A guide to ANSI on Discord

ansi-colors-discord.md

A guide to ANSI on Discord

Discord is now slowly rolling out the ability to send colored messages within code blocks. It uses the ANSI color codes, so if you've tried to print colored text in your terminal or console with Python or other languages then it will be easy for you.

Quick Explanation

To be able to send a colored text, you need to use the ansi language for your code block and provide a prefix of this format before writing your text:

\u001b[{format};{color}m

Important

\u001b is the unicode escape for ESCAPE/ESC, meant to be used in the source of your bot (see http://www.unicode-symbol.com/u/001B.html). If you wish to send colored text without using your bot you need to copy the character from the website.

After you've written this, you can now type the text you wish to color. If you want to reset the color back to normal, then you need to use the \u001b[0m prefix again.

Formats

Here is the list of values you can use to replace {format}

• 0: Normal
• 1: Bold
• 4: Underline

Colors

Here is the list of values you can use to replace {color}:

Text Colors

• 30: Gray
• 31: Red
• 32: Green
• 33: Yellow
• 34: Blue
• 35: Pink
• 36: Cyan
• 37: White

Background Colors

• 40: Black
• 41: Red
• 42: Green
• 43: Yellow
• 44: Blue
• 45: Pink
• 46: Cyan
• 47: White

Example

Let's take an example, I want a bold green colored text with the firefly dark blue background. I simply use \u001b[0;40m (background color) and \u001b[1;32m (text color) as prefix. Note that the order is important, first you give the background color and then the text color.

Alternatively you can also directly combine them into a single prefix like the following: \u001b[1;40;32m and you can also use multiple values. Something like \u001b[1;40;4;32m would underline the text, make it bold, make it green and have a dark blue background.

Result:

Raw message used:

```ansi
\u001b[0;40m\u001b[1;32mThat's some cool formatted text right?\u001b[0m
or
\u001b[1;40;32mThat's some cool formatted text right?\u001b[0m
```

ANSI Colors Showcase

The way the colors and different formats look like on Discord is shown here

Disclaimer

Note: The change has been brought to all stable desktop clients. Since syntax highlighting on mobile is far behind, ANSI is not supported on mobile as well. Refer to this gist for other syntax highlighting methods.

ansi-colors-showcase.md

ANSI Colors Showcase

This is a small gist to show how I've made the picture showcasing the different ANSI formats above.

Important

\u001b is the unicode escape for ESCAPE/ESC, meant to be used in the source of your bot (see http://www.unicode-symbol.com/u/001B.html). If you wish to send colored text without using your bot you need to copy the character from the website.

---

Example

\u001b[1;40;32mThat's some cool formatted text, right?

Color Names

\u001b[0;30mBlack\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;31mRed\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;32mGreen\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;33mYellow\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;34mBlue\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;35mPink\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;36mCyan\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;37mWhite\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;40mBlack background\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;41mRed background\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;42mGreen background\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;43mYellow background\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;44mBlue background\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;45mPink background\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;46mCyan background\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;47mWhite background\u001b[0;0m

Colors

\u001b[0;30mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;31mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;32mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;33mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;34mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;35mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;36mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;37mExample\u001b[0;0m

Backgrounds

\u001b[0;40mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;41mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;42mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;43mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;44mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;45mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;46mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;47mExample\u001b[0;0m

Backgrounds & Colors

\u001b[0;40;30mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;40;31mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;40;32mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;40;33mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;40;34mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;40;35mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;40;36mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;40;37mExample\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;41;30mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;41;31mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;41;32mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;41;33mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;41;34mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;41;35mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;41;36mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;41;37mExample\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;42;30mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;42;31mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;42;32mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;42;33mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;42;34mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;42;35mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;42;36mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;42;37mExample\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;43;30mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;43;31mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;43;32mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;43;33mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;43;34mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;43;35mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;43;36mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;43;37mExample\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;44;30mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;44;31mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;44;32mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;44;33mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;44;34mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;44;35mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;44;36mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;44;37mExample\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;45;30mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;45;31mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;45;32mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;45;33mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;45;34mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;45;35mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;45;36mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;45;37mExample\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;46;30mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;46;31mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;46;32mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;46;33mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;46;34mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;46;35mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;46;36mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;46;37mExample\u001b[0;0m
\u001b[0;47;30mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;47;31mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;47;32mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;47;33mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;47;34mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;47;35mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;47;36mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[0;47;37mExample\u001b[0;0m

Bold

\u001b[1;30mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[1;31mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[1;32mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[1;33mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[1;34mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[1;35mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[1;36mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[1;37mExample\u001b[0;0m

Underlined

\u001b[4;30mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[4;31mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[4;32mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[4;33mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[4;34mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[4;35mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[4;36mExample\u001b[0;0m \u001b[4;37mExample\u001b[0;0m

Date & time: Any idea how i can post <t:1733099740:D> into a ansi without losting the format?

Not possible, you can't put other markdown/message formatting within code blocks.

