Add --{header,header-lines,footer}-border=inline

New BorderShape that embeds the section inside the --list-border
frame, joined to the list content by a horizontal separator with
T-junctions where the list shape has side borders. Requires a list
border with both top and bottom segments; falls back to 'line'
otherwise. Stacks when multiple sections are inline.

Sections inherit --color list-border by default and are colored as a
uniform block via their own --color *-border and *-bg.

Incompatible with --header-first. --header-border=inline requires
--header-lines-border to be inline or unset.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,6 +1,22 @@
 CHANGELOG
 =========
 
+0.72.0
+------
+- `--header-border`, `--header-lines-border`, and `--footer-border` now accept a new `inline` style that embeds the section inside the list frame, separated from the list content by a horizontal line whose endpoints join the surrounding list border as T-junctions.
+    - Requires `--list-border` with a line-drawing shape (rounded / sharp / bold / double / horizontal); falls back to `line` otherwise.
+    - Sections stack. Example combining all three:
+      ```sh
+      ps -ef | fzf --reverse --style full:double \
+          --header 'Select a process' --header-lines 1 \
+          --bind 'load:transform-footer:echo $FZF_TOTAL_COUNT processes' \
+          --header-border=inline --header-lines-border=inline \
+          --footer-border=inline
+      ```
+    - `--header-label` and `--footer-label` render on their respective separator row.
+    - The separator inherits `--color list-border` when the section's own border color is not explicitly set.
+    - `--header-first` is not compatible with `--header-border=inline` or `--header-lines-border=inline`; `--header-border=inline` requires `--header-lines-border` to be `inline` or unset.
+
 0.71.0
 ------
 _Release highlights: https://junegunn.github.io/fzf/releases/0.71.0/_

man/man1/fzf.1

@@ -1100,7 +1100,13 @@ Print header before the prompt line. When both normal header and header lines
 .TP
 .BI "\-\-header\-border" [=STYLE]
 Draw border around the header section. \fBline\fR style draws a single
-separator line between the header window and the list section.
+separator line between the header window and the list section. \fBinline\fR
+style embeds the header inside the list border frame, joined to the list
+section by a horizontal separator with T-junctions; it requires a
+line-drawing \fB\-\-list\-border\fR (rounded / sharp / bold / double /
+horizontal) and falls back to \fBline\fR otherwise. Not compatible with
+\fB\-\-header\-first\fR, and when \fB\-\-header\-lines\fR is also set
+\fB\-\-header\-lines\-border\fR must also be \fBinline\fR.
 
 .TP
 .BI "\-\-header\-label" [=LABEL]
@@ -1116,6 +1122,10 @@ Display header from \fB--header\-lines\fR with a separate border. Pass
 \fBnone\fR to still separate the header lines but without a border. To combine
 two headers, use \fB\-\-no\-header\-lines\-border\fR. \fBline\fR style draws
 a single separator line between the header lines and the list section.
+\fBinline\fR style embeds the header lines inside the list border frame
+with a T-junction separator; it requires a line-drawing
+\fB\-\-list\-border\fR, falls back to \fBline\fR otherwise, and is not
+compatible with \fB\-\-header\-first\fR.
 
 .SS FOOTER
 
@@ -1129,7 +1139,10 @@ are not affected by \fB\-\-with\-nth\fR. ANSI color codes are processed even whe
 .TP
 .BI "\-\-footer\-border" [=STYLE]
 Draw border around the footer section. \fBline\fR style draws a single
-separator line between the footer and the list section.
+separator line between the footer and the list section. \fBinline\fR style
+embeds the footer inside the list border frame with a T-junction separator;
+it requires a line-drawing \fB\-\-list\-border\fR and falls back to
+\fBline\fR otherwise.
 
 .TP
 .BI "\-\-footer\-label" [=LABEL]

src/options.go

@@ -178,10 +178,11 @@ Usage: fzf [options]
     --header-first           Print header before the prompt line
     --header-border[=STYLE]  Draw border around the header section
                              [rounded|sharp|bold|block|thinblock|double|horizontal|vertical|
-                              top|bottom|left|right|line|none] (default: rounded)
+                              top|bottom|left|right|line|inline|none] (default: rounded)
     --header-lines-border[=STYLE]
                              Display header from --header-lines with a separate border.
                              Pass 'none' to still separate it but without a border.
+                             Pass 'inline' to embed it inside the list frame.
     --header-label=LABEL     Label to print on the header border
     --header-label-pos=COL   Position of the header label
                              [POSITIVE_INTEGER: columns from left|
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@ Usage: fzf [options]
     --footer=STR             String to print as footer
     --footer-border[=STYLE]  Draw border around the footer section
                              [rounded|sharp|bold|block|thinblock|double|horizontal|vertical|
-                              top|bottom|left|right|line|none] (default: line)
+                              top|bottom|left|right|line|inline|none] (default: line)
     --footer-label=LABEL     Label to print on the footer border
     --footer-label-pos=COL   Position of the footer label
                              [POSITIVE_INTEGER: columns from left|
@@ -953,6 +954,8 @@ func parseBorder(str string, optional bool) (tui.BorderShape, error) {
 	switch str {
 	case "line":
 		return tui.BorderLine, nil
+	case "inline":
+		return tui.BorderInline, nil
 	case "rounded":
 		return tui.BorderRounded, nil
 	case "sharp":
@@ -983,7 +986,7 @@ func parseBorder(str string, optional bool) (tui.BorderShape, error) {
 	if optional && str == "" {
 		return defaultBorderShape, nil
 	}
-	return tui.BorderNone, errors.New("invalid border style (expected: rounded|sharp|bold|block|thinblock|double|horizontal|vertical|top|bottom|left|right|none)")
+	return tui.BorderNone, errors.New("invalid border style (expected: rounded|sharp|bold|block|thinblock|double|horizontal|vertical|top|bottom|left|right|line|inline|none)")
 }
 
 func parseKeyChords(str string, message string) (map[tui.Event]string, []tui.Event, error) {
@@ -3610,6 +3613,22 @@ func validateOptions(opts *Options) error {
 		return errors.New("only ANSI attributes are allowed for 'nth' (regular, bold, underline, reverse, dim, italic, strikethrough)")
 	}
 
+	if opts.BorderShape == tui.BorderInline ||
+		opts.ListBorderShape == tui.BorderInline ||
+		opts.InputBorderShape == tui.BorderInline ||
+		opts.Preview.border == tui.BorderInline {
+		return errors.New("inline border is only supported for --header-border, --header-lines-border, and --footer-border")
+	}
+	if opts.HeaderFirst && (opts.HeaderBorderShape == tui.BorderInline || opts.HeaderLinesShape == tui.BorderInline) {
+		return errors.New("--header-first is not compatible with --header-border=inline or --header-lines-border=inline")
+	}
+	if opts.HeaderBorderShape == tui.BorderInline &&
+		opts.HeaderLinesShape != tui.BorderInline &&
+		opts.HeaderLinesShape != tui.BorderUndefined &&
+		opts.HeaderLinesShape != tui.BorderNone {
+		return errors.New("--header-border=inline requires --header-lines-border to be inline or unset")
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 

src/terminal.go

@@ -1168,7 +1168,10 @@ func NewTerminal(opts *Options, eventBox *util.EventBox, executor *util.Executor
 		baseTheme = renderer.DefaultTheme()
 	}
 	// This should be called before accessing tui.Color*
-	tui.InitTheme(opts.Theme, baseTheme, opts.Bold, opts.Black, opts.InputBorderShape.Visible(), opts.HeaderBorderShape.Visible())
+	headerInline := opts.HeaderBorderShape == tui.BorderInline || opts.HeaderLinesShape == tui.BorderInline
+	footerInline := opts.FooterBorderShape == tui.BorderInline
+	hasHeader := opts.HeaderBorderShape.Visible() || opts.HeaderLinesShape.Visible()
+	tui.InitTheme(opts.Theme, baseTheme, opts.Bold, opts.Black, opts.InputBorderShape.Visible(), hasHeader, headerInline, footerInline)
 
