfoScrollback, VtRis, XtermClear, and the variant discovered in 1, if not one of these. Before each, run seq 1 100 or something like it to fill the screen and some scrollback. Document the behaviour if it differs from normal, or state “normal.”
  3. Optionally (if you want), if clscli auto does not exhibit the normal behaviour, open an issue and provide enough details to be able to modify the ::default() selection to select a different default that works. If you’re really enthusiastic, you can even open a PR with it!
  4. To submit your research, either submit a PR to this file (preferred, you can even do it in the GitHub Web UI), or open an issue with your research (I’ll merge it in), or send me an email.

Platforms

On macOS, the terminfo for xterm and variants does not by default include E3, which makes Terminfo not clear scrollback and TerminfoScrollback return an error (E3 not found), even when the terminal in question actually does support E3. For that reason, default behaviour on macOS is switched to use XtermClear if the TERM starts with xterm and the terminfo doesn’t have E3.

If the terminfo database is not available, ::default() falls back to XTermClear instead of supplying a useless Terminfo. When testing, it's expected to have a functional terminfo where practical.

Emulator libraries

BearLibTerminal

libamxt

libt3widget

libt3window

libterm

libtickit

libtsm

libvterm

Qtermwidget

Rote

VTE

When “VTE-based” is stated and nothing else, assume this:

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Emulators

Alacritty

  • Version 0.7.2

With native TERM=alacritty:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Aminal

  • Version Nightly-develop-2020-01-26-4033a8b

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo. The better option would be VtRis, but there’s no way to tell we’re running in Aminal.
  • Terminfo: does not clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does not clear scrollback, erases the screen, but leaves cursor position intact, i.e. at the bottom of the screen if we were there.
  • VtRis: clears screen, doesn’t clear scrollback, but does push the existing output up, so that information is not lost.
  • XtermClear: as for Terminfo.

Android Terminal Emulator

Archipelago

  • Web-based

ate

  • Version 1.0.1

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Bterm

  • Version 2.0.0

Native TERM is xterm.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Butterfly

  • Web-based

Cathode

CMD.EXE

  • Windows 10 Pro, build 19042.630

There's no TERM variable and no terminfo database.

  • Default: WindowsVtClear.
  • Terminfo: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScreen: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScrollback: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • VtRis: prints ←c and does nothing else.
  • XtermClear: prints ←[H←[2J←[3J and does nothing else.
  • Cls: normal.
  • WindowsConsoleClear: does nothing BUG!
  • WindowsConsoleBlank: does nothing BUG!
  • WindowsVtClear: normal.

ConEmu

  • Version 210422

There's no TERM variable and no terminfo database.

  • Default: WindowsVtClear.
  • Terminfo: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScreen: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScrollback: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.
  • Cls: normal.
  • WindowsVtClear: normal.

ConsoleZ

  • Version 1.19.0.19104

There's no TERM variable and no terminfo database.

  • Default: WindowsVtClear.
  • Terminfo: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScreen: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScrollback: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • VtRis: prints ←c, does nothing else.
  • XtermClear: prints ←[H←[2J←[3J, does nothing else.
  • Cls: normal.
  • WindowsVtClear: normal.

Cool Retro Term

  • Version 1.1.1

Native TERM is xterm.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: scrollback not cleared.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Core Terminal

  • Version 4.2.0
  • Doesn’t respect user shell by default.

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: scrollback not cleared.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Deepin Terminal

  • Version 5.4.0.6

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: scrollback not cleared.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Old GTK version

  • Version 5.0.4.3

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Dinu

dmenu-term?

domterm

  • Web-based?

dwt

  • Version 0.6.0
  • VTE-based

eDEX UI

  • Version 2.2.7
  • Doesn’t respect user shell by default.

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Electerm

  • Version 1.11.16
  • Doesn’t respect user shell by default.

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo. The better option would be VtRis, but there’s no way to tell we’re running in Electerm.
  • Terminfo: normal, except scrollbar is weird, like it thinks there’s still all the old content, but without showing any scrolling when going up or down.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: as for Terminfo.

