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)