 	// Gutter character
 	var gutterChar, gutterRawChar string
@@ -1227,6 +1230,22 @@ func NewTerminal(opts *Options, eventBox *util.EventBox, executor *util.Executor
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Inline borders are embedded between the list's top and bottom horizontals.
+	// Shapes missing either one (none/phantom/line/single-sided) fall back to a plain
+	// horizontal separator (same as BorderLine).
+	inlineSupported := t.listBorderShape.HasTop() && t.listBorderShape.HasBottom()
+	if !inlineSupported {
+		if t.headerBorderShape == tui.BorderInline {
+			t.headerBorderShape = tui.BorderLine
+		}
+		if t.headerLinesShape == tui.BorderInline {
+			t.headerLinesShape = tui.BorderLine
+		}
+		if t.footerBorderShape == tui.BorderInline {
+			t.footerBorderShape = tui.BorderLine
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Determine header border shape
 	if t.headerBorderShape == tui.BorderLine {
 		if t.layout == layoutReverse {
@@ -2237,6 +2256,98 @@ func (t *Terminal) determineHeaderLinesShape() (bool, tui.BorderShape) {
 	return false, tui.BorderNone
 }
 
+// Inline sections live inside wborder rather than consuming shift/shrink/availableLines.
+type inlineRole int
+
+const (
+	inlineRoleHeader inlineRole = iota
+	inlineRoleHeaderLines
+	inlineRoleFooter
+)
+
+type inlineSlot struct {
+	role         inlineRole
+	windowType   tui.WindowType
+	contentLines int // 0 when out of budget: a ghost placeholder is created so
+	// t.headerWindow / t.footerWindow stay non-nil but no frame is painted.
+	label     labelPrinter
+	labelOpts labelOpts
+	labelLen  int
+}
+
+// inlineMetaFor returns (onTop: top stack vs bottom; windowType; isInner:
+// adjacent to list content) for the given inline role, derived from the layout.
+// Header is outer when paired with header-lines; header-lines is always inner;
+// footer is inner except in reverseList where it sits outside header-lines.
+func (t *Terminal) inlineMetaFor(role inlineRole) (onTop bool, windowType tui.WindowType, isInner bool) {
+	switch role {
+	case inlineRoleHeader:
+		return t.layout == layoutReverse, tui.WindowHeader, false
+	case inlineRoleHeaderLines:
+		return t.layout != layoutDefault, tui.WindowHeader, true
+	case inlineRoleFooter:
+		return t.layout != layoutReverse, tui.WindowFooter, t.layout != layoutReverseList
+	}
+	return false, tui.WindowBase, false
+}
+
+func (t *Terminal) placeInlineSection(win tui.Window, role inlineRole) {
+	switch role {
+	case inlineRoleHeader:
+		t.headerWindow = win
+	case inlineRoleHeaderLines:
+		t.headerLinesWindow = win
+	case inlineRoleFooter:
+		t.footerWindow = win
+	}
+}
+
+// placeInlineStack walks `slots` in outer-to-inner order. Only the outermost
+// slot (index 0) claims the adjacent wborder edge; later slots paint side-only
+// frames so the T-junction separator lands between sections.
+func (t *Terminal) placeInlineStack(slots []inlineSlot, startRow int, onTop bool) {
+	firstEdge := tui.SectionEdgeTop
+	if !onTop {
+		firstEdge = tui.SectionEdgeBottom
+	}
+	noBorder := tui.MakeBorderStyle(tui.BorderNone, t.unicode)
+	subLeft := t.window.Left()
+	subWidth := t.window.Width()
+	cursor := startRow
+	for i, s := range slots {
+		var windowTop, sepRow int
+		if onTop {
+			windowTop = cursor
+			sepRow = cursor + s.contentLines - t.wborder.Top()
+		} else {
+			windowTop = cursor - s.contentLines + 1
+			sepRow = windowTop - 1 - t.wborder.Top()
+		}
+		// 0-height placeholder keeps t.headerWindow / t.footerWindow non-nil.
+		win := t.tui.NewWindow(windowTop, subLeft, subWidth, s.contentLines, s.windowType, noBorder, true)
+		t.placeInlineSection(win, s.role)
+		if s.contentLines == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		secTop := windowTop - t.wborder.Top()
+		secBottom := secTop + s.contentLines - 1
+		edge := tui.SectionEdgeNone
+		if i == 0 {
+			edge = firstEdge
+		}
+		t.wborder.PaintSectionFrame(secTop, secBottom, s.windowType, edge)
+		// useBottom=onTop so the separator always hugs the list (inner side).
+		// Matters for thinblock/block where top != bottom char.
+		t.wborder.DrawHSeparator(sepRow, s.windowType, onTop)
+		t.printLabelAt(t.wborder, s.label, s.labelOpts, s.labelLen, sepRow)
+		if onTop {
+			cursor += s.contentLines + 1
+		} else {
+			cursor -= s.contentLines + 1
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func (t *Terminal) resizeWindows(forcePreview bool, redrawBorder bool) {
 	t.clearNumLinesCache()
 	t.forcePreview = forcePreview
@@ -2353,6 +2464,50 @@ func (t *Terminal) resizeWindows(forcePreview bool, redrawBorder bool) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Slices are ordered outer-to-inner: index 0 touches wborder's edge.
+	var inlineTop []inlineSlot
+	var inlineBottom []inlineSlot
+
+	// Caps contentLines against remaining wborder space. Oversized requests (e.g. a
+	// huge --header-lines) become 0-height placeholders rather than pushing the list
+	// window to negative height.
+	addInline := func(contentLines int, role inlineRole) {
+		onTop, windowType, isInner := t.inlineMetaFor(role)
+		used := 0
+		for _, s := range inlineTop {
+			if s.contentLines > 0 {
+				used += s.contentLines + 1
+			}
+		}
+		for _, s := range inlineBottom {
+			if s.contentLines > 0 {
+				used += s.contentLines + 1
+			}
+		}
+		remaining := availableLines - borderLines(t.listBorderShape) - used - 1
+		if remaining < 2 {
+			contentLines = 0
+		} else {
+			contentLines = util.Constrain(contentLines, 1, remaining-1)
+		}
+		slot := inlineSlot{role: role, windowType: windowType, contentLines: contentLines}
+		switch role {
+		case inlineRoleHeader:
+			slot.label, slot.labelOpts, slot.labelLen = t.headerLabel, t.headerLabelOpts, t.headerLabelLen
+		case inlineRoleFooter:
+			slot.label, slot.labelOpts, slot.labelLen = t.footerLabel, t.footerLabelOpts, t.footerLabelLen
+		}
+		target := &inlineTop
+		if !onTop {
+			target = &inlineBottom
+		}
+		if isInner {
+			*target = append(*target, slot)
+		} else {
+			*target = append([]inlineSlot{slot}, *target...)
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Adjust position and size of the list window if header border is set
 	headerBorderHeight := 0
 	if hasHeaderWindow {
@@ -2360,37 +2515,62 @@ func (t *Terminal) resizeWindows(forcePreview bool, redrawBorder bool) {
 		if hasHeaderLinesWindow {
 			headerWindowHeight -= t.headerLines
 		}
-		headerBorderHeight = util.Constrain(borderLines(t.headerBorderShape)+headerWindowHeight, 0, availableLines)
-		if t.layout == layoutReverse {
-			shift += headerBorderHeight
-			shrink += headerBorderHeight
+		if t.headerBorderShape == tui.BorderInline {
+			addInline(headerWindowHeight, inlineRoleHeader)
 		} else {
-			shrink += headerBorderHeight
+			headerBorderHeight = util.Constrain(borderLines(t.headerBorderShape)+headerWindowHeight, 0, availableLines)
+			if t.layout == layoutReverse {
+				shift += headerBorderHeight
+				shrink += headerBorderHeight
+			} else {
+				shrink += headerBorderHeight
+			}
+			availableLines -= headerBorderHeight
 		}
-		availableLines -= headerBorderHeight
 	}
 
