diff --git a/src/terminal/kitty.zig b/src/terminal/kitty.zig
index 471fb91e7..bbef8d7bb 100644
--- a/src/terminal/kitty.zig
+++ b/src/terminal/kitty.zig
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ const build_options = @import("terminal_options");
 const key = @import("kitty/key.zig");
 pub const clipboard = @import("kitty/clipboard.zig");
 pub const color = @import("kitty/color.zig");
+pub const dnd = @import("kitty/dnd.zig");
 pub const graphics = if (build_options.kitty_graphics) @import("kitty/graphics.zig") else struct {};
 
 pub const KeyFlags = key.Flags;
diff --git a/src/terminal/kitty/dnd.zig b/src/terminal/kitty/dnd.zig
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5a70b0a6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/terminal/kitty/dnd.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+//! Kitty drag and drop protocol (OSC 72).
+//!
+//! Specification: https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/dnd-protocol/
+//! Reference implementation: kitty/dnd.c and kitty/screen.c in
+//! https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty (introduced in kitty 0.47).
+//!
+//! The protocol lets a program running in the terminal participate in
+//! native OS drag and drop. A client registers to accept drops (t=a);
+//! the terminal then forwards native drag movement (t=m) and drops
+//! (t=M) to it and serves the dropped data on request (t=r), instead
+//! of the traditional behavior of pasting dropped paths or text.
+//!
+//! The implementation is split into:
+//!
+//!   * dnd_command.zig: metadata grammar and typed command decoding,
+//!     including chunk reassembly. The grammar mirrors kitty's
+//!     generated parser exactly.
+//!   * dnd_response.zig: wire encoding for everything the terminal
+//!     sends, mirroring kitty's send_payload_to_child chunking.
+//!   * dnd_drop.zig: the per-terminal protocol state machine, driven
+//!     by client OSCs on one side and native drag events from the
+//!     embedder on the other.
+//!
+//! The wire behavior was validated against kitty's implementation
+//! (kitty_tests/dnd.py is the oracle), including its deviations from
+//! the published spec: the MIME list payload is sent on every move
+//! event with a trailing space after each entry, a missing `t` key
+//! ignores the command rather than defaulting to `a`, empty payloads
+//! omit the `;` and `m=` entirely, and registration survives a
+//! terminal reset (RIS clears only the chunk-reassembly flag).
+//!
+//! ## Divergences from kitty
+//!
+//! All are bounded-scope decisions, not accidents:
+//!
+//!   * Dropped data is captured eagerly at drop time from a curated
+//!     set of representations the embedder can serve (typically
+//!     text/uri-list and text/plain), rather than fetched from the OS
+//!     on demand. Consequently the native drag session concludes at
+//!     drop time and the client's concluding operation (t=r with
+//!     x=y=Y=0) only frees the held data, and kitty's 128-entry
+//!     request queue and EMFILE overflow handling are unnecessary
+//!     because requests are served synchronously in order.
+//!   * The MIME list a client registers with (the t=a payload) is
+//!     accepted but not forwarded to the OS, so exotic pasteboard
+//!     types on macOS are not offered to clients.
+//!   * Every client is treated as local: machine IDs (t=a:x=1) are
+//!     accepted and ignored, responses never carry the X=1 remote
+//!     marker, and remote file transfer requests (t=r with y or Y
+//!     keys) are answered with EINVAL. A remote client (e.g. over
+//!     ssh) can still receive text drops; only file-content transfer
+//!     is unavailable.
+//!   * The terminal never initiates drags (drag out): enabling offers
+//!     (t=o:x=1) is tracked so the state is queryable, but the
+//!     terminal never sends a drag start request, so a conforming
+//!     client never offers a drag. Direct offers (t=o:x=0) and drag
+//!     data/start commands (t=p, t=P) are refused with EPERM.
+//!   * Responses echo the requesting command's terminator (ST or BEL)
+//!     per ghostty convention; kitty always uses ST. Terminal-
+//!     initiated events always use ST.