Elokab Terminal

  • Arabic language support!

eterm

Evil VTE

  • VTE-based
  • Untested yet

ExtraTerm

  • Version 0.58.0

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo. (Mostly because it’s the least worst and has a chance to get better.)
  • Terminfo: does not clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: behaves like Terminfo but also prints [2m (badly handled unknown escape).
  • XtermClear: as for Terminfo.

fbpad

Fingerterm

  • For Nokia N9 phones?

Fluent Terminal (Windows)

  • Version 0.7.5.0
  • Xterm.js-based

There's no TERM variable and no terminfo database.

  • Default: WindowsVtClear.
  • Terminfo: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScreen: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScrollback: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • VtRis: does not clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • XtermClear: as for VtRis.
  • Cls: as for VtRis.
  • WindowsVtClear: as for VtRis.
  • Version 1.7.2
  • Wayland only

With TERM=foot:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

FQTerm

  • Version 0.9.10.1.1.g55d08df

With TERM=vt102:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: doesn’t support E3.
  • VtRis: does nothing.
  • XtermClear: doesn’t clear scrollback.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: does nothing.
  • XtermClear: doesn’t clear scrollback.

Germinal

  • Version 26
  • VTE-based

Guake

  • Version 3.7.0
  • VTE-based

GNOME Terminal

  • Version 3.40.0
  • VTE-based

With TERM=gnome-256color:

  • Default: XTermClear.
  • Terminfo: behaves like TerminfoScreen, doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • TerminfoScreen: adds a screenful of space to the scrollback before clearing.
  • TerminfoScrollback: terminfo does not support E3.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: adds a screenful of space to the scrollback before clearing.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Goterminal

Havoc

  • Wayland only

Hyper

  • Web-based

iTerm2

  • Version 3.3.12

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: XtermClear.
  • Terminfo: normal (does not clear scrollback).
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does not support E3.
  • VtRis: does not clear scrollback (behaves like TerminfoScreen).
  • XtermClear: normal.

jbxvt

jfbterm

JuiceSSH

  • Version

Native TERM is linux.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: does not clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: does nothing
  • XtermClear: as for Terminfo.

Kermit

  • Version 3.4
  • VTE-based

The kermit terminfo also exists, but may not be related, and does not work.

King’s Cross (kgx)

  • Version 0.2.1

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Kitty

  • Version 0.20.1

With native TERM=xterm-kitty:

  • Default: VtRis.
  • Terminfo: does not clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does not support E3.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=kitty: as with xterm-kitty.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: erases scrollback and screen, but does not clear them (can be scrolled, but all is blank).
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

KMScon

Konsole

  • Version 21.04.0

With native TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: doesn’t clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=konsole:

  • Default: XtermClear.
  • Terminfo: doesn’t clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does not support E3.
  • VtRis: doesn’t clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Lilyterm

  • libvte-based

Liri Terminal

  • Version 0.2.0
  • Doesn’t respect user shell by default.

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Literm

  • fingerterm-based?

lwt

  • Version 2020-12-02
  • VTE-based
  • Doesn’t respect user shell by default.

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: adds a screenful of space to the scrollback before clearing.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • XtermClear: normal.

LX Terminal

  • Version 0.4.0
  • VTE-based

MacTerm

  • Version 5 for macOS =>10.15 in development, I don't have an older mac to test 4.x.

MacWise

  • Version 21.6
  • In VT100 emulation mode
  • Does not have a native TERM.

With TERM=vt100:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: erases the screen without scrolling up, thus losing info, then inserts a screenful of whitespace, then scrolls up. Does not clear scrollback.
  • TerminfoScreen: as for Terminfo.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does not support E3.
  • VtRis: does not clear scrollback, does not reset style.
  • XtermClear: scrolls screen up, then fills the screen with whitespace, places the cursor at the bottom right, then prints 3.2$, then does that once again. (???)

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: XtermClear. (Terminfo would be better, but impossible to detect.)
  • Terminfo: normal. Does not clear scrollback.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does not support E3.
  • VtRis: does not clear scrollback, does not reset style.
  • XtermClear: as with TERM=vt100.