 	headerLinesHeight := 0
 	if hasHeaderLinesWindow {
-		headerLinesHeight = util.Constrain(borderLines(headerLinesShape)+t.headerLines, 0, availableLines)
-		if t.layout != layoutDefault {
-			shift += headerLinesHeight
-			shrink += headerLinesHeight
+		if headerLinesShape == tui.BorderInline {
+			addInline(t.headerLines, inlineRoleHeaderLines)
 		} else {
-			shrink += headerLinesHeight
+			headerLinesHeight = util.Constrain(borderLines(headerLinesShape)+t.headerLines, 0, availableLines)
+			if t.layout != layoutDefault {
+				shift += headerLinesHeight
+				shrink += headerLinesHeight
+			} else {
+				shrink += headerLinesHeight
+			}
+			availableLines -= headerLinesHeight
 		}
-		availableLines -= headerLinesHeight
 	}
 
 	footerBorderHeight := 0
 	if hasFooterWindow {
-		// Footer lines should not take all available lines
-		footerBorderHeight = util.Constrain(borderLines(t.footerBorderShape)+len(t.footer), 0, availableLines)
-		shrink += footerBorderHeight
-		if t.layout != layoutReverse {
-			shift += footerBorderHeight
+		if t.footerBorderShape == tui.BorderInline {
+			addInline(len(t.footer), inlineRoleFooter)
+		} else {
+			// Footer lines should not take all available lines
+			footerBorderHeight = util.Constrain(borderLines(t.footerBorderShape)+len(t.footer), 0, availableLines)
+			shrink += footerBorderHeight
+			if t.layout != layoutReverse {
+				shift += footerBorderHeight
+			}
+			availableLines -= footerBorderHeight
+		}
+	}
+
+	inlineTopLines := 0
+	for _, s := range inlineTop {
+		if s.contentLines > 0 {
+			inlineTopLines += s.contentLines + 1
+		}
+	}
+	inlineBottomLines := 0
+	for _, s := range inlineBottom {
+		if s.contentLines > 0 {
+			inlineBottomLines += s.contentLines + 1
 		}
-		availableLines -= footerBorderHeight
 	}
 
 	// Set up list border
@@ -2501,12 +2681,12 @@ func (t *Terminal) resizeWindows(forcePreview bool, redrawBorder bool) {
 				if previewOpts.position == posUp {
 					innerBorderFn(marginInt[0]+pheight, marginInt[3], width, height-pheight)
 					t.window = t.tui.NewWindow(
-						innerMarginInt[0]+pheight+shift, innerMarginInt[3], innerWidth, innerHeight-pheight-shrink, tui.WindowList, noBorder, true)
+						innerMarginInt[0]+pheight+shift+inlineTopLines, innerMarginInt[3], innerWidth, innerHeight-pheight-shrink-inlineTopLines-inlineBottomLines, tui.WindowList, noBorder, true)
 					createPreviewWindow(marginInt[0], marginInt[3], width, pheight)
 				} else {
 					innerBorderFn(marginInt[0], marginInt[3], width, height-pheight)
 					t.window = t.tui.NewWindow(
-						innerMarginInt[0]+shift, innerMarginInt[3], innerWidth, innerHeight-pheight-shrink, tui.WindowList, noBorder, true)
+						innerMarginInt[0]+shift+inlineTopLines, innerMarginInt[3], innerWidth, innerHeight-pheight-shrink-inlineTopLines-inlineBottomLines, tui.WindowList, noBorder, true)
 					createPreviewWindow(marginInt[0]+height-pheight, marginInt[3], width, pheight)
 				}
 			case posLeft, posRight:
@@ -2545,7 +2725,7 @@ func (t *Terminal) resizeWindows(forcePreview bool, redrawBorder bool) {
 						m = 1
 					}
 					t.window = t.tui.NewWindow(
-						innerMarginInt[0]+shift, innerMarginInt[3]+pwidth+m, innerWidth-pwidth-m, innerHeight-shrink, tui.WindowList, noBorder, true)
+						innerMarginInt[0]+shift+inlineTopLines, innerMarginInt[3]+pwidth+m, innerWidth-pwidth-m, innerHeight-shrink-inlineTopLines-inlineBottomLines, tui.WindowList, noBorder, true)
 
 					// Clear characters on the margin
 					// fzf --bind 'space:toggle-preview' --preview ':' --preview-window left,1
@@ -2577,7 +2757,7 @@ func (t *Terminal) resizeWindows(forcePreview bool, redrawBorder bool) {
 					}
 					innerBorderFn(marginInt[0], marginInt[3], width-pwidth, height)
 					t.window = t.tui.NewWindow(
-						innerMarginInt[0]+shift, innerMarginInt[3], innerWidth-pwidth, innerHeight-shrink, tui.WindowList, noBorder, true)
+						innerMarginInt[0]+shift+inlineTopLines, innerMarginInt[3], innerWidth-pwidth, innerHeight-shrink-inlineTopLines-inlineBottomLines, tui.WindowList, noBorder, true)
 					x := marginInt[3] + width - pwidth
 					createPreviewWindow(marginInt[0], x, pwidth, height)
 				}
@@ -2615,10 +2795,15 @@ func (t *Terminal) resizeWindows(forcePreview bool, redrawBorder bool) {
 		}
 		innerBorderFn(marginInt[0], marginInt[3], width, height)
 		t.window = t.tui.NewWindow(
-			innerMarginInt[0]+shift,
+			innerMarginInt[0]+shift+inlineTopLines,
 			innerMarginInt[3],
 			innerWidth,
-			innerHeight-shrink, tui.WindowList, noBorder, true)
+			innerHeight-shrink-inlineTopLines-inlineBottomLines, tui.WindowList, noBorder, true)
+	}
+
+	if len(inlineTop)+len(inlineBottom) > 0 && t.wborder != nil {
+		t.placeInlineStack(inlineTop, t.window.Top()-inlineTopLines, true)
+		t.placeInlineStack(inlineBottom, t.window.Top()+t.window.Height()+inlineBottomLines-1, false)
 	}
 
 	if len(t.scrollbar) == 0 {
@@ -2700,7 +2885,7 @@ func (t *Terminal) resizeWindows(forcePreview bool, redrawBorder bool) {
 	}
 
 	// Set up header border
-	if hasHeaderWindow {
+	if hasHeaderWindow && t.headerBorderShape != tui.BorderInline {
 		var btop int
 		if hasInputWindow && t.headerFirst {
 			if t.layout == layoutReverse {
@@ -2728,7 +2913,7 @@ func (t *Terminal) resizeWindows(forcePreview bool, redrawBorder bool) {
 	}
 
 	// Set up header lines border
-	if hasHeaderLinesWindow {
+	if hasHeaderLinesWindow && headerLinesShape != tui.BorderInline {
 		var btop int
 		// NOTE: We still have to handle --header-first here in case
 		// --header-lines-border is set. Can't we just use header window instead
@@ -2761,7 +2946,7 @@ func (t *Terminal) resizeWindows(forcePreview bool, redrawBorder bool) {
 	}
 