+
+const dnd_command = @import("dnd_command.zig");
+
+pub const EventType = dnd_command.EventType;
+pub const Metadata = dnd_command.Metadata;
+pub const Operation = dnd_command.Operation;
+pub const Operations = dnd_command.Operations;
+pub const Request = dnd_command.Request;
+pub const Chunking = dnd_command.Chunking;
+
+test {
+    _ = dnd_command;
+}
diff --git a/src/terminal/kitty/dnd_command.zig b/src/terminal/kitty/dnd_command.zig
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f056f1406
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/terminal/kitty/dnd_command.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,435 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+
+/// Decoded OSC 72 metadata.
+pub const Metadata = struct {
+    /// Event type (`t`). Null when the metadata had no `t` key; such
+    /// commands parse successfully but are ignored, matching kitty.
+    type: ?EventType = null,
+
+    /// Chunking flag (`m`): true when more chunks follow.
+    more: bool = false,
+
+    /// Multiplexer client ID (`i`), echoed in every response so a
+    /// terminal multiplexer can route responses to the correct client.
+    client_id: u32 = 0,
+
+    /// Operation (`o`): meaning depends on the event type, commonly
+    /// 0=none/reject, 1=copy, 2=move, 3=copy or move.
+    operation: u32 = 0,
+
+    /// `x`, `y`, `X`, `Y` keys.
+    cell_x: i32 = 0,
+    cell_y: i32 = 0,
+    pixel_x: i32 = 0,
+    pixel_y: i32 = 0,
+
+    /// Parse raw OSC 72 metadata (the part before the first `;`).
+    /// Returns null when malformed; callers should ignore the command,
+    /// matching kitty which rejects the entire command on any error.
+    pub fn parse(raw: []const u8) ?Metadata {
+        var result: Metadata = .{};
+        var pos: usize = 0;
+        // The continue expression consumes the ':' separating a field
+        // from the next; the body advances past the field itself.
+        while (pos < raw.len) : (pos += 1) {
+            // Single-character key.
+            const key = raw[pos];
+            pos += 1;
+            switch (key) {
+                't', 'm', 'i', 'o', 'x', 'y', 'X', 'Y' => {},
+                else => return null,
+            }
+
+            // '=' separator.
+            if (pos >= raw.len) return null;
+            if (raw[pos] != '=') return null;
+            pos += 1;
+
+            // Value.
+            if (pos >= raw.len) return null;
+            switch (key) {
+                't' => {
+                    result.type = std.enums.fromInt(
+                        EventType,
+                        raw[pos],
+                    ) orelse return null;
+                    pos += 1;
+                },
+
+                'm', 'i', 'o' => {
+                    const v = parseUnsigned(raw, &pos) orelse return null;
+                    switch (key) {
+                        'm' => result.more = v != 0,
+                        'i' => result.client_id = v,
+                        'o' => result.operation = v,
+                        else => unreachable,
+                    }
+                },
+
+                'x', 'y', 'X', 'Y' => {
+                    const negative = raw[pos] == '-';
+                    if (negative) pos += 1;
+                    const unsigned = parseUnsigned(raw, &pos) orelse return null;
+                    // Matches kitty's cast of the u32 magnitude to i32,
+                    // which wraps rather than erroring on overflow.
+                    const magnitude: i32 = @bitCast(unsigned);
+                    const v = if (negative) 0 -% magnitude else magnitude;
+                    switch (key) {
+                        'x' => result.cell_x = v,
+                        'y' => result.cell_y = v,
+                        'X' => result.pixel_x = v,
+                        'Y' => result.pixel_y = v,
+                        else => unreachable,
+                    }
+                },
+
+                else => unreachable,
+            }
+
+            // Values are separated by ':'.