Mantid

  • Version 1.0.6
  • VTE-based

MATE Terminal

  • Version 1.24.1
  • VTE-based

Maui Station

  • Version 1.2.1

Native TERM is xterm.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Microsoft Terminal / Windows Terminal

  • Version 1.7.1033.0

There's no TERM variable and no terminfo database.

  • Default: XtermClear.
  • Terminfo: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScreen: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScrollback: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.
  • WindowsVtClear: normal.
  • Cls: normal.

Miniterm

  • Version 1.7.0
  • VTE-based

MinTTY (Windows)

  • Version 3.1.6
  • PuTTY-based?
  • Via Git-Bash

Native TERM is xterm

  • Default: WindowsVtClear.
  • Terminfo: there's no terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScreen: there's no terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScrollback: there's no terminfo database.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.
  • Cls: does nothing.
  • WindowsVtClear: normal.

Miro

  • Version 0.2.0

MLTERM

  • Version 3.9.0

Native TERM is xterm.

  • Default: Terminfo. (No real good option here.)
  • Terminfo: doesn’t clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: doesn’t clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • XtermClear: as for Terminfo.

MobaXterm

  • Version 21.1 build 4628 Home Edition

There's no TERM variable and no terminfo database.

  • Default: WindowsVtClear.
  • Terminfo: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScreen: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScrollback: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • VtRis: prints ←c, does nothing else.
  • XtermClear: prints ←[H←[2J←[3J, does nothing else.
  • Cls: doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • WindowsVtClear: doesn’t clear scrollback.

With built-in Bash mode

Native TERM is xterm.

  • Default: WindowsVtClear.
  • Terminfo: there's no terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScreen: there's no terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScrollback: there's no terminfo database.
  • VtRis: doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • XtermClear: normal.
  • Cls: doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • WindowsVtClear: normal.

mrxvt

mt

Nautilus Terminal

  • Version 3.5.0
  • VTE-based

Nemo Terminal

  • Version 4.8.0
  • VTE-based

Neovim

  • Version 0.4.4

TERM is inherited. With xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo. (No real good option here.)
  • Terminfo: doesn’t clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: doesn’t clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • XtermClear: as for Terminfo.

Orbterm

Pangoterm

  • libvterm-based

Pantheon/Elementary Terminal

  • Version 5.5.2

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

PowerCmd

PuTTY

  • Version 0.74

With native TERM=xterm:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: does not clear scrollback.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=putty:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: does not clear scrollback.
  • XtermClear: normal.

QML Konsole

  • Version 0.1.r2.g81e74ad

Native TERM is xterm.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: does not clear scrollback.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Qt DOM term

Qterminal

  • Version 0.16.1

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

rcfvt

  • Version r66.d390d61

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

ROXTerm

  • Version 3.10.1
  • VTE-based

Runes

Sakura

  • Version 3.8.1
  • VTE-based

sdvt

Snowflake

st

  • Version 0.8.4

With TERM=st-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: also clears scrollback.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does not support E3.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: also clears scrollback.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

sterm

  • Version 0.1.2
  • VTE-based

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

There’s no scrollback at all, so it’s impossible to know how things are really handled, but 🤷.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

stgl

StupidTerm

  • Version 1.r24.gf824e41
  • VTE-based

Syncterm

  • Version 1.1

Native TERM is syncterm.

  • Default: VtRis.
  • Terminfo: no terminfo found.
  • TerminfoScreen: no terminfo found.
  • TerminfoScrollback: no terminfo found.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: does not clear scrollback.