 	// Set up footer
-	if hasFooterWindow {
+	if hasFooterWindow && t.footerBorderShape != tui.BorderInline {
 		var btop int
 		if t.layout == layoutReverse {
 			btop = w.Top() + w.Height()
@@ -2778,8 +2963,21 @@ func (t *Terminal) resizeWindows(forcePreview bool, redrawBorder bool) {
 		t.footerWindow = createInnerWindow(t.footerBorder, t.footerBorderShape, tui.WindowFooter, 0)
 	}
 
-	// Print border label
-	t.printLabel(t.wborder, t.listLabel, t.listLabelOpts, t.listLabelLen, t.listBorderShape, false)
+	// When the list label lands on an edge owned by an inline section, swap its bg
+	// so the label reads as part of that section's frame. Fg stays at list-label.
+	listLabel, listLabelLen := t.listLabel, t.listLabelLen
+	var adjacentSection *inlineSlot
+	if t.listLabelOpts.bottom && len(inlineBottom) > 0 {
+		adjacentSection = &inlineBottom[0]
+	} else if !t.listLabelOpts.bottom && len(inlineTop) > 0 {
+		adjacentSection = &inlineTop[0]
+	}
+	if adjacentSection != nil {
+		bg := tui.BorderColor(adjacentSection.windowType).Bg()
+		custom := tui.ColListLabel.WithBg(tui.ColorAttr{Color: bg, Attr: tui.AttrUndefined})
+		listLabel, listLabelLen = t.ansiLabelPrinter(t.listLabelOpts.label, &custom, false)
+	}
+	t.printLabel(t.wborder, listLabel, t.listLabelOpts, listLabelLen, t.listBorderShape, false)
 	t.printLabel(t.border, t.borderLabel, t.borderLabelOpts, t.borderLabelLen, t.borderShape, false)
 	t.printLabel(t.pborder, t.previewLabel, t.previewLabelOpts, t.previewLabelLen, t.activePreviewOpts.Border(), false)
 	t.printLabel(t.inputBorder, t.inputLabel, t.inputLabelOpts, t.inputLabelLen, t.inputBorderShape, false)
@@ -2787,37 +2985,39 @@ func (t *Terminal) resizeWindows(forcePreview bool, redrawBorder bool) {
 	t.printLabel(t.footerBorder, t.footerLabel, t.footerLabelOpts, t.footerLabelLen, t.footerBorderShape, false)
 }
 
+// printLabelAt positions and renders a label at the given row of `window`. Shared by
+// printLabel (which computes row from the border shape) and the inline-section label
+// code (which uses an explicit separator row).
+func (t *Terminal) printLabelAt(window tui.Window, render labelPrinter, opts labelOpts, length int, row int) {
+	if window == nil || render == nil || window.Height() == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	var col int
+	if opts.column == 0 {
+		col = max(0, (window.Width()-length)/2)
+	} else if opts.column < 0 {
+		col = max(0, window.Width()+opts.column+1-length)
+	} else {
+		col = min(opts.column-1, window.Width()-length)
+	}
+	window.Move(row, col)
+	render(window, window.Width())
+}
+
 func (t *Terminal) printLabel(window tui.Window, render labelPrinter, opts labelOpts, length int, borderShape tui.BorderShape, redrawBorder bool) {
-	if window == nil {
+	if window == nil || window.Height() == 0 {
 		return
 	}
-
-	if window.Height() == 0 {
-		return
-	}
-
 	switch borderShape {
 	case tui.BorderHorizontal, tui.BorderTop, tui.BorderBottom, tui.BorderRounded, tui.BorderSharp, tui.BorderBold, tui.BorderBlock, tui.BorderThinBlock, tui.BorderDouble:
 		if redrawBorder {
 			window.DrawHBorder()
 		}
-		if render == nil {
-			return
-		}
-		var col int
-		if opts.column == 0 {
-			col = max(0, (window.Width()-length)/2)
-		} else if opts.column < 0 {
-			col = max(0, window.Width()+opts.column+1-length)
-		} else {
-			col = min(opts.column-1, window.Width()-length)
-		}
 		row := 0
 		if borderShape == tui.BorderBottom || opts.bottom {
 			row = window.Height() - 1
 		}
-		window.Move(row, col)
-		render(window, window.Width())
+		t.printLabelAt(window, render, opts, length, row)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -3185,8 +3385,19 @@ func (t *Terminal) resizeIfNeeded() bool {
 		return true
 	}
 
+	// Inline sections are budget-capped inside wborder, so window.Height() may be
+	// smaller than the requested content length. Treat "capped" (height < want) as
+	// a no-op to avoid triggering a full redraw on every info/header/footer event
+	// when the user has requested more content than fits.
+	mismatch := func(shape tui.BorderShape, height, want int) bool {
+		if shape == tui.BorderInline && height < want {
+			return false
+		}
+		return height != want
+	}
+
 	// Check footer window
-	if len(t.footer) > 0 && (t.footerWindow == nil || t.footerWindow.Height() != len(t.footer)) ||
+	if len(t.footer) > 0 && (t.footerWindow == nil || mismatch(t.footerBorderShape, t.footerWindow.Height(), len(t.footer))) ||
 		len(t.footer) == 0 && t.footerWindow != nil {
 		t.printAll()
 		return true
@@ -3200,14 +3411,12 @@ func (t *Terminal) resizeIfNeeded() bool {
 	if needHeaderLinesWindow {
 		primaryHeaderLines -= t.headerLines
 	}
-	// FIXME: Full redraw is triggered if there are too many lines in the header
-	// so that the header window cannot display all of them.
 	if (needHeaderWindow && t.headerWindow == nil) ||
 		(!needHeaderWindow && t.headerWindow != nil) ||
-		(needHeaderWindow && t.headerWindow != nil && primaryHeaderLines != t.headerWindow.Height()) ||
+		(needHeaderWindow && t.headerWindow != nil && mismatch(t.headerBorderShape, t.headerWindow.Height(), primaryHeaderLines)) ||
 		(needHeaderLinesWindow && t.headerLinesWindow == nil) ||
 		(!needHeaderLinesWindow && t.headerLinesWindow != nil) ||
-		(needHeaderLinesWindow && t.headerLinesWindow != nil && t.headerLines != t.headerLinesWindow.Height()) {
+		(needHeaderLinesWindow && t.headerLinesWindow != nil && mismatch(t.headerLinesShape, t.headerLinesWindow.Height(), t.headerLines)) {
 		t.printAll()
 		return true
 	}
@@ -3219,14 +3428,21 @@ func (t *Terminal) printHeader() {
 		return
 	}
 
