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Cell size report (OSC 776)

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

ESC ] 776 BEL
OSC 776 reports the terminal's cell dimensions and font metrics. The query is ESC ] 776 BEL and the terminal responds with the cell width, cell height, and font ascent/descent values in pixels — enabling applications to align Sixel or pixel-graphics output to the character grid. This was introduced in rxvt-unicode 9.29 and is essentially a urxvt-specific alternative to xterm's CSI 14 t (window pixel size) and OSC 1337 ReportCellSize (iTerm2). Like the other urxvt OSC extensions, it sees no adoption outside its origin terminal.
How this is testedpartial
Send OSC 776 BEL and verify the terminal responds with cell metrics 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