DECKPAM / DECKPNM — Keypad application / numeric mode (ESC = / ESC >)

Byte forms

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

Description

Two C1-class escape sequences (no CSI, no parameter — just ESC followed by a single final byte) that flip the numeric keypad's input encoding. DECKPAM (\x1b=) enables Application Keypad Mode — the numeric keys 0-9 and operators +, -, *, /, ., Enter, etc. each send an SS3-prefixed sequence (\x1bOq for 1, \x1bOM for Enter, \x1bOk for +, …) instead of the literal ASCII byte. Curses programs that want to distinguish numeric-pad 5 from main-keyboard 5 enable this on startup. DECKPNM (\x1b>) reverses — the numeric keypad emits the plain ASCII bytes 0-9 and +-*/.\n, indistinguishable from the main keyboard. Curses keypad(stdscr, TRUE) translates to \x1b= on entry and \x1b> on exit; vim emits the pair around its main loop; less / man pages emit them around their reader UI. Important: cursor-pad keys (arrows, Home, End, PgUp, PgDn) are governed by a SEPARATE mode — DECCKM (\x1b[?1h/l), not DECKPAM — so enabling DECKPAM does NOT change arrow-key encoding. Confusingly named together by the manuals, but they are independent settings. Both sequences are 2-byte (ESC + final byte) which makes them parser-cheap; emit them around any TUI that needs distinct numpad input.

Spec citation: DEC VT100 (DECKPAM / DECKPNM) / xterm-ctlseqs

Parameters

Examples

# Enable app keypad — read what numpad-Enter sends now:\nprintf '\033='\nread -rsn 3 key   # captures \x1bOM instead of \n\nprintf '\033>'   # always restore on exit

import sys, termios, tty\nsys.stdout.write('\x1b=')   # app keypad on\n# … TUI loop with raw stdin …\nsys.stdout.write('\x1b>')   # normal keypad on exit

fmt.Print("\x1b=")   // DECKPAM: numpad sends SS3 sequences\ndefer fmt.Print("\x1b>")   // DECKPNM: restore

process.stdout.write('\x1b=')   // app keypad\nprocess.on('exit', () => process.stdout.write('\x1b>'))

fputs("\x1b=", stdout);   /* enter app keypad — pair with atexit handler emitting \x1b> */

Terminal support

xterm

yes

Linux console (fbcon)

yes

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

yes

GNU screen

yes

Related sequences

• DECSET ?2004 — Bracketed paste mode
• DECSET ?1004 — Focus in/out events
• DECSET 1049 — Alternate screen buffer
• XTMODKEYS — Modify keyboard reporting (CSI > Pp ; Pv m)

In the family cookbook

↗ESC cookbook · 3. Keypad mode — `\x1b=` / `\x1b>` (DECKPAM / DECKPNM)