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Terminals
Terminal emulators tested across three categories: app terminals, parser backends, and multiplexers
terminfo.dev tests terminal emulators across three categories. App terminals are the GUI applications you interact with daily. Parser backends are standalone libraries and app parser engines tested without a GUI (like xterm.js, which powers VS Code's integrated terminal). Multiplexers sit between your terminal and your shell, adding session persistence but filtering escape sequences along the way. We also document historical terminals that defined the standards every modern emulator builds on.
App Terminals
Standalone terminal applications tested on real hardware via automated probing. These results reflect the full stack: parser, renderer, font support, and OS integration.
GhosttyZig
GPU-accelerated terminal by Mitchell Hashimoto. Excellent standards compliance, near the top of the feature matrix.
KittyC / Python
GPU-accelerated terminal by Kovid Goyal. Pioneer of the Kitty keyboard and graphics protocols.
iTerm2macOS
Feature-rich macOS terminal with split panes, profiles, and extensive customization. Native Cocoa app.
Terminal.appmacOS
Apple's built-in macOS terminal. Ships with every Mac.
WarpRust
AI-powered terminal with blocks-based UI. Rust-based, GPU-accelerated.
AlacrittyRust
GPU-accelerated minimal terminal. Pioneered GPU rendering for terminals in 2017.
WezTermRust
Terminal emulator with built-in multiplexer, Lua configuration, and SSH domain support.
VS Codexterm.js
Microsoft's code editor with integrated terminal. Uses xterm.js for terminal emulation.
Cursorxterm.js
AI code editor with integrated terminal. Based on VS Code, uses xterm.js.
Parser Backends
Terminal emulator parsers tested without rendering -- the parser and state machine in isolation. These include standalone libraries that power embedded terminals, and app parser engines from full terminals tested in headless mode. See Parser Backends for the full taxonomy and testing methodology.
xterm.jsTypeScript
The most widely deployed terminal emulator. Powers VS Code, Cursor, and countless web terminals.
vterm.jsTypeScript
Full-featured terminal emulator targeting 100% of the terminfo.dev feature matrix.
vt100.jsTypeScript
Lightweight VT100/VT220-era emulator. Zero dependencies, fast, ~58% feature coverage.
Multiplexers
Terminal multiplexers sit between your terminal and your shell, intercepting escape sequences. Not every feature survives the trip. See Multiplexers for the full pass-through analysis.
tmux2007
The most widely used terminal multiplexer. Session persistence, window management, pane splitting.
GNU Screen1987
The original terminal multiplexer. Session persistence and detach/reattach since 1987.
Historical
Hardware terminals and early software emulators that defined the standards every modern terminal builds on. These are reference entries -- no automated probe data is available.
DEC VT521975
DEC's pre-ANSI terminal. Proprietary escape sequences predating ECMA-48.
DEC VT1001978
The terminal that defined terminal emulation. First popular ANSI X3.64 implementation.
DEC VT2201983
Added editing operations (ICH/DCH/IL/DL) used by every TUI application today.
xterm1984
The reference X11 terminal emulator. Maintained by Thomas Dickey since 1996.
DEC VT5101993
Reference manual remains the most cited terminal specification.