+            if (pos >= raw.len) break;
+            if (raw[pos] != ':') return null;
+        }
+
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /// Parse an unsigned decimal value at `pos`, advancing it. At most
+    /// 10 digits and at most maxInt(u32), matching kitty. Returns null
+    /// when there are no digits or the value is too large.
+    fn parseUnsigned(raw: []const u8, pos: *usize) ?u32 {
+        const start = pos.*;
+        var acc: u64 = 0;
+        var i = start;
+        while (i < raw.len and i < start + 10) : (i += 1) {
+            const d = raw[i] -% '0';
+            if (d > 9) break;
+            acc = acc * 10 + d;
+        }
+        if (i == start) return null;
+        pos.* = i;
+        return std.math.cast(u32, acc) orelse null;
+    }
+};
+
+/// The event type, i.e. values for the `t` metadata key. A single OSC 72
+/// code is used for both directions of the protocol, so most types have
+/// one meaning when received by the terminal from a client and another
+/// when sent by the terminal to a client.
+///
+/// The `drop` and `request_response` types are only ever sent by the
+/// terminal; kitty parses but ignores them when received and we do the
+/// same.
+pub const EventType = enum(u8) {
+    /// 'a': (recv) client registers to accept drops. With x=1 the payload
+    /// is the client's machine ID for remote drop support instead.
+    register = 'a',
+
+    /// 'A': (recv) client unregisters from accepting drops.
+    unregister = 'A',
+
+    /// 'm': (recv) client reports acceptance status for the drag currently
+    /// over the terminal: `o` is the chosen operation and the payload is
+    /// the accepted MIME list. (send) pointer moved over the terminal
+    /// during a drag, or with x=-1,y=-1 the drag left the window.
+    status = 'm',
+
+    /// 'M': (send only) items were dropped onto the terminal.
+    drop = 'M',
+
+    /// 'r': (recv) client requests drop data, or with x=y=Y=0 concludes
+    /// the drop with `o` as the performed operation. (send) drop data
+    /// response chunks.
+    request = 'r',
+
+    /// 'R': (send only) error response to a data request.
+    request_error = 'R',
+
+    /// 'o': (recv) drag source control: x=1 enables offering drags (payload
+    /// optionally the client machine ID), x=2 disables, x=0 offers a MIME
+    /// list for a new drag. (send) request that the client start a drag at
+    /// the given position.
+    offer = 'o',
+
+    /// 'p': (recv) pre-sent data for an offered drag: x>=0 is a 0-based
+    /// MIME index, x<0 attaches drag image -x.
+    present = 'p',
+
+    /// 'P': (recv) x=-1 starts the offered drag, x>=0 changes the drag
+    /// image mid-drag.
+    start_drag = 'P',
+
+    /// 'e': (recv) drag data for MIME index `y` of an in-progress drag.
+    /// (send) drag status events (accepted, dropped, finished, ...).
+    drag_event = 'e',
+
+    /// 'E': (recv) client aborts the whole drag (y=-1) or reports an error
+    /// for MIME index `y`. (send) drag start response (OK or error).
+    drag_error = 'E',
+
+    /// 'k': (recv) remote file data for a drag. (send) request for remote
+    /// file data.
+    remote_data = 'k',
+
+    /// 'q': (recv) query protocol support. (send) the query response.
+    query = 'q',
+};
+
+/// A drop operation. Values match the protocol's `o` key.
+pub const Operation = enum(u2) {
+    none = 0,
+    copy = 1,
+    move = 2,
+
+    /// Convert a protocol `o` value the way kitty does: anything other
+    /// than copy or move means none.
+    pub fn fromProtocol(v: u32) Operation {
+        return switch (v) {
+            1 => .copy,
+            2 => .move,
+            else => .none,
+        };
+    }
+};
+
+/// The set of operations allowed by a drag source, sent as a bitmask in
+/// the `o` key of move and drop events.