This is like the discord markdown bible for colorizing and styling text. Fantastic!

Shame it doesn't support 24 bit color

python script to convert arbitrary ANSI escape sequences into the few colors that discord supports: https://github.com/simonLeary42/daad

@WlodekM @Delitel-WEB Read carefully:

\u001b is the unicode escape for ESCAPE/ESC, meant to be used in the source of your bot (see http://www.unicode-symbol.com/u/001B.html). If you wish to send colored text without using your bot you need to copy the character from the website.

Copy here: �[0;0m

So what would the raw message be then? I am not understanding.

@kkrypt0nn
any idea, seems Discord has just changed 'interpretation' of the colors

They finally decided to follow the colors of the ANSI standard and not have some weird colors for the backgrounds.

I'll update the images and examples as soon as I can 👍

They finally decided to follow the colors of the ANSI standard and not have some weird colors for the backgrounds.

Really, so I gather that is a change from the current strategies then?

I'll update the images and examples as soon as I can 👍

So, efforts around a AnsiTextMessageBuilder are obsolete? When is that changing? And to what? i.e. for brevity (obviously there are actual ANSI values being injected there, TextColorWhite for instance defined as 37:

public enum AnsiBackgroundColor
{
    BackgroundColorDarkTeal,
    BackgroundColorOrange,
    BackgroundColorDarkGray,
    BackgroundColorWarmGray,
    BackgroundColorGray,
    BackgroundColorPurple,
    BackgroundColorLightGray,
    BackgroundColorWhite
}

public enum AnsiTextColor
{
    TextColorGray,
    TextColorRed,
    TextColorGreen,
    TextColorYellow,
    TextColorBlue,
    TextColorMagenta,
    TextColorCyan,
    TextColorWhite
}

public enum AnsiFormat
{
    FormatNormal,
    FormatBold,
    FormatUnderline
}

And:

class AnsiTextMessageBuilder
{
    public AnsiTextMessageBuilder Append(string text) ... ;

    public AnsiTextMessageBuilder AppendFormatted(string text, AnsiFormat format = FormatNormal, AnsiTextColor? textColor = null, AnsiBackgroundColor? backgroundColor = null) ... ;

    public AnsiTextMessageBuilder InsertFormatted(int index, string text, AnsiFormat format = FormatNormal, AnsiTextColor? textColor = null, AnsiBackgroundColor? backgroundColor = null) ... ;

    public AnsiTextMessageBuilder ReplaceFormatted(int index, string text, AnsiFormat format = FormatNormal, AnsiTextColor? textColor = null, AnsiBackgroundColor? backgroundColor = null) ... ;

    public AnsiTextMessageBuilder Clear() ... ;

    public override string ToString() ... ;
}

Thoughts? 🧠 💡

Discord ANSI Syntax TrueColor Support $${\color{#ffff00}\textsf{[Experimental]}}$$

I know this thread might not be active anymore, but discord is experimenting true color ansi syntax, and i aparently am patient 0, as there is no documentation about "Discord Ansi TrueColor Syntax" or anything related

\u001B[38;2;255;0;0mR\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;255;37;0ma\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;255;75;0mi\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;255;112;0mn\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;255;149;0mb\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;255;187;0mo\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;255;224;0mw\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;249;255;0m \u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;211;255;0mt\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;174;255;0me\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;137;255;0ms\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;100;255;0mt\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;62;255;0m:\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;25;255;0m \u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;255;12mL\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;255;50mo\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;255;87mr\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;255;124me\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;255;162mm\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;255;199m \u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;255;236mI\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;236;255mp\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;199;255ms\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;162;255mu\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;124;255mn\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;87;255m \u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;50;255mD\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;0;12;255mo\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;25;0;255ml\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;62;0;255mo\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;100;0;255mr\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;137;0;255m \u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;174;0;255mS\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;211;0;255mi\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;249;0;255mt\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;255;0;224m \u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;255;0;187mA\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;255;0;149mm\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;255;0;112me\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;255;0;75mt\u001B[0m\u001B[38;2;255;0;37m.\u001B[0m

this is the code to put in the codeblock, and remember to replace all \u001B with the escape character

it works currently on both chromium for mobile and desktop, i haven't tested firefox or safari

also this doesn't work for everyone, i still haven't found any other person with that experiment too, and according to my searches, i am probably patient 0

It's mainly that people don't use it.

I will see how to edit the Gist accordingly

I know this thread might not be active anymore...

It's active enough. This is interesting and I might turn around and figure on adopting a similar approach somehow.

It's mainly that people don't use it.

Then call me a mainly person then. I even cooked up a CSharp "builder" to encapsulate it. but you're not incorrect, I do not see many calls for it by a and large.

@TinyVirtual
unfortunately not working for me ( Edge & Firefox)

(only tried the red 255;0;0 for a test) whereby all the 'older' sequences work

like

As an "experimental" thing, does it require a bot be added perhaps? 🤷