# TUI Documentation

## Overview
The Terminal UI (TUI) is an interface for interacting with the OpenClaw Gateway. It provides real-time chat capabilities with agents, including message delivery, session management, and tool execution.

## Key Components

**Interface Elements:**
The TUI displays a connection header, chat history with messages and system notices, status indicators, and an input editor with autocomplete functionality.

**Core Concepts:**
The system uses agents (unique identifiers like "main" or "research") and sessions that belong to specific agents. Sessions can operate in "per-sender" mode (multiple sessions per agent) or "global" mode (single shared session).

## Essential Features

**Keyboard Navigation:**
Common shortcuts include Enter to send, Escape to abort, Ctrl+L for model selection, Ctrl+G for agent switching, and Ctrl+P for session management.

**Slash Commands:**
Users can control behavior through commands like `/think`, `/verbose`, `/reasoning`, and `/deliver` to adjust session parameters and message handling.

**Local Execution:**
Commands prefixed with `!` execute locally on the TUI host after initial permission, running in a fresh shell within the working directory.

## Setup & Connection

Start the Gateway with `openclaw gateway`, then launch the TUI with `openclaw tui`. For remote access, use connection parameters: `--url`, `--token`, and optionally `--password`.

**Default Behavior:**
Message delivery to providers is disabled by default and must be explicitly enabled through settings or the `--deliver` flag.