+pub const Operations = packed struct(u2) {
+    copy: bool = false,
+    move: bool = false,
+
+    pub fn protocolValue(self: Operations) u2 {
+        return @bitCast(self);
+    }
+};
+
+/// A decoded `t=r` data request. The request form is disambiguated by
+/// which keys are non-zero, mirroring kitty's drop_process_queue.
+pub const Request = union(enum) {
+    /// x=y=Y=0: the drop is concluded with the given operation.
+    conclude: Operation,
+
+    /// Y=0, y=0, x!=0: request data for the 1-based MIME index x.
+    mime: i32,
+
+    /// Y=0, y!=0: request the contents of the y'th (1-based) file in the
+    /// text/uri-list MIME at 1-based index x. Remote drops only.
+    uri: struct {
+        mime_idx: i32,
+        uri_idx: i32,
+    },
+
+    /// Y!=0: request entry x (1-based) of directory handle Y, or close
+    /// the handle when x=0. Remote drops only.
+    dir: struct {
+        handle: i32,
+        entry: i32,
+    },
+
+    pub fn init(meta: Metadata) Request {
+        if (meta.pixel_y != 0) return .{ .dir = .{
+            .handle = meta.pixel_y,
+            .entry = meta.cell_x,
+        } };
+        if (meta.cell_y != 0) return .{ .uri = .{
+            .mime_idx = meta.cell_x,
+            .uri_idx = meta.cell_y,
+        } };
+        if (meta.cell_x != 0) return .{ .mime = meta.cell_x };
+        return .{ .conclude = .fromProtocol(meta.operation) };
+    }
+};
+
+/// Chunk reassembly state, mirroring kitty's per-screen dnd_chunking.
+/// While a chunked command is in progress, the metadata of the first
+/// chunk is reused for all subsequent chunks; only the `more` flag is
+/// taken from each continuation.
+pub const Chunking = struct {
+    active: bool = false,
+    metadata: Metadata = .{},
+
+    /// Returns the effective metadata for a received chunk and updates
+    /// the reassembly state.
+    pub fn apply(self: *Chunking, meta: Metadata) Metadata {
+        if (self.active) {
+            var copy = self.metadata;
+            copy.more = meta.more;
+            self.active = meta.more;
+            return copy;
+        }
+
+        if (meta.more) {
+            self.active = true;
+            self.metadata = meta;
+        }
+
+        return meta;
+    }
+};
+
+test "Metadata: empty" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+    const meta = Metadata.parse("").?;
+    try testing.expect(meta.type == null);
+    try testing.expect(!meta.more);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 0), meta.client_id);
+}
+
+test "Metadata: all keys" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+    const meta = Metadata.parse("t=m:m=1:i=3:o=2:x=10:y=5:X=320:Y=200").?;
+    try testing.expectEqual(EventType.status, meta.type.?);
+    try testing.expect(meta.more);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 3), meta.client_id);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 2), meta.operation);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 10), meta.cell_x);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 5), meta.cell_y);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 320), meta.pixel_x);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 200), meta.pixel_y);
+}
+
+test "Metadata: all event types" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+    const cases = .{
+        .{ "t=a", EventType.register },
+        .{ "t=A", EventType.unregister },
+        .{ "t=m", EventType.status },
+        .{ "t=M", EventType.drop },
+        .{ "t=r", EventType.request },
+        .{ "t=R", EventType.request_error },
+        .{ "t=o", EventType.offer },
+        .{ "t=p", EventType.present },
+        .{ "t=P", EventType.start_drag },
+        .{ "t=e", EventType.drag_event },
+        .{ "t=E", EventType.drag_error },
+        .{ "t=k", EventType.remote_data },
+        .{ "t=q", EventType.query },
+    };
+    inline for (cases) |case| {
+        try testing.expectEqual(case[1], Metadata.parse(case[0]).?.type.?);
+    }
+}
+
+test "Metadata: case-sensitive coordinate keys" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+    const meta = Metadata.parse("x=10:Y=200").?;
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 10), meta.cell_x);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 0), meta.cell_y);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 0), meta.pixel_x);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 200), meta.pixel_y);
+}
+
+test "Metadata: negative coordinates" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+    const meta = Metadata.parse("t=m:x=-1:y=-1").?;
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, -1), meta.cell_x);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, -1), meta.cell_y);
+}
+
+test "Metadata: malformed inputs rejected" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+    // Unknown event type.
