• Terminal
  • Beginner
  • 1 min
  • Web Serial

Recipe · Beginner · Terminal

How to open a Web Serial session

The first useful test is not a protocol command. It is opening the terminal, confirming the banner appears, and making sure the board answers basic CLI commands.

Web Serial terminal connected to hardware.
Use Web Serial for a quick browser workflow, or a classic terminal at 115200 8N1.
Step 1

Commands

Once connected, run only safe discovery commands first. mode opens the mode selector and help prints available commands.

Result

What success looks like

The CLI prompt appears, characters echo correctly, and changing to a mode such as mode uart opens that controller.

Troubleshooting

  • Wrong serial port selected in the browser permission dialog.
  • Another terminal already has the serial port open.
  • Desktop terminal is not set to 115200 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit.
  • No banner visible until you send one key to wake the CLI.

Next steps

  • Open mode and choose the protocol you want to test.
  • Use the Web Serial Terminal for quick browser tests.
  • Use USB serial instead of Wi-Fi Web CLI for commands that produce lots of output.

Web Serial terminal FAQ

Is Web Serial required to use ESP32 Bit Pirate?

No. Web Serial is a convenient browser terminal, but a normal serial terminal also works. Use whichever gives you the most reliable access to the CLI on your host system.

What is the Web Serial terminal best at?

It is best for quick interactive access: first boot checks, mode selection, short recipes and simple command history. For long logs or host-side tooling, a desktop serial workflow may still be better.

When should I avoid a browser terminal?

Use a desktop serial tool when you need long sniffers, very large output, or host-side tooling that works better outside the browser. For quick setup and CLI checks, Web Serial is usually enough.

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