[DOCS] Interactive mode docs missing native terminal IME composition and screen-reader caret tracking

Documentation Type

Missing documentation (feature not documented)

Documentation Location

https://code.claude.com/docs/en/interactive-mode

Section/Topic

Terminal input behavior in native terminal sessions, especially the General controls and Text editing guidance for prompt editing and cursor movement

Current Documentation

No documentation currently exists for IME composition, CJK input behavior, or screen-reader caret tracking in native terminal sessions.

The closest related docs currently say:

Keyboard shortcuts may vary by platform and terminal. Press ? to see available shortcuts for your environment. | Ctrl+C | Cancel current input or generation | Standard interrupt | | Ctrl+L | Clear terminal screen | Keeps conversation history | | Alt+B | Move cursor back one word | Word navigation. Requires [Option as Meta](#keyboard-shortcuts) on macOS | | Alt+F | Move cursor forward one word | Word navigation. Requires [Option as Meta](#keyboard-shortcuts) on macOS |

And the terminal setup guide currently focuses on line breaks and notifications:

Claude Code works best when your terminal is properly configured. Follow these guidelines to optimize your experience. You have several options for entering line breaks into Claude Code: Quick escape: Type \ followed by Enter to create a newline Shift+Enter: Works out of the box in iTerm2, WezTerm, Ghostty, and Kitty * Keyboard shortcut: Set up a keybinding to insert a newline in other terminals

Neither page mentions IME composition, inline CJK input, or screen readers following the current prompt position.

What's Wrong or Missing?

Claude Code v2.1.84 includes a user-facing native terminal input behavior change that is not documented anywhere in the Claude Code docs:

Fixed native terminal cursor not tracking the text input caret, so IME composition (CJK input) now renders inline and screen readers can follow the input position

The current docs do not explain that native terminal prompt editing now keeps the terminal cursor aligned with the text-input caret, which has two important consequences for users:

1. IME composition for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean input renders inline at the caret instead of appearing detached from the prompt.
2. Screen readers can follow the current input position while the user edits a prompt.

This is especially relevant because the changelog explicitly calls out the native terminal surface. Users who rely on CJK IMEs or assistive technology have no documentation telling them this behavior is supported in terminal sessions.

Suggested Improvement

Add a short IME and accessibility note to interactive-mode near the keyboard/input editing sections, and cross-reference it from terminal-config.

Suggested wording:

IME and accessibility: In native terminal sessions, Claude Code tracks the text-input caret so IME composition renders inline at the current prompt position. This improves editing with Chinese, Japanese, and Korean input methods and lets screen readers follow the current input position while you type.

The note should make clear that this is terminal input behavior, not just a visual rendering detail.

Impact

Medium - Makes feature difficult to understand

Additional Context

Affected Pages:

| Page | Context |
|------|---------|
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/interactive-mode | Primary reference for prompt editing, cursor movement, and terminal session keyboard behavior |
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/terminal-config | Terminal-specific setup page; good place for a cross-reference about terminal-dependent IME/accessibility behavior |

Total scope: 2 pages affected

Source: Changelog v2.1.84

Exact changelog entry:

Fixed native terminal cursor not tracking the text input caret, so IME composition (CJK input) now renders inline and screen readers can follow the input position