escape sequence
<character> (Or "escape code") A series of characters starting with the
escape character (ASCII 27). Escape sequences are often used to control display
devices such as VDUs. An escape sequence might change the colour of subsequent
text, reassign keys on the keyboard, change printer settings or reposition the
cursor. The escape sequences of the DEC vt100 video terminal have become a de
facto standard for this purpose.
The term is also used for any sequence of characters that temporarily suspends
normal processing of a stream of characters to perform some special function.
For example, the Hayes modem uses the sequence "+++" to escape to command mode
in which characters are interpreted as commands to the modem itself rather than
as data to pass through.
[Was the character named after this use or vice versa?]
(1997-11-27)
Nearby terms:
ESC « ESCAPE « escape « escape sequence »
ESCD » ESCON » escrow
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