ANSI Escape Codes

A set of control sequences known as ANSI escape codes can be included into text strings to regulate several aspects of text formatting and display in terminal emulators. These codes are frequently used to add colour, styling, and other effects to the text displayed in the terminal. They are generally supported across several terminals.

How ANSI Escape Codes Work:

• Escape Character (\x1b or \033): In most programming languages, the escape character (\x1b in JavaScript, Rust, and Go, or \033 in C, C++, Java and Python) is used to begin an ANSI escape code. The escape code sequence starts with this character.

• Numeric Codes: Numerical codes are used to express various formatting options after the escape character. For instance, \x1b[91m denotes the bright red foreground colour setting.

• Reset Code (\x1b[0m): Reset codes are frequently used to undo formatting modifications. For instance, \x1b[0m returns text formatting to its initial configuration.

Typical Use Cases:

• Text Colouring: To alter the colour of text, both foreground and background, ANSI escape codes are commonly utilised.

• Text Styles: ANSI escape codes can be used to apply bold, italic, underlining, and other text styles.

• Special Effects: Certain codes offer extra effects like framing or blinking text.

Note:

• Cross-Language Compatibility: Although most programming languages accept ANSI escape codes, there may be minor differences in the syntax for some special codes and escape characters.

• Terminal Emulator Dependent: Depending on the terminal emulator being utilised, ANSI escape codes may or may not work. Not every terminal may support every functionality.

ANSI Escape Codes for Text Formatting

Code	Style/Color	Description
1	Bold	Increases text intensity or sets bold text.
2	Faint	Decreases text intensity.
3	Italic	Italicizes text.
4	Underline	Underlines text.
5	Blink	Blinks text (not widely supported).
6	Rapid Blink	Rapidly blinks text (not widely supported).
7	Inverse	Inverts background and foreground colors.
8	Conceal	Hides text (not widely supported).
9	Crossed Out	Crosses out text (not widely supported).
10-19	Default Font	Set default text style (not widely supported).
20	Fraktur	Fraktur style (rarely supported).
21	Bold Off	Turn off bold (not widely supported).
22	Normal Intensity	Reset intensity (not widely supported).
23	Italic Off	Turn off italic (not widely supported).
24	Underline Off	Turn off underline (not widely supported).
25	Blink Off	Turn off blink (not widely supported).
27	Inverse Off	Turn off inverse (not widely supported).
28	Reveal	Reveal hidden text (not widely supported).
29	Not Crossed Out	Not crossed-out text (not widely supported).

Foreground Colors:

Code	Color	Description
30-37	Dark Foreground Colors	Various dark colors.
38	Extended Foreground	Specify RGB foreground color (not widely supported).
39	Default Foreground	Default foreground color.

Background Colors:

Code	Color	Description
40-47	Dark Background Colors	Various dark background colors.
48	Extended Background	Specify RGB background color (not widely supported).
49	Default Background	Default background color.

Bright Foreground Colors:

Code	Color	Description
90-97	Bright Foreground Colors	Various bright colors.

Bright Background Colors:

Code	Color	Description
100-107	Bright Background Colors	Various bright background colors.

Miscellaneous:

Code	Style/Effect	Description
50	Reset Font	Reset font to default (not widely supported).
51	Framed	Frame text (not widely supported).
52	Encircled	Encircle text (not widely supported).
53	Overlined	Draw line above text (not widely supported).
54	Not Overlined	Cancel overlined effect (not widely supported).
55-89	Reserved	Reserved for future standardization (not widely supported).
98	Default Foreground RGB	Reset foreground color to default (not widely supported).
99	Default Background RGB	Reset background color to default (not widely supported).

Hide and Unhide Cursor

You can hide the cursor by using [?25l and unhide back using [?25h. For instance, \x1b[?25l in JavaScript, Rust, and Go or \033[?25l in C, C++, Java and Python