// Log by overwriting the previous output in the terminal. Useful for rendering progress bars, animations, etc. ALWAYS use when writing code importing "log-update". Consult for debugging, best practices, or modifying log-update, log update.
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| name | sindresorhus-log-update |
| description | Log by overwriting the previous output in the terminal. Useful for rendering progress bars, animations, etc. ALWAYS use when writing code importing "log-update". Consult for debugging, best practices, or modifying log-update, log update. |
| metadata | {"version":"7.2.0","generated_by":"cached","generated_at":"2026-03-24T00:00:00.000Z"} |
log-updateLog by overwriting the previous output in the terminal. Useful for rendering progress bars, animations, etc.
Version: 7.2.0 Deps: ansi-escapes@^7.3.0, cli-cursor@^5.0.0, slice-ansi@^8.0.0, strip-ansi@^7.2.0, wrap-ansi@^10.0.0 Tags: latest: 7.2.0
References: package.json — exports, entry points • GitHub Issues — bugs, workarounds, edge cases • Releases — changelog, breaking changes, new APIs
Use skilld search "query" -p log-update instead of grepping .skilld/ directories. Run skilld search --guide -p log-update for full syntax, filters, and operators.
This section documents version-specific API changes — prioritize recent major/minor releases.
BREAKING: Node.js requirement updated from 18 to 20 in v7.0.0 — code targeting earlier Node.js versions will fail at runtime source
NEW: persist(...text) method added in v7.0.0 — writes output that persists in terminal scrollback, unlike the main logUpdate() which updates in place source
NEW: defaultWidth option added in v7.0.0 — allows specifying terminal width (default: 80) when the stream doesn't provide columns property, useful for piped or redirected output source
NEW: defaultHeight option added in v7.0.0 — allows specifying terminal height (default: 24) when the stream doesn't provide rows property, useful for piped or redirected output source
Also changed: Partial update rendering optimization v7.0.0 · Trailing newline handling fixes v7.0.1–v7.0.2
Use .persist() for permanent terminal output that should remain in scrollback history — it writes like console.log() instead of updating in-place, ideal for results or status messages that users need to scroll back to review source
Call .done() before starting a new log session to persist the current output and prepare for fresh updates below — prevents scrollback contamination source
Enable showCursor: true when your CLI accepts user input or displays a prompt — otherwise the hidden cursor creates a poor UX for interactive interfaces source
Set defaultWidth and defaultHeight options when output is piped, redirected, or running in non-TTY environments — without this, the library assumes 80x24 which causes incorrect line wrapping and erasure source
Create separate logUpdate instances via createLogUpdate(stream) for each independent update context instead of reusing the default export — prevents one instance's updates from clobbering another's source
Understand that log-update can only erase and rewrite lines currently visible in the terminal viewport — content already in scrollback cannot be manipulated, so extremely long outputs will overflow and "leak" source
Account for ANSI escape sequences in output width calculations — the library properly handles colorized text with tools like chalk/yoctocolors and accounts for their escape codes when calculating line wrapping source
Use logUpdateStderr for error messages and warnings instead of logUpdate — maintains separation between stdout and stderr streams source
Leverage partial/synchronized rendering in v7.1.0+ for reduced flicker when updating large outputs — the library now intelligently redraws only changed lines instead of erasing everything source
Be aware that multiple consecutive blank lines at the end of output may collapse to a single blank line during rendering optimization — design output that doesn't rely on exact blank line preservation source