# Read process and attention status

Tell whether a terminal process finished, failed, or needs your attention.

A terminal’s status comes from its process exit and the terminal bell. ACP sessions can provide additional structured waiting and approval states.

## Read a terminal’s status

1. Check the status mark on the terminal node. A successful process exit is **completed**; a non-zero exit or launch or I/O error is **failed**.
2. If the node raises attention, acknowledge it on the canvas or choose **Jump to next attention** from the command palette.
3. If an unselected terminal raises a new attention reason, MAO may also send a desktop notification.

> **Limit:** Silence or idle output does not mean a PTY process is complete. PTY attention comes from the bell; waiting and approval-required status need a structured source such as ACP. Windows desktop notifications are unavailable.

Source: https://trymao.dev/docs/terminals-agents/session-status