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Version query (OSC 702)

Category: extensions · Baseline: legacy · Tags: Operating System Commands (OSC) · Specification ↗

ESC ] 702 BEL
OSC 702 returns the terminal's version string. The sequence is ESC ] 702 BEL and the terminal responds with its name and version (e.g., rxvt-unicode 9.30). This is a rxvt-unicode-only extension, predating modern terminal version-detection mechanisms like XTVERSION (CSI > q) and DA1/DA2/DA3 fingerprinting. Modern applications use XTVERSION instead, which is supported across xterm, foot, Kitty, Ghostty, WezTerm, and many others. OSC 702 is essentially urxvt archaeology.
How this is testedpartial
Send OSC 702 BEL and verify the terminal responds with a version string or silently consumes the query.

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 all 4 tested terminals — universal adoption. Part of the Unicode baseline.

Supported by 6 of 14 backends (43%)

Terminal Applications

TerminalVersionSupportNotes
iTerm23.6.9✓ yes
Ghostty1.3.1✓ yes
Terminal.app2.15✓ yes
Kitty0.46.2✓ yes
VS Code1.113.0? 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? unknown
vt100.js0.2.1? unknown
vterm0.2.0? unknown
WezTerm0.1.0-fork.5? unknown
xterm.js5.5.0? unknown