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("t=z") == null);
+    // Unknown key.
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("z=1") == null);
+    // Missing '=' mid-stream.
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("x10") == null);
+    // No digits.
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("x=notanumber") == null);
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("x=-") == null);
+    // Too large.
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("i=4294967296") == null);
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("i=99999999999") == null);
+    // Garbage after value.
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("x=1z") == null);
+    // No whitespace tolerance, matching kitty.
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("t=a: x=1") == null);
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("t = a") == null);
+    // Truncated mid-construct, matching kitty's final-state check.
+    // Nothing state-changing may be parsed out of these: e.g. "t=r:x="
+    // must not be treated as a drop conclusion.
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("t") == null);
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("t=") == null);
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("x=") == null);
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("t=r:x=") == null);
+    try testing.expect(Metadata.parse("x=1:t=") == null);
+}
+
+test "Metadata: trailing separator accepted" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+
+    // Kitty's state machine accepts the metadata ending right after a
+    // value separator.
+    const meta = Metadata.parse("t=a:").?;
+    try testing.expectEqual(EventType.register, meta.type.?);
+}
+
+test "Metadata: u32 boundary accepted" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+    const meta = Metadata.parse("i=4294967295").?;
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, std.math.maxInt(u32)), meta.client_id);
+}
+
+test "Request: classification" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+
+    // Conclude.
+    {
+        const r: Request = .init(Metadata.parse("t=r:o=2").?);
+        try testing.expectEqual(Operation.move, r.conclude);
+    }
+    // Conclude with unknown operation is none (canceled).
+    {
+        const r: Request = .init(Metadata.parse("t=r:o=9").?);
+        try testing.expectEqual(Operation.none, r.conclude);
+    }
+    // MIME data request.
+    {
+        const r: Request = .init(Metadata.parse("t=r:x=2").?);
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 2), r.mime);
+    }
+    // URI file request.
+    {
+        const r: Request = .init(Metadata.parse("t=r:x=1:y=3").?);
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 1), r.uri.mime_idx);
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 3), r.uri.uri_idx);
+    }
+    // Directory handle request.
+    {
+        const r: Request = .init(Metadata.parse("t=r:Y=2:x=1").?);
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 2), r.dir.handle);
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 1), r.dir.entry);
+    }
+}
+
+test "Chunking: reassembly reuses first chunk metadata" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+    var chunking: Chunking = .{};
+
+    // First chunk starts reassembly.
+    const first = chunking.apply(Metadata.parse("t=m:o=1:m=1").?);
+    try testing.expect(chunking.active);
+    try testing.expectEqual(EventType.status, first.type.?);
+    try testing.expect(first.more);
+
+    // Continuation metadata is ignored except for `more`.
+    const second = chunking.apply(Metadata.parse("t=q:o=2:m=1").?);
+    try testing.expect(chunking.active);
+    try testing.expectEqual(EventType.status, second.type.?);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 1), second.operation);
+    try testing.expect(second.more);
+
+    // Final chunk ends reassembly.
+    const last = chunking.apply(Metadata.parse("t=q:m=0").?);
+    try testing.expect(!chunking.active);
+    try testing.expectEqual(EventType.status, last.type.?);
+    try testing.expect(!last.more);
+}
+
+test "Chunking: unchunked commands pass through" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+    var chunking: Chunking = .{};
+    const meta = chunking.apply(Metadata.parse("t=q").?);
+    try testing.expect(!chunking.active);
+    try testing.expectEqual(EventType.query, meta.type.?);
+}