{
  "id": "terminal-csi/el",
  "family": "terminal-csi",
  "slug": "el",
  "title": "CSI EL — Erase in Line",
  "summary": "EL (final 'K') erases part or all of the current line: Ps = 0 (or omitted) from the cursor to end of line, 1 from start of line to cursor, 2 the entire line. The cursor does not move and erased cells take the current background color.",
  "kind": "control-sequence",
  "aliases": [
    "EL",
    "erase line",
    "clear line",
    "CSI K",
    "ESC [ K",
    "ESC [ 2 K"
  ],
  "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 K = Erase in Line (EL): Ps = 0 to right, 1 to left, 2 all."
    },
    {
      "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), clause 8.3.41 (EL)",
      "note": "ECMA-48 defines EL (final 'K') with Ps 0 (cursor to end), 1 (start to cursor), 2 (all of line)."
    }
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "terminal-csi/ed",
    "terminal-csi/cha",
    "terminal-csi/ich"
  ],
  "ext_type": "terminal-escape@1",
  "ext": {
    "csi_or_osc": "CSI",
    "command_number": "EL",
    "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 Ps + final byte 'K' (0x4B). Ps selects the erase extent within the current line; default 0."
    },
    "terminator": "none",
    "terminator_detail": {
      "note": "No string terminator; the CSI sequence ends at its final byte. Parameters Ps are decimal, ';' (0x3B) separated."
    },
    "params": [
      {
        "id": "0",
        "anchor": "#0",
        "name": "EL 0 — cursor to end of line",
        "meaning": "CSI 0 K (or CSI K) erases from the cursor (inclusive) to the end of the line.",
        "required": true,
        "byte_sequence_ST": "\u001b[0K",
        "byte_sequence_ST_readable": "ESC [ 0 K   ==  \\x1b[0K   (also \\x1b[K)",
        "subparams": []
      },
      {
        "id": "1",
        "anchor": "#1",
        "name": "EL 1 — start of line to cursor",
        "meaning": "CSI 1 K erases from the start of the line to the cursor (inclusive).",
        "required": false,
        "byte_sequence_ST": "\u001b[1K",
        "byte_sequence_ST_readable": "ESC [ 1 K   ==  \\x1b[1K",
        "subparams": []
      },
      {
        "id": "2",
        "anchor": "#2",
        "name": "EL 2 — entire line",
        "meaning": "CSI 2 K erases the whole current line. The cursor column does not change.",
        "required": false,
        "byte_sequence_ST": "\u001b[2K",
        "byte_sequence_ST_readable": "ESC [ 2 K   ==  \\x1b[2K",
        "subparams": []
      }
    ],
    "gotchas": [
      "The cursor does NOT move; to also return to column 1 add CR or CSI G.",
      "Erased cells take the CURRENT SGR background color.",
      "Default (no parameter) is Ps = 0 (erase to end of line), matching ED's default.",
      "EL only touches the current row; for multi-line clears use ED (CSI J).",
      "A common 'redraw this line' idiom is CR + EL 0 (\\r\\x1b[K) then reprint."
    ],
    "v1_smoke_test": {
      "asserts": "EL 0/1/2 render as byte-exact single-parameter CSI 'K' sequences; default-to-0 recorded.",
      "behavioral_conformance": "deferred to v2."
    }
  },
  "updated": "2026-05-29T00:00:00Z"
}