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Selective Erase (DECSED)

Category: erase · Tags: VT220

DECSED (CSI ? Ps J) erases only unprotected characters, leaving characters with the protected attribute (DECSCA, SGR 1 m) intact. Used for form-based applications where static labels should survive screen clears.
How this is tested: Set protected attribute, write text, run DECSED, verify protected text remains.

Supported by 4 of 14 backends (29%)

Terminal Applications

TerminalVersionSupportNotes
iterm2-app3.6.9✗ no
kitty-app0.46.2✗ no
Terminal.app2.15✗ no
iTerm23.6.9? unknown
Ghostty1.3.1? unknown
cmux0.62.2? unknown
Kitty0.46.2? unknown
VS Code1.112.0? unknown
Warp0.2026.03.18.08.24.03? unknown
Cursor2.6.21? unknown

Headless Backends

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

BackendVersionSupportNotes
Alacritty0.26.0✓ yes
vt1000.2.1✓ yes
vterm0.2.0✓ yes
WezTerm0.1.0-fork.5✓ yes

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