{
  "id": "terminal-csi/cha",
  "family": "terminal-csi",
  "slug": "cha",
  "title": "CSI CHA / HPA — Cursor Horizontal Absolute (column)",
  "summary": "CHA (final 'G') moves the cursor to column Pn of the current row (default 1), without changing the row. HPA (final '`', backtick) is the format-effector twin with the same effect. Useful for column-aligning output without a full CUP.",
  "kind": "control-sequence",
  "aliases": [
    "CHA",
    "HPA",
    "cursor horizontal absolute",
    "column absolute",
    "ESC [ G"
  ],
  "status": "standard",
  "verification": "verified",
  "tier": "B",
  "source_url": "https://invisible-island.net/xterm/ctlseqs/ctlseqs.html",
  "source_version": "xterm ctlseqs, patch #410, 2026/04/19",
  "retrieved_date": "2026-05-29",
  "attribution": [
    {
      "claim_ref": "#summary",
      "source_url": "https://invisible-island.net/xterm/ctlseqs/ctlseqs.html",
      "source_version": "xterm patch #410, 2026/04/19",
      "note": "xterm ctlseqs: CSI Ps G = Cursor Character Absolute [column] (CHA); CSI Ps ` = Character Position Absolute [column] (HPA). Default Ps = 1."
    },
    {
      "claim_ref": "ext.params",
      "source_url": "https://ecma-international.org/publications-and-standards/standards/ecma-48/",
      "source_version": "ECMA-48 5th ed. 1991 (ISO/IEC 6429), clauses 8.3.9 (CHA) and 8.3.57 (HPA)",
      "note": "ECMA-48 defines CHA (final 'G') and HPA (final '`') as absolute column positioning, 1-based, default 1."
    }
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "terminal-csi/cup",
    "terminal-csi/cnl",
    "terminal-csi/cuu"
  ],
  "ext_type": "terminal-escape@1",
  "ext": {
    "csi_or_osc": "CSI",
    "command_number": "CHA",
    "frame": {
      "introducer_7bit": "\u001b[",
      "introducer_7bit_readable": "ESC [ (0x1B 0x5B)",
      "introducer_8bit": "›",
      "introducer_8bit_readable": "0x9B (single-byte CSI, 8-bit C1)",
      "note": "CSI + single Pn + final byte: 'G' (CHA, 0x47) or '`' (HPA, 0x60). Column is 1-based, default 1; the row is unchanged."
    },
    "terminator": "none",
    "terminator_detail": {
      "note": "No string terminator; the CSI sequence ends at its final byte. Parameters Ps are decimal, ';' (0x3B) separated."
    },
    "params": [
      {
        "id": "cha",
        "anchor": "#cha",
        "name": "CHA — Cursor Horizontal Absolute (G)",
        "meaning": "CSI Pn G moves the cursor to column Pn (1-based) of the current row. 'CSI G' goes to column 1.",
        "required": true,
        "byte_sequence_ST": "\u001b[10G",
        "byte_sequence_ST_readable": "ESC [ 1 0 G   ==  \\x1b[10G   (column 10, same row)",
        "subparams": []
      },
      {
        "id": "hpa",
        "anchor": "#hpa",
        "name": "HPA — Character Position Absolute (`)",
        "meaning": "CSI Pn ` is the format-effector twin of CHA; same effect (absolute column).",
        "required": false,
        "byte_sequence_ST": "\u001b[10`",
        "byte_sequence_ST_readable": "ESC [ 1 0 `   ==  \\x1b[10`   (column 10)",
        "subparams": []
      }
    ],
    "gotchas": [
      "Column is 1-BASED; column 1 is the leftmost cell.",
      "Only the column changes; the row is preserved (unlike CUP which sets both).",
      "Out-of-range columns clamp to the right margin.",
      "HPA uses the backtick '`' (0x60) as its final byte — easy to typo as a quote; CHA's 'G' is the more common form.",
      "There is a sibling VPA ('d') for absolute ROW positioning; CHA/HPA are column-only."
    ],
    "v1_smoke_test": {
      "asserts": "CHA ('G') and HPA ('`') render as byte-exact single-parameter CSI sequences; home-column form 'CSI G' is recorded.",
      "behavioral_conformance": "deferred to v2."
    }
  },
  "updated": "2026-05-29T00:00:00Z"
}