-	t.withWindow(t.headerWindow, func() {
-		var headerItems []Item
-		if !t.hasHeaderLinesWindow() {
-			headerItems = t.header
-		}
-		t.printHeaderImpl(t.headerWindow, t.headerBorderShape, t.header0, headerItems)
-	})
-	if w, shape := t.determineHeaderLinesShape(); w {
+	// When an inline section was requested but addInline had no budget, its window is
+	// nil. Don't fall through to withWindow — that would leak header content into the
+	// list window. A nil window is only legitimate when the shape is NOT inline (e.g.
+	// header combined with the list when --no-list-border is in effect).
+	if !(t.headerBorderShape == tui.BorderInline && t.headerWindow == nil) {
+		t.withWindow(t.headerWindow, func() {
+			var headerItems []Item
+			if !t.hasHeaderLinesWindow() {
+				headerItems = t.header
+			}
+			t.printHeaderImpl(t.headerWindow, t.headerBorderShape, t.header0, headerItems)
+		})
+	}
+	if w, shape := t.determineHeaderLinesShape(); w &&
+		!(shape == tui.BorderInline && t.headerLinesWindow == nil) {
 		t.withWindow(t.headerLinesWindow, func() {
 			t.printHeaderImpl(t.headerLinesWindow, shape, nil, t.header)
 		})
@@ -3277,7 +3493,10 @@ func (t *Terminal) headerIndentImpl(base int, borderShape tui.BorderShape) int {
 	if t.listBorderShape.HasLeft() {
 		indentSize += 1 + t.borderWidth
 	}
-	if borderShape.HasLeft() {
+	// Section borders with their own left side skip past the list border's left column.
+	// Inline sections also skip it, but only when the list border actually has a left,
+	// since otherwise the inline window starts flush with the list window.
+	if borderShape.HasLeft() || (borderShape == tui.BorderInline && t.listBorderShape.HasLeft()) {
 		indentSize -= 1 + t.borderWidth
 		if indentSize < 0 {
 			indentSize = 0
@@ -5952,11 +6171,28 @@ func (t *Terminal) Loop() error {
 					case reqRedrawInputLabel:
 						t.printLabel(t.inputBorder, t.inputLabel, t.inputLabelOpts, t.inputLabelLen, t.inputBorderShape, true)
 					case reqRedrawHeaderLabel:
-						t.printLabel(t.headerBorder, t.headerLabel, t.headerLabelOpts, t.headerLabelLen, t.headerBorderShape, true)
+						if t.headerBorderShape == tui.BorderInline {
+							// Inline labels sit on the separator inside wborder; re-run the
+							// full layout to repaint the separator + label together.
+							t.printAll()
+						} else {
+							t.printLabel(t.headerBorder, t.headerLabel, t.headerLabelOpts, t.headerLabelLen, t.headerBorderShape, true)
+						}
 					case reqRedrawFooterLabel:
-						t.printLabel(t.footerBorder, t.footerLabel, t.footerLabelOpts, t.footerLabelLen, t.footerBorderShape, true)
+						if t.footerBorderShape == tui.BorderInline {
+							t.printAll()
+						} else {
+							t.printLabel(t.footerBorder, t.footerLabel, t.footerLabelOpts, t.footerLabelLen, t.footerBorderShape, true)
+						}
 					case reqRedrawListLabel:
-						t.printLabel(t.wborder, t.listLabel, t.listLabelOpts, t.listLabelLen, t.listBorderShape, true)
+						// When inline sections are active, the label's bg depends on which
+						// section owns the adjacent edge. Rerun the layout to reuse that
+						// logic rather than duplicating it here.
+						if t.headerBorderShape == tui.BorderInline || t.headerLinesShape == tui.BorderInline || t.footerBorderShape == tui.BorderInline {
+							t.printAll()
+						} else {
+							t.printLabel(t.wborder, t.listLabel, t.listLabelOpts, t.listLabelLen, t.listBorderShape, true)
+						}
 					case reqRedrawBorderLabel:
 						t.printLabel(t.border, t.borderLabel, t.borderLabelOpts, t.borderLabelLen, t.borderShape, true)
 					case reqRedrawPreviewLabel:

src/tui/light.go

@@ -1129,127 +1129,142 @@ func (w *LightWindow) DrawHBorder() {
 	w.drawBorder(true)
 }
 
+// drawHLine fills row `row` with `line` between optional left/right caps.
+// A zero rune means "no cap"; caps are placed at the very edges of `w`.
+func (w *LightWindow) drawHLine(row int, line, leftCap, rightCap rune, color ColorPair) {
+	w.Move(row, 0)
+	hw := runeWidth(line)
+	width := w.width
+	if leftCap != 0 {
+		w.CPrint(color, string(leftCap))
+		width -= runeWidth(leftCap)
+	}
+	if rightCap != 0 {
+		width -= runeWidth(rightCap)
+	}
+	if width < 0 {
+		width = 0
+	}
+	inner := width / hw
+	rem := width - inner*hw
+	w.CPrint(color, repeat(line, inner)+repeat(' ', rem))
+	if rightCap != 0 {
+		w.CPrint(color, string(rightCap))
+	}
+}
+
+func (w *LightWindow) DrawHSeparator(row int, windowType WindowType, useBottom bool) {
+	if w.height == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	shape := w.border.shape
+	if shape == BorderNone {
+		return
+	}
+	color := BorderColor(windowType)
+	line := w.border.top
+	if useBottom {
+		line = w.border.bottom
+	}
+	var leftCap, rightCap rune
+	if shape.HasLeft() || shape.HasRight() {
+		leftCap = w.border.leftMid
+		rightCap = w.border.rightMid
+	}
+	w.drawHLine(row, line, leftCap, rightCap, color)
+}
+
+func (w *LightWindow) PaintSectionFrame(topContent, bottomContent int, windowType WindowType, edge SectionEdge) {
+	if w.height == 0 || w.border.shape == BorderNone {
+		return
+	}
+	color := BorderColor(windowType)
+	shape := w.border.shape
+	hasLeft := shape.HasLeft()
+	hasRight := shape.HasRight()
+	rightW := runeWidth(w.border.right)
+	// Content rows: overpaint left/right verticals + their 1-char margin.
+	for row := topContent; row <= bottomContent; row++ {
+		if hasLeft {
+			w.Move(row, 0)
+			w.CPrint(color, string(w.border.left)+" ")
+		}
+		if hasRight {
+			w.Move(row, w.width-rightW-1)
+			w.CPrint(color, " "+string(w.border.right))
+		}
+	}
+	if edge == SectionEdgeTop && shape.HasTop() {
+		var leftCap, rightCap rune
+		if hasLeft {
+			leftCap = w.border.topLeft
+		}
+		if hasRight {
+			rightCap = w.border.topRight
+		}
+		w.drawHLine(0, w.border.top, leftCap, rightCap, color)
+	}
+	if edge == SectionEdgeBottom && shape.HasBottom() {
+		var leftCap, rightCap rune
+		if hasLeft {
+			leftCap = w.border.bottomLeft
+		}
+		if hasRight {
+			rightCap = w.border.bottomRight
+		}
+		w.drawHLine(w.height-1, w.border.bottom, leftCap, rightCap, color)
+	}
+}
+
 func (w *LightWindow) drawBorder(onlyHorizontal bool) {
 	if w.height == 0 {
 		return
 	}
-	switch w.border.shape {
-	case BorderRounded, BorderSharp, BorderBold, BorderBlock, BorderThinBlock, BorderDouble:
-		w.drawBorderAround(onlyHorizontal)
-	case BorderHorizontal:
-		w.drawBorderHorizontal(true, true)
-	case BorderVertical:
-		if onlyHorizontal {
-			return
-		}
-		w.drawBorderVertical(true, true)
-	case BorderTop:
-		w.drawBorderHorizontal(true, false)
-	case BorderBottom:
-		w.drawBorderHorizontal(false, true)
-	case BorderLeft:
-		if onlyHorizontal {
-			return
-		}
-		w.drawBorderVertical(true, false)
-	case BorderRight:
-		if onlyHorizontal {
-			return
-		}
-		w.drawBorderVertical(false, true)
+	shape := w.border.shape
+	if shape == BorderNone {
+		return
 	}
-}
+	color := BorderColor(w.windowType)
+	hasLeft := shape.HasLeft()
+	hasRight := shape.HasRight()
 
