DECSCUSR — Cursor shape

Change the cursor shape: block, underline, or bar (with optional blink).

Byte forms

Every common string-literal form so you can paste-and-search either direction.

\\x1b[\x1b[N\x20q (N = 0..6)

\\033[\033[1 q

\\e[\e[1 q

ESC [ESC [ N SP q

hex1b 5b <N> 20 71

Description

Set Cursor Style. The parameter selects shape and blink: `0` or `1` = blinking block (default), `2` = steady block, `3` = blinking underline, `4` = steady underline, `5` = blinking bar (vertical line), `6` = steady bar. The intermediate byte is a literal SPACE (0x20) before the final `q`. Vim's `t_SI`/`t_EI` and many shells use `\x1b[6 q` (bar) for insert mode and `\x1b[2 q` (block) for normal mode. Restore your terminal default with `\x1b[0 q` on exit.

Spec citation: xterm-ctlseqs (DECSCUSR, CSI Ps SP q)

Parameters

0	user-default cursor
1	blinking block
2	steady block
3	blinking underline
4	steady underline
5	blinking bar
6	steady bar

Examples

bash

printf '\033[6 q'   # vertical bar (insert mode)\nprintf '\033[2 q'   # block (normal mode)\nprintf '\033[0 q'   # restore default

python

import sys; sys.stdout.write('\x1b[6 q')

fmt.Print("\x1b[6 q")

javascript

process.stdout.write('\x1b[6 q')

printf("\x1b[6 q");

Terminal support

xterm: yes
Linux console (fbcon): partial
macOS Terminal.app: yes
iTerm2: yes
Windows Terminal: yes
cmd.exe / ConPTY: partial
kitty: yes
alacritty: yes
WezTerm: yes
Ghostty: yes
GNOME Terminal: yes
Konsole: yes
tmux: no
GNU screen: no

xterm	Linux console (fbcon)	macOS Terminal.app	iTerm2	Windows Terminal	cmd.exe / ConPTY	kitty	alacritty	WezTerm	Ghostty	GNOME Terminal	Konsole	tmux	GNU screen
yes	partial	yes	yes	yes	partial	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no

Related sequences

In the family cookbook

CSI cookbook · 6. Insert / delete / cursor shape — IL / DL / ICH / DCH / ECH + DECSCUSR