Support Ctrl+[ as Esc equivalent in both normal and vim input modes

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
• [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)

Problem Statement

Ctrl+[ is a standard ANSI terminal keybinding that sends the exact same escape sequence as the Esc key. However, Claude Code does not recognize
Ctrl+[ as Esc in either normal mode or vim mode.

This forces users to physically move their hand to press Esc, breaking the home-row muscle memory that terminal users rely on. The issue affects both vim mode (where Ctrl+[ should exit insert mode) and normal mode (where Esc dismisses/cancels input).

Proposed Solution

Map Ctrl+[ to Esc in all input modes:

• Normal mode: same effect as pressing Esc
• Vim mode: exit insert mode, identical to Esc

This is consistent with standard terminal, readline, and vim behavior where Ctrl+[ has always been a first-class equivalent to Esc.

Alternative Solutions

• Using physical Esc: works, but requires moving hand away from the home row

Priority

Medium - Would be very helpful

Feature Category

Interactive mode (TUI)

Use Case Example

1. I'm in Claude Code's input box typing a message
2. I want to cancel or switch to vim normal mode
3. I instinctively press Ctrl+[ (standard terminal habit)
4. Currently nothing happens — I have to reach for the Esc key
5. With this feature, Ctrl+[ would work identically to Esc

Additional Context

• OS: macOS, Shell: zsh, Chip: Apple Silicon (arm64)
• Ctrl+[ producing the escape sequence is defined ANSI terminal behavior, not a vim-specific concept
• This is a common request from terminal power users who avoid moving hands off the home row