Bug 511023

Summary: Replace the old caret with the modern one
Product: [Applications] konsole Reporter: Fernando M. Muniz <fernandommuniz>
Component: generalAssignee: Konsole Bugs <konsole-bugs-null>
Status: RESOLVED INTENTIONAL    
Severity: wishlist CC: ninjalj
Priority: NOR Keywords: accessibility, usability
Version First Reported In: 25.08.2   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: Arch Linux   
OS: Linux   
See Also: https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=510538
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:
Attachments: ▮ resembles a selection, but responds differently to the Backspace key.

Description Fernando M. Muniz 2025-10-24 14:07:12 UTC 
STEPS TO REPRODUCE
Navigate through a command on Konsole.

OBSERVED RESULT
The old caret can easily make new users think that it's going to replace the letter above͟ it.

EXPECTED RESULT
The modern caret should make users know the text is going in betw|een the letters.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: Arch Linux 
KDE Plasma Version: 6.5.0
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.19.0
Qt Version: 6.10.0
Kernel Version: 6.17.4-arch2-1 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland
Processors: 8 × 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-11300H @ 3.10GHz
Memory: 9 GB of RAM (8.1 GB usable)
Graphics Processor 1: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Graphics Processor 2: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
Manufacturer: LENOVO
Product Name: 82MG
System Version: IdeaPad Gaming 3 15IHU6

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Old caret: _
Modern Caret: |
Comment 1 Fernando M. Muniz 2025-10-24 14:15:08 UTC 
*The caret that Konsole uses is: ▮
Comment 2 Fernando M. Muniz 2025-10-30 01:15:41 UTC 
Created attachment 186311 [details]
▮ resembles a selection, but responds differently to the Backspace key.

The Konsole's caret deletes what is behind the character its encapsulating, while a text selection deletes the character its encapsulating.
Comment 3 ninjalj 2025-11-02 12:30:14 UTC 
For historical reasons, the cursor position on terminal emulators behaves as if it is on a character position, not between characters, making the rectangle or the underline cursor way more appropriate than the I-beam cursor on terminal emulators.

Nevertheless, terminal applications can request to change the cursor shape if they so desire using the DECSCUSR control sequence from VT520. For example, neovim changes to an I-beam cursor when in insert mode.