VT52

The VT52 was a video terminal manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and introduced in 1978. It was a successor to the popular VT100 and was designed to be a more affordable alternative. The VT52 offered a monochrome display and supported standard ASCII characters.

A key feature of the VT52 was its use of escape sequences for control commands. These sequences, starting with the Escape character (ASCII 27), allowed the terminal to control cursor movement, clear the screen, and set various display attributes. While it shared some command sets with the VT100, the VT52 had its own unique set of escape sequences, particularly for cursor control, which differentiated it from its predecessor and some other terminals of the era.

The VT52 found widespread use in various computing environments, especially with minicomputers and early microcomputers. Its relatively low cost and functional capabilities made it a popular choice for many users and businesses. Although it was eventually superseded by more advanced terminals, the VT52 left a mark on terminal history, particularly for its distinct command set that influenced some later terminal emulations. It was known for its reliability and ease of use within the context of its time.

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