Taterm

  • Version 12

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Terminal.app (GNUstep)

Terminal.app (macOS)

  • Version 2.10 (433)

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: XtermClear.
  • Terminfo: normal (does not clear scrollback).
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does not support E3.
  • VtRis: erases the screen without scrolling up (not abnormal) and does not clear scrollback.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Terminaleco

Terminalpp

Terminate

  • Version 0.5
  • VTE-based
  • Requires a TERM to be set, doesn’t manage to get set up properly without.
  • There’s no scrollback at all, so it’s impossible to know how things are really handled, but 🤷.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Terminator

  • Version 2.1.1

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Terminol

Terminology

  • Version 1.9.0

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Terminus

Termistor

  • Wayland only

Termit

  • Version 3.1.r4.g29bbd1b
  • VTE-based

Termite

  • Version 15
  • VTE-based

With native TERM=xterm-termite:

  • Default: XTermClear.
  • Terminfo: normal (doesn’t clear scrollback).
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: terminfo does not support E3.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=termite:

  • Default: XTermClear.
  • Terminfo: normal (doesn’t clear scrollback).
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: terminfo does not support E3.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Termius

  • Version 7.9.0

Native TERM is xterm.

  • Default: Terminfo. The better option would be VtRis, but there’s no way to tell we’re running in Termius.
  • Terminfo: normal, except scrollbar is weird, like it thinks there’s still all the old content, but without showing any scrolling when going up or down.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal, except scrollbar is even weirder, like it thinks there’s still all the old content, but without allowing the screen to be scrolled at all. Once the screen fills up again, the scrollbar resets.
  • XtermClear: as for Terminfo.

Termy

  • Version 0.3.0
  • By nature, the prompt remains at the top, and every command clears the screen.
  • However, running a shell inside the terminal makes it behave as usually expected, so that's how this is tested.

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: XtermClear.
  • Terminfo: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information. (Doesn’t clear scrollback.)
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does not support E3.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Terra

Tess

  • Version 1.2r65.12944dd
  • Doesn’t respect user shell by default.

Native TERM is xterm-color.

  • Default: VtRis.
  • Terminfo: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information. (Doesn’t clear scrollback.)
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does not support E3.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal, except scrollbar is weird, like it thinks there’s still all the old content, but without showing any scrolling when going up or down.

The Terminal

TreeTerm

Tilda

  • Version 1.5.4

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Tilix

  • Version 1.9.4

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Tinyterm

  • VTE-based
  • Untested yet

Topinambour

  • VTE-based
  • Untested yet

Tortosa

  • VTE-based
  • Untested yet

Ume

  • Version r67.242a9f5
  • VTE-based

urxvt

  • Version 9.22

With native TERM=rxvt-unicode-265color:

  • Default: VtRis.
  • Terminfo: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information. (Doesn’t clear scrollback.)
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: terminfo does not support E3.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: as for Terminfo.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information. (Doesn’t clear scrollback.)
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: as for Terminfo.

uterm

  • libtsm-based

uuterm

  • Version 80
  • There’s no scrollback at all, so it’s impossible to know how things are really handled, but 🤷.

With native TERM=uuterm:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does not support E3.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=xterm-256color: very broken, but clearing works as normal.

Viter

  • Version r166.c8ca21a

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

vt100-parser

Wayst

  • Version r223.e72ca78

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo. The better option would be VtRis, but there’s no way to tell we’re running in Wayst.
  • Terminfo: normal, doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: clears the screen, keeping the cursor position the same, but doesn’t clear scrollback!
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: doesn’t clear scrollback.

Wezterm

  • Version 20240203

Native TERM is wezterm.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

WindTerm

  • Version 2.1.0 (Win10 version)

There's no TERM variable and no terminfo database.

  • Default: WindowsVtClear.
  • Terminfo: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScreen: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • TerminfoScrollback: there's no TERM nor terminfo database.
  • VtRis: does not clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • XtermClear: as for VtRis.
  • Cls: as for VtRis.
  • WindowsVtClear: as for VtRis.

Wlterm

  • libtsm-based

wlgxterm

XFCE4 Terminal

  • Version 0.8.10
  • VTE-based

With TERM=xfce:

  • Default: XTermClear.
  • Terminfo: behaves like TerminfoScreen, doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • TerminfoScreen: adds a screenful of space to the scrollback before clearing.
  • TerminfoScrollback: terminfo does not support E3.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: adds a screenful of space to the scrollback before clearing.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

xiate

  • Version 20.07

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Xterm

  • Version 367

Native TERM is xterm.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal, and dings the terminal bell.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Yaft

Yaftx

  • Version 0.2.9
  • There’s no scrollback at all, so it’s impossible to know how things are really handled, but 🤷.