-func (w *LightWindow) drawBorderHorizontal(top, bottom bool) {
-	color := ColBorder
-	switch w.windowType {
-	case WindowList:
-		color = ColListBorder
-	case WindowInput:
-		color = ColInputBorder
-	case WindowHeader:
-		color = ColHeaderBorder
-	case WindowFooter:
-		color = ColFooterBorder
-	case WindowPreview:
-		color = ColPreviewBorder
-	}
-	hw := runeWidth(w.border.top)
-	if top {
-		w.Move(0, 0)
-		w.CPrint(color, repeat(w.border.top, w.width/hw))
-	}
-
-	if bottom {
-		w.Move(w.height-1, 0)
-		w.CPrint(color, repeat(w.border.bottom, w.width/hw))
-	}
-}
-
-func (w *LightWindow) drawBorderVertical(left, right bool) {
-	vw := runeWidth(w.border.left)
-	color := ColBorder
-	switch w.windowType {
-	case WindowList:
-		color = ColListBorder
-	case WindowInput:
-		color = ColInputBorder
-	case WindowHeader:
-		color = ColHeaderBorder
-	case WindowFooter:
-		color = ColFooterBorder
-	case WindowPreview:
-		color = ColPreviewBorder
-	}
-	for y := 0; y < w.height; y++ {
-		if left {
-			w.Move(y, 0)
-			w.CPrint(color, string(w.border.left))
-			w.CPrint(color, " ") // Margin
+	if shape.HasTop() {
+		var leftCap, rightCap rune
+		if hasLeft {
+			leftCap = w.border.topLeft
 		}
-		if right {
-			w.Move(y, w.width-vw-1)
-			w.CPrint(color, " ") // Margin
-			w.CPrint(color, string(w.border.right))
+		if hasRight {
+			rightCap = w.border.topRight
 		}
+		w.drawHLine(0, w.border.top, leftCap, rightCap, color)
 	}
-}
-
-func (w *LightWindow) drawBorderAround(onlyHorizontal bool) {
-	w.Move(0, 0)
-	color := ColBorder
-	switch w.windowType {
-	case WindowList:
-		color = ColListBorder
-	case WindowInput:
-		color = ColInputBorder
-	case WindowHeader:
-		color = ColHeaderBorder
-	case WindowFooter:
-		color = ColFooterBorder
-	case WindowPreview:
-		color = ColPreviewBorder
-	}
-	hw := runeWidth(w.border.top)
-	tcw := runeWidth(w.border.topLeft) + runeWidth(w.border.topRight)
-	bcw := runeWidth(w.border.bottomLeft) + runeWidth(w.border.bottomRight)
-	rem := (w.width - tcw) % hw
-	w.CPrint(color, string(w.border.topLeft)+repeat(w.border.top, (w.width-tcw)/hw)+repeat(' ', rem)+string(w.border.topRight))
-	if !onlyHorizontal {
+	if !onlyHorizontal && (hasLeft || hasRight) {
 		vw := runeWidth(w.border.left)
-		for y := 1; y < w.height-1; y++ {
-			w.Move(y, 0)
-			w.CPrint(color, string(w.border.left))
-			w.CPrint(color, " ") // Margin
-
-			w.Move(y, w.width-vw-1)
-			w.CPrint(color, " ") // Margin
-			w.CPrint(color, string(w.border.right))
+		for y := 0; y < w.height; y++ {
+			// Corner rows are already painted by drawHLine above / below.
+			if (y == 0 && shape.HasTop()) || (y == w.height-1 && shape.HasBottom()) {
+				continue
+			}
+			if hasLeft {
+				w.Move(y, 0)
+				w.CPrint(color, string(w.border.left)+" ")
+			}
+			if hasRight {
+				w.Move(y, w.width-vw-1)
+				w.CPrint(color, " "+string(w.border.right))
+			}
 		}
 	}
-	w.Move(w.height-1, 0)
-	rem = (w.width - bcw) % hw
-	w.CPrint(color, string(w.border.bottomLeft)+repeat(w.border.bottom, (w.width-bcw)/hw)+repeat(' ', rem)+string(w.border.bottomRight))
+	if shape.HasBottom() {
+		var leftCap, rightCap rune
+		if hasLeft {
+			leftCap = w.border.bottomLeft
+		}
+		if hasRight {
+			rightCap = w.border.bottomRight
+		}
+		w.drawHLine(w.height-1, w.border.bottom, leftCap, rightCap, color)
+	}
 }
 
 func (w *LightWindow) csi(code string) string {

src/tui/tcell.go

@@ -1017,6 +1017,113 @@ func (w *TcellWindow) DrawHBorder() {
 	w.drawBorder(true)
 }
 
+// borderStyleFor returns the tcell.Style used to draw borders for `wt`, honoring
+// whether the window is rendering with colors.
+func (w *TcellWindow) borderStyleFor(wt WindowType) tcell.Style {
+	if !w.color {
+		return w.normal.style()
+	}
+	return BorderColor(wt).style()
+}
+
+// drawHLine fills row `y` with `line` between optional left/right caps.
+// A zero rune means "no cap"; caps are placed at the very edges of `w`.
+// tcell has an issue displaying two overlapping wide runes, so the line
+// stops before the cap position rather than overpainting.
+func (w *TcellWindow) drawHLine(y int, line, leftCap, rightCap rune, style tcell.Style) {
+	left := w.left
+	right := left + w.width
+	hw := runeWidth(line)
+	lw := 0
+	rw := 0
+	if leftCap != 0 {
+		lw = runeWidth(leftCap)
+	}
+	if rightCap != 0 {
+		rw = runeWidth(rightCap)
+	}
+	for x := left + lw; x <= right-rw-hw; x += hw {
+		_screen.SetContent(x, y, line, nil, style)
+	}
+	if leftCap != 0 {
+		_screen.SetContent(left, y, leftCap, nil, style)
+	}
+	if rightCap != 0 {
+		_screen.SetContent(right-rw, y, rightCap, nil, style)
+	}
+}
+
+func (w *TcellWindow) DrawHSeparator(row int, windowType WindowType, useBottom bool) {
+	if w.height == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	shape := w.borderStyle.shape
+	if shape == BorderNone {
+		return
+	}
+	style := w.borderStyleFor(windowType)
+	line := w.borderStyle.top
+	if useBottom {
+		line = w.borderStyle.bottom
+	}
+	var leftCap, rightCap rune
+	if shape.HasLeft() || shape.HasRight() {
+		leftCap = w.borderStyle.leftMid
+		rightCap = w.borderStyle.rightMid
+	}
+	w.drawHLine(w.top+row, line, leftCap, rightCap, style)
+}
+
+func (w *TcellWindow) PaintSectionFrame(topContent, bottomContent int, windowType WindowType, edge SectionEdge) {
+	if w.height == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	shape := w.borderStyle.shape
+	if shape == BorderNone {
+		return
+	}
+	style := w.borderStyleFor(windowType)
+	left := w.left
+	right := left + w.width
+	hasLeft := shape.HasLeft()
+	hasRight := shape.HasRight()
+	leftW := runeWidth(w.borderStyle.left)
+	rightW := runeWidth(w.borderStyle.right)
+	// Content rows: overpaint the left and right verticals (+ their 1-char margin) in
+	// the section's color. Inner margin stays at whatever bg the sub-window set.
+	for row := topContent; row <= bottomContent; row++ {
+		y := w.top + row
+		if hasLeft {
+			_screen.SetContent(left, y, w.borderStyle.left, nil, style)
+			_screen.SetContent(left+leftW, y, ' ', nil, style)
+		}
+		if hasRight {
+			_screen.SetContent(right-rightW-1, y, ' ', nil, style)
+			_screen.SetContent(right-rightW, y, w.borderStyle.right, nil, style)
+		}
+	}
+	if edge == SectionEdgeTop && shape.HasTop() {
+		var leftCap, rightCap rune
+		if hasLeft {
+			leftCap = w.borderStyle.topLeft
+		}
+		if hasRight {
+			rightCap = w.borderStyle.topRight
+		}
+		w.drawHLine(w.top, w.borderStyle.top, leftCap, rightCap, style)
+	}
+	if edge == SectionEdgeBottom && shape.HasBottom() {
+		var leftCap, rightCap rune
+		if hasLeft {
+			leftCap = w.borderStyle.bottomLeft
+		}
+		if hasRight {
+			rightCap = w.borderStyle.bottomRight
+		}
+		w.drawHLine(w.top+w.height-1, w.borderStyle.bottom, leftCap, rightCap, style)
+	}
+}
+
 func (w *TcellWindow) drawBorder(onlyHorizontal bool) {
 	if w.height == 0 {
 		return
@@ -1031,72 +1138,44 @@ func (w *TcellWindow) drawBorder(onlyHorizontal bool) {
 	top := w.top
 	bot := top + w.height
 
