DECSCUSR — Set Cursor Style

Sequence	CSI <n> SP q
Bytes	0x1B 0x5B <n> 0x20 0x71
Mnemonic	DECSCUSR
Otty support	✓

Description

Sets the cursor shape and blink state. Note the literal SP (space, 0x20) between the parameter and the final q.

<n>	Style
0, 1	Block, blinking
2	Block, steady
3	Underline, blinking
4	Underline, steady
5	Beam, blinking
6	Beam, steady

Programs that set the cursor style typically restore it (or send 0) before exiting. The user default lives in the config (cursor-style and cursor-style-blink).

The shape always takes effect. The blink bit is honored only when the cursor-style-blink policy is one of the default_* values; the always_* values pin the blink and ignore it (as well as DEC mode 12). A program can query the current style with DECRQSS (DCS $ q SP q ST).

Example

printf '\e[5 q'      # beam, blinking
printf '\e[2 q'      # block, steady
printf '\e[0 q'      # back to user default

Try it

otty features try cursor-shape — cycles through every DECSCUSR shape with 700 ms holds so you can eyeball each one.

Related

• Cursor