{
  "slug": "iterm2",
  "name": "iTerm2",
  "aliases": ["iTerm"],
  "vendor": { "name": "George Nachman (iTerm2 project)", "slug": "iterm2-project", "website": "https://iterm2.com" },
  "homepage_url": "https://iterm2.com/",
  "docs_url": "https://iterm2.com/documentation.html",
  "repo_url": "https://gitlab.com/gnachman/iterm2",
  "license_url": "https://gitlab.com/gnachman/iterm2/-/blob/master/LICENSE",
  "product_type": "application",
  "product_status": "active",
  "summary": "Feature-rich terminal emulator for macOS with split panes, profiles, triggers, search, tmux integration and a Python scripting API",
  "description": "iTerm2 is a terminal emulator for macOS maintained by George Nachman and released under the GPL version 2. It replaces the built-in Terminal.app with a far larger feature set: split panes and tabs, per-profile settings, hotkey windows, regex-based triggers that react to output, instant replay of past screen contents, inline image display, password management, and shell integration that tracks the current directory and command status.\n\nIts tmux integration (`tmux -CC`) maps tmux windows and panes onto native iTerm2 tabs and splits so remote sessions behave like local ones, which is convenient when working across many SSH hosts. A Python API allows scripting of windows, sessions and profiles. iTerm2 is macOS-only and has accumulated a large preferences surface that can feel heavy compared with newer emulators such as Ghostty; GPU rendering is available but the application is not as fast on very high-throughput output as some competitors. Downloads are free, with optional donations.",
  "capabilities": ["Split panes, tabs and hotkey windows", "Profiles with per-host settings and badges", "Triggers that act on matching output", "Native tmux integration (tmux -CC)", "Shell integration and command history", "Python scripting API", "Inline images and search with regex"],
  "workflows": ["Attach to a tmux session on a remote node with native tabs", "Define per-server profiles that switch colors and settings on SSH", "Automate window layouts with the Python API"],
  "advantages": ["Very broad feature set for macOS", "Mature and long maintained", "Free software under the GPL"],
  "limitations": ["macOS only", "Large settings surface", "Not the fastest renderer for heavy output"],
  "prerequisites": ["macOS; download from iterm2.com or Homebrew cask"],
  "audiences": ["macOS developers and system administrators", "Users managing many SSH sessions"],
  "alternatives": ["ghostty", "warp"],
  "comparison_notes": "Ghostty offers a leaner, GPU-rendered native terminal with fewer features but simpler configuration. Warp adds AI and block-based output as a commercial product. iTerm2 remains the most configurable of the three and the only one with native tmux control mode.",
  "categories": [{ "slug": "terminals-shells", "primary": true }],
  "tags": ["terminal", "macos", "open-source"],
  "use_cases": ["edit-code-remotely"],
  "operating_systems": ["macos"],
  "execution_modes": ["local"],
  "interfaces": ["desktop"],
  "deployment_models": ["desktop"],
  "integrations": ["tmux", "zsh", "bash", "fish", "Python API"],
  "data_formats": ["plist preferences", "JSON profiles"],
  "languages": ["Objective-C", "Swift", "Python"],
  "source_model": "open-source",
  "license_spdx": "GPL-2.0-only",
  "pricing_model": ["open-source", "free"],
  "self_hostable": null,
  "sources": [
    { "url": "https://iterm2.com/", "type": "official_site", "title": "iTerm2 - macOS Terminal Replacement", "supports": ["name", "summary"], "checked_at": "2026-11-02" },
    { "url": "https://iterm2.com/documentation.html", "type": "official_docs", "title": "iTerm2 Documentation", "supports": ["capabilities"], "checked_at": "2026-11-02" },
    { "url": "https://gitlab.com/gnachman/iterm2/-/blob/master/LICENSE", "type": "license_page", "supports": ["license_spdx", "source_model"], "checked_at": "2026-11-02" }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "discovery_method": "editorial-research",
  "depth": "standard",
  "editorial_status": "reviewed",
  "visibility": "public",
  "featured": false,
  "author": "batch-B1"
}