-	var style tcell.Style
-	if w.color {
-		switch w.windowType {
-		case WindowBase:
-			style = ColBorder.style()
-		case WindowList:
-			style = ColListBorder.style()
-		case WindowHeader:
-			style = ColHeaderBorder.style()
-		case WindowFooter:
-			style = ColFooterBorder.style()
-		case WindowInput:
-			style = ColInputBorder.style()
-		case WindowPreview:
-			style = ColPreviewBorder.style()
-		}
-	} else {
-		style = w.normal.style()
-	}
+	style := w.borderStyleFor(w.windowType)
 
-	hw := runeWidth(w.borderStyle.top)
-	switch shape {
-	case BorderRounded, BorderSharp, BorderBold, BorderBlock, BorderThinBlock, BorderDouble, BorderHorizontal, BorderTop:
-		max := right - 2*hw
-		if shape == BorderHorizontal || shape == BorderTop {
-			max = right - hw
+	hasLeft := shape.HasLeft()
+	hasRight := shape.HasRight()
+
+	if shape.HasTop() {
+		var leftCap, rightCap rune
+		if hasLeft {
+			leftCap = w.borderStyle.topLeft
 		}
-		// tcell has an issue displaying two overlapping wide runes
-		// e.g.  SetContent(  HH  )
-		//       SetContent(   TR )
-		//       ==================
-		//                 (  HH  ) => TR is ignored
-		for x := left; x <= max; x += hw {
-			_screen.SetContent(x, top, w.borderStyle.top, nil, style)
+		if hasRight {
+			rightCap = w.borderStyle.topRight
 		}
+		w.drawHLine(top, w.borderStyle.top, leftCap, rightCap, style)
 	}
-	switch shape {
-	case BorderRounded, BorderSharp, BorderBold, BorderBlock, BorderThinBlock, BorderDouble, BorderHorizontal, BorderBottom:
-		max := right - 2*hw
-		if shape == BorderHorizontal || shape == BorderBottom {
-			max = right - hw
+	if shape.HasBottom() {
+		var leftCap, rightCap rune
+		if hasLeft {
+			leftCap = w.borderStyle.bottomLeft
 		}
-		for x := left; x <= max; x += hw {
-			_screen.SetContent(x, bot-1, w.borderStyle.bottom, nil, style)
+		if hasRight {
+			rightCap = w.borderStyle.bottomRight
 		}
+		w.drawHLine(bot-1, w.borderStyle.bottom, leftCap, rightCap, style)
 	}
 	if !onlyHorizontal {
-		switch shape {
-		case BorderRounded, BorderSharp, BorderBold, BorderBlock, BorderThinBlock, BorderDouble, BorderVertical, BorderLeft:
-			for y := top; y < bot; y++ {
+		vw := runeWidth(w.borderStyle.right)
+		for y := top; y < bot; y++ {
+			// Corner rows are already painted by drawHLine above / below.
+			if (y == top && shape.HasTop()) || (y == bot-1 && shape.HasBottom()) {
+				continue
+			}
+			if hasLeft {
 				_screen.SetContent(left, y, w.borderStyle.left, nil, style)
 			}
-		}
-		switch shape {
-		case BorderRounded, BorderSharp, BorderBold, BorderBlock, BorderThinBlock, BorderDouble, BorderVertical, BorderRight:
-			vw := runeWidth(w.borderStyle.right)
-			for y := top; y < bot; y++ {
+			if hasRight {
 				_screen.SetContent(right-vw, y, w.borderStyle.right, nil, style)
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	switch shape {
-	case BorderRounded, BorderSharp, BorderBold, BorderBlock, BorderThinBlock, BorderDouble:
-		_screen.SetContent(left, top, w.borderStyle.topLeft, nil, style)
-		_screen.SetContent(right-runeWidth(w.borderStyle.topRight), top, w.borderStyle.topRight, nil, style)
-		_screen.SetContent(left, bot-1, w.borderStyle.bottomLeft, nil, style)
-		_screen.SetContent(right-runeWidth(w.borderStyle.bottomRight), bot-1, w.borderStyle.bottomRight, nil, style)
-	}
 }

src/tui/tui.go

@@ -595,11 +595,12 @@ const (
 	BorderBottom
 	BorderLeft
 	BorderRight
+	BorderInline
 )
 
 func (s BorderShape) HasLeft() bool {
 	switch s {
-	case BorderNone, BorderPhantom, BorderLine, BorderRight, BorderTop, BorderBottom, BorderHorizontal: // No Left
+	case BorderNone, BorderPhantom, BorderLine, BorderInline, BorderRight, BorderTop, BorderBottom, BorderHorizontal: // No Left
 		return false
 	}
 	return true
@@ -607,7 +608,7 @@ func (s BorderShape) HasLeft() bool {
 
 func (s BorderShape) HasRight() bool {
 	switch s {
-	case BorderNone, BorderPhantom, BorderLine, BorderLeft, BorderTop, BorderBottom, BorderHorizontal: // No right
+	case BorderNone, BorderPhantom, BorderLine, BorderInline, BorderLeft, BorderTop, BorderBottom, BorderHorizontal: // No right
 		return false
 	}
 	return true
@@ -615,7 +616,7 @@ func (s BorderShape) HasRight() bool {
 
 func (s BorderShape) HasTop() bool {
 	switch s {
-	case BorderNone, BorderPhantom, BorderLine, BorderLeft, BorderRight, BorderBottom, BorderVertical: // No top
+	case BorderNone, BorderPhantom, BorderLine, BorderInline, BorderLeft, BorderRight, BorderBottom, BorderVertical: // No top
 		return false
 	}
 	return true
@@ -623,7 +624,7 @@ func (s BorderShape) HasTop() bool {
 
 func (s BorderShape) HasBottom() bool {
 	switch s {
-	case BorderNone, BorderPhantom, BorderLine, BorderLeft, BorderRight, BorderTop, BorderVertical: // No bottom
+	case BorderNone, BorderPhantom, BorderLine, BorderInline, BorderLeft, BorderRight, BorderTop, BorderVertical: // No bottom
 		return false
 	}
 	return true
@@ -643,6 +644,8 @@ type BorderStyle struct {
 	topRight    rune
 	bottomLeft  rune
 	bottomRight rune
+	leftMid     rune
+	rightMid    rune
 }
 
