{
  "id": "terminal-csi/cnl",
  "family": "terminal-csi",
  "slug": "cnl",
  "title": "CSI CNL / CPL — Cursor Next / Previous Line",
  "summary": "CNL (final 'E') moves the cursor down Pn lines (default 1) AND to column 1; CPL (final 'F') moves up Pn lines and to column 1. They combine a vertical move with a carriage return, unlike CUU/CUD which preserve the column.",
  "kind": "control-sequence",
  "aliases": [
    "CNL",
    "CPL",
    "cursor next line",
    "cursor previous line",
    "ESC [ E",
    "ESC [ F"
  ],
  "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 E = Cursor Next Line Ps (CNL); CSI Ps F = Cursor Preceding Line Ps (CPL). Both move to column 1 of the target line. 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 8.3.12 (CNL) and 8.3.13 (CPL)",
      "note": "ECMA-48 defines CNL (final 'E') and CPL (final 'F') as line moves that also reset the active column to 1."
    }
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "terminal-csi/cuu",
    "terminal-csi/cha",
    "terminal-csi/cup"
  ],
  "ext_type": "terminal-escape@1",
  "ext": {
    "csi_or_osc": "CSI",
    "command_number": "CNL",
    "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: 'E' next-line, 'F' previous-line. Pn defaults to 1; both reset column to 1."
    },
    "terminator": "none",
    "terminator_detail": {
      "note": "No string terminator; the CSI sequence ends at its final byte. Parameters Ps are decimal, ';' (0x3B) separated."
    },
    "params": [
      {
        "id": "cnl",
        "anchor": "#cnl",
        "name": "CNL — Cursor Next Line (E)",
        "meaning": "CSI Pn E moves the cursor down Pn lines and to the first column (default Pn = 1).",
        "required": true,
        "byte_sequence_ST": "\u001b[2E",
        "byte_sequence_ST_readable": "ESC [ 2 E   ==  \\x1b[2E   (down 2 lines, column 1)",
        "subparams": []
      },
      {
        "id": "cpl",
        "anchor": "#cpl",
        "name": "CPL — Cursor Preceding Line (F)",
        "meaning": "CSI Pn F moves the cursor up Pn lines and to the first column (default Pn = 1).",
        "required": false,
        "byte_sequence_ST": "\u001b[2F",
        "byte_sequence_ST_readable": "ESC [ 2 F   ==  \\x1b[2F   (up 2 lines, column 1)",
        "subparams": []
      }
    ],
    "gotchas": [
      "The distinguishing feature vs CUU/CUD is the implicit carriage return to column 1; if you want to keep the column, use CUU/CUD instead.",
      "Like the relative moves, CNL/CPL clamp at the page edges and do not scroll.",
      "A Pn of 0 is treated as 1.",
      "CNL is NOT the same as emitting CR+LF: CNL clamps without scrolling, while LF at the bottom margin scrolls."
    ],
    "v1_smoke_test": {
      "asserts": "CNL ('E') and CPL ('F') render as byte-exact single-parameter CSI sequences.",
      "behavioral_conformance": "deferred to v2."
    }
  },
  "updated": "2026-05-29T00:00:00Z"
}