Where Does xterm Read Settings From?
xterm reads X resources from ~/.Xresources with older setups falling back to ~/.Xdefaults instead.
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xterm configures through X resource files in your home directory. The modern file is .Xresources with entries like XTerm*faceName for fonts. Older guides reference .Xdefaults, which servers merge the same way.
Loading needs xrdb merge on session start, usually from display manager scripts. Command flags beat resources per launch for one off tweaks. Keep the file in dotfiles since every X session reads it.
Where xterm stores this, by platform
~/.Xresources
XTerm* resource lines for fonts, colors, and scrollback. Load with xrdb merge after edits. Legacy .Xdefaults works as fallback.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my .Xresources edit do nothing?
The database loads at session start, so merge it manually with xrdb and open a fresh xterm. Already running terminals keep old values. Check for typos with appres.
Where do xterm colors live?
As XTerm*colorN resource lines in .Xresources. Face and size come from faceName entries. Reload through xrdb to preview changes.
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