 type BorderCharacter int
@@ -658,7 +661,9 @@ func MakeBorderStyle(shape BorderShape, unicode bool) BorderStyle {
 			topLeft:     ' ',
 			topRight:    ' ',
 			bottomLeft:  ' ',
-			bottomRight: ' '}
+			bottomRight: ' ',
+			leftMid:     ' ',
+			rightMid:    ' '}
 	}
 	if !unicode {
 		return BorderStyle{
@@ -671,6 +676,8 @@ func MakeBorderStyle(shape BorderShape, unicode bool) BorderStyle {
 			topRight:    '+',
 			bottomLeft:  '+',
 			bottomRight: '+',
+			leftMid:     '+',
+			rightMid:    '+',
 		}
 	}
 	switch shape {
@@ -685,6 +692,8 @@ func MakeBorderStyle(shape BorderShape, unicode bool) BorderStyle {
 			topRight:    '┐',
 			bottomLeft:  '└',
 			bottomRight: '┘',
+			leftMid:     '├',
+			rightMid:    '┤',
 		}
 	case BorderBold:
 		return BorderStyle{
@@ -697,6 +706,8 @@ func MakeBorderStyle(shape BorderShape, unicode bool) BorderStyle {
 			topRight:    '┓',
 			bottomLeft:  '┗',
 			bottomRight: '┛',
+			leftMid:     '┣',
+			rightMid:    '┫',
 		}
 	case BorderBlock:
 		// ▛▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▜
@@ -712,6 +723,8 @@ func MakeBorderStyle(shape BorderShape, unicode bool) BorderStyle {
 			topRight:    '▜',
 			bottomLeft:  '▙',
 			bottomRight: '▟',
+			leftMid:     '▌',
+			rightMid:    '▐',
 		}
 
 	case BorderThinBlock:
@@ -728,6 +741,8 @@ func MakeBorderStyle(shape BorderShape, unicode bool) BorderStyle {
 			topRight:    '🭾',
 			bottomLeft:  '🭼',
 			bottomRight: '🭿',
+			leftMid:     '▏',
+			rightMid:    '▕',
 		}
 
 	case BorderDouble:
@@ -741,6 +756,8 @@ func MakeBorderStyle(shape BorderShape, unicode bool) BorderStyle {
 			topRight:    '╗',
 			bottomLeft:  '╚',
 			bottomRight: '╝',
+			leftMid:     '╠',
+			rightMid:    '╣',
 		}
 	}
 	return BorderStyle{
@@ -753,6 +770,8 @@ func MakeBorderStyle(shape BorderShape, unicode bool) BorderStyle {
 		topRight:    '╮',
 		bottomLeft:  '╰',
 		bottomRight: '╯',
+		leftMid:     '├',
+		rightMid:    '┤',
 	}
 }
 
@@ -774,6 +793,35 @@ const (
 	WindowFooter
 )
 
+// BorderColor returns the ColorPair used to draw borders for the given WindowType.
+func BorderColor(wt WindowType) ColorPair {
+	switch wt {
+	case WindowList:
+		return ColListBorder
+	case WindowInput:
+		return ColInputBorder
+	case WindowHeader:
+		return ColHeaderBorder
+	case WindowFooter:
+		return ColFooterBorder
+	case WindowPreview:
+		return ColPreviewBorder
+	}
+	return ColBorder
+}
+
+// SectionEdge selects which outer edge of the frame an inline section
+// should claim when PaintSectionFrame overpaints its adjacent border.
+// SectionEdgeNone paints only the inner verticals (for sections that
+// don't touch the outer top or bottom).
+type SectionEdge int
+
+const (
+	SectionEdgeNone SectionEdge = iota
+	SectionEdgeTop
+	SectionEdgeBottom
+)
+
 type Renderer interface {
 	DefaultTheme() *ColorTheme
 	Init() error
@@ -811,6 +859,19 @@ type Window interface {
 
 	DrawBorder()
 	DrawHBorder()
+	// DrawHSeparator draws an inline horizontal separator at `row` (relative to the
+	// window's top) using the color for `windowType`. The separator is conceptually
+	// the section's inner edge (e.g. the bottom border of an inline header), so the
+	// whole row including junctions carries the section's fg + bg. When useBottom is
+	// true the `bottom` horizontal char is used instead of `top`; for thinblock/block
+	// styles this keeps the thin line bonded to the list content on the opposite side.
+	DrawHSeparator(row int, windowType WindowType, useBottom bool)
+	// PaintSectionFrame overpaints the border cells around the rows [topContent,
+	// bottomContent] (inclusive, relative to the window's top) with the color for
+	// `windowType`. When edge is SectionEdgeTop / SectionEdgeBottom, the
+	// corresponding outer horizontal (+ corners) is also painted, letting the
+	// inline section claim that edge of the outer frame.
+	PaintSectionFrame(topContent, bottomContent int, windowType WindowType, edge SectionEdge)
 	Refresh()
 	FinishFill()
 
@@ -1166,7 +1227,7 @@ func init() {
 	}
 }
 
-func InitTheme(theme *ColorTheme, baseTheme *ColorTheme, boldify bool, forceBlack bool, hasInputWindow bool, hasHeaderWindow bool) {
+func InitTheme(theme *ColorTheme, baseTheme *ColorTheme, boldify bool, forceBlack bool, hasInputWindow bool, hasHeaderWindow bool, headerInline bool, footerInline bool) {
 	if forceBlack {
 		theme.Bg = ColorAttr{colBlack, AttrUndefined}
 	}
@@ -1300,11 +1361,22 @@ func InitTheme(theme *ColorTheme, baseTheme *ColorTheme, boldify bool, forceBlac
 	} else {
 		theme.HeaderBg = o(theme.Bg, theme.ListBg)
 	}
-	theme.HeaderBorder = o(theme.Border, theme.HeaderBorder)
+	// Inline header/footer borders sit inside the list frame, so default their color
+	// to the list-border color when the user has not explicitly set it. The inline
+	// separator then matches the surrounding frame.
+	headerBorderFallback := theme.Border
+	if headerInline {
+		headerBorderFallback = theme.ListBorder
+	}
+	theme.HeaderBorder = o(headerBorderFallback, theme.HeaderBorder)
 	theme.HeaderLabel = o(theme.BorderLabel, theme.HeaderLabel)
 
 	theme.FooterBg = o(theme.Bg, theme.FooterBg)
-	theme.FooterBorder = o(theme.Border, theme.FooterBorder)
+	footerBorderFallback := theme.Border
+	if footerInline {
+		footerBorderFallback = theme.ListBorder
+	}
+	theme.FooterBorder = o(footerBorderFallback, theme.FooterBorder)
 	theme.FooterLabel = o(theme.BorderLabel, theme.FooterLabel)
 
 	if theme.Nomatch.IsUndefined() {

test/lib/common.rb

@@ -130,6 +130,66 @@ class Tmux
     go(%W[capture-pane -p -J -t #{win}]).map(&:rstrip).reverse.drop_while(&:empty?).reverse
   end
 
+  # 3-bit ANSI bg code (40..47) -> color name used in --color options.
+  BG_NAMES = %w[black red green yellow blue magenta cyan white].freeze
+
+  # Parse `tmux capture-pane -e` output into per-row bg ranges. Each row is an
+  # array of [col_start, col_end, bg] tuples where bg is one of:
+  #   'default'
+  #   'red' / 'green' / 'blue' / ... (3-bit names)
+  #   'bright-red' / ...             (bright variants)
+  #   '256:<n>'                      (256-color fallback)
+  # ANSI state persists across rows, matching real terminal behavior.
+  def bg_ranges
+    raw = go(%W[capture-pane -p -J -e -t #{win}])
+    bg = 'default'
+    raw.map do |row|
+      cells = []
+      i = 0
+      len = row.length
+      while i < len
+        c = row[i]
+        if