With native TERM=yaft-265color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: terminfo does not support E3.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Yakuake

  • Version 21.04.0
  • Konsole-based

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: doesn’t clear scrollback, appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • XtermClear: normal.

z/Scope

  • Web-based?

ZOC

  • Version 8 (8023)

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: XtermClear.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: does not clear scrollback.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Zterm

Zutty

  • Version 0.8

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: VtRis.
  • Terminfo: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information. Doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: as for Terminfo.

Serial terminal emulators?

Bootterm

Coolterm

Cutecom

dterm

Easyterm

HTerm

iserterm

Microcom

Minicom

Moserial

Picocom

ssterm

tio

Multiplexers

3mux

  • Version 1.1.0

Native TERM is xterm-256color.

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: erases the screen like TerminfoScreen and clears scrollback.
  • VtRis: does nothing.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Byobu

  • Uses Tmux underneath

Dvtm

  • Version 0.15

With native TERM=dvtm-265color:

  • Default: Terminfo. (The least worse option.)
  • Terminfo: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information. Doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: terminfo does not support E3.
  • VtRis: does nothing.
  • XtermClear: as for Terminfo.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information. Doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: does nothing.
  • XtermClear: as for Terminfo.

Eternal Terminal

Mosh

  • Version 1.3.2
  • TERM is inherited.
  • There’s no scrollback at all, so it’s impossible to know how things are really handled, but 🤷.

Tested here with xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

mtm

  • Version r394.b14e99c

With native TERM=screen-265color-bce:

  • Default: XtermClear.
  • Terminfo: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information. Doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: terminfo does not support E3.
  • VtRis: as for Terminfo.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: clears scrollback and screen, but leaves the cursor position.
  • VtRis: as for TerminfoScreen.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Screen

  • Version 4.08.00

With TERM=screen:

  • Default: XtermClear.
  • Terminfo: normal (does not clear scrollback).
  • TerminfoScreen: adds a screenful of space to the scrollback before clearing.
  • TerminfoScrollback: terminfo does not support E3.
  • VtRis: adds a screenful of space to the scrollback before clearing, does not clear scrollback.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: clears scrollback, even though TerminfoScrollback below doesn’t work.
  • TerminfoScreen: adds a screenful of space to the scrollback before clearing.
  • TerminfoScrollback: doesn’t do anything.
  • VtRis: adds a screenful of space to the scrollback before clearing, does not clear scrollback.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Tab-rs

  • Version 0.5.7
  • Scrollback is inherited from the terminal, not managed internally, so depends on what you have.
  • TERM is inherited too, so as long as it passes the escapes out, it will work as the terminal.

Tested with xterm-256color in Alacritty:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Tmux

  • Version 3.2

With TERM=tmux-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: normal.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: does not clear scrollback.
  • XtermClear: normal.

With TERM=xterm-256color:

  • Default: Terminfo.
  • Terminfo: normal.
  • TerminfoScreen: adds a screenful of space to the scrollback before clearing.
  • TerminfoScrollback: normal.
  • VtRis: does not clear scrollback.
  • XtermClear: normal.

Zellij

  • Version 0.5.1
  • TERM is inherited.

Tested with xterm-256color in Alacritty:

  • Default: VtRis.
  • Terminfo: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information. Doesn’t clear scrollback.
  • TerminfoScreen: appears to clear the screen, but really erases the screen without scrolling the existing output up, thus losing a screenful of information.
  • TerminfoScrollback: does nothing.
  • VtRis: normal.
  • XtermClear: as for Terminfo.

Recorders

Asciinema

Asciinema Rust

GoTTY

Hasciinema?

ipbt

Shell in a box

Shellshare

Showterm

T-Rec

Term to SVG

Terminalizer

Termrec

tmate.io

ts-player

tty-share

TTYcast

ttyd

upterm

webtty