---
.title = "Pointer Shape (OSC 22)",
.description = "Change the shape of the mouse pointer while it is over the terminal.",
.date = .date("2026-10-02T00:00:00"),
.layout = "sequence.shtml",
.custom = {
    "mnemonic": "OSC 22",
    "name": "Change Pointer Shape",
    "sequence": "OSC 22 ; Pt ST",
    "ecma48": "8.3.89",
    "ecma48_name": "OSC – Operating System Command",
    "ecma48_page": 51,
    "xterm": "Operating System Commands",
    "spec": "https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/pointer-shapes/",
    "spec_name": "Mouse pointer shapes, kitty documentation",
},
---
`OSC 22 ; Pt ST` sets the shape of the mouse pointer over the terminal to
`Pt`, so that a program can show a hand over a link or a watch while it is
busy. It is xterm's, and xterm takes `Pt` as a name from the X cursor font:
`left_ptr` for an arrow, `hand2`, `watch`, `xterm` for the I-beam, and so on.
A name it does not know, or none at all, gives the I-beam, its default
([`xtermSetupPointer`](https://github.com/ThomasDickey/xterm-snapshots/blob/xterm-411a/misc.c#L991-L1029),
[`LookupCursorShape`](https://github.com/ThomasDickey/xterm-snapshots/blob/xterm-411a/misc.c#L891-L988)).

kitty extended it in its
[Mouse pointer shapes](https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/pointer-shapes/)
document, which uses the CSS cursor names (`default`, `pointer`, `wait`,
`text`, …) rather than X's, adds a stack, `OSC 22 ; > name ST` to push and
`OSC 22 ; < ST` to pop, and lets a program ask, with `OSC 22 ; ? names ST`,
which shapes the terminal has and which is current.

libghostty-vt keeps a shape its host can read and draw. It accepts the CSS
names, and the X names that have a CSS equivalent: `watch` is `wait`,
`left_ptr` is `default`, `xterm` is `text`. An empty `Pt` puts back `text`.
It ignores a name it does not know, rather than falling back as xterm does,
and it does not have kitty's stack or queries. The cases follow a default
xterm, and give each shape by its CSS name, which is what a case's
`pointer` line checks; the X cursors xterm sets are given by their CSS
equivalents. Those where a name is one only libghostty-vt knows, or neither
does, are known differences.

# Support

| Terminal | Version | Support | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| VT220 | [manual](https://vt100.net/docs/vt220-rm/), 2nd ed., 1984 | No | OSC is not among the controls it recognizes ([§4.2](https://vt100.net/docs/vt220-rm/chapter4.html#S4.2)) |
| VT510 | [manual](https://vt100.net/docs/vt510-rm/), 1st ed., 1993 | No | ignores an OSC string ([chapter 4](https://vt100.net/docs/vt510-rm/chapter4.html)) |
| xterm | patch 412, [xterm-411a](https://github.com/ThomasDickey/xterm-snapshots/tree/xterm-411a) | Yes | X cursor font names; an unknown name gives the I-beam |
| libghostty-vt | [919dca5](https://github.com/ghostty-org/ghostty/tree/919dca5c848d43a489a4cb2e1feade016f0fa2db) | Partly | CSS names and X names with a CSS equivalent; ignores unknown names; no stack or queries (OSC22-5, OSC22-6) |
| Konsole | 26.11.70, [a24c3d71](https://invent.kde.org/utilities/konsole/-/tree/a24c3d71be3684f24d030aa2dbe9bd723d985233) | Partly | CSS names and Qt's, not X's `hand2` or `watch`; an unknown name resets it; no stack or queries |
| kitty | 0.49.2, its documentation | Yes | CSS names, a stack and queries: [Mouse pointer shapes](https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/pointer-shapes/) |
| ConEmu | build 230724, its [documentation](https://conemu.github.io/en/AnsiEscapeCodes.html) | No | not in its [ANSI escape codes](https://conemu.github.io/en/AnsiEscapeCodes.html) |

# Validation

## OSC22-1: The I-beam to begin with

>[]($block.attrs("vt-case"))
> ```
> A
> ```
> ```
> |A_____|
> pointer text
> ```

## OSC22-2: An X cursor name

>[]($block.attrs("vt-case"))
> ```
> \e]22;watch\e\\
> ```
> ```
> |______|
> pointer wait
> ```

## OSC22-3: Another

>[]($block.attrs("vt-case"))
> ```
> \e]22;left_ptr\e\\
> ```
> ```
> |______|
> pointer default
> ```

## OSC22-4: Empty puts back the I-beam

>[]($block.attrs("vt-case"))
> ```
> \e]22;watch\e\\
> \e]22;\e\\
> ```
> ```
> |______|
> pointer text
> ```

## OSC22-5: A CSS name, which xterm does not know

>[]($block.attrs("vt-case","known-difference"))
> ```
> \e]22;watch\e\\
> \e]22;pointer\e\\  # not an X cursor: the I-beam
> ```
> ```
> |______|
> pointer text
> ```

## OSC22-6: A name neither knows

>[]($block.attrs("vt-case","known-difference"))
> ```
> \e]22;watch\e\\
> \e]22;nosuch\e\\
> ```
> ```
> |______|
> pointer text
> ```

## OSC22-7: kitty's query is not answered

>[]($block.attrs("vt-case"))
> ```
> \e]22;?__current__\e\\
> ```
> ```
> |______|
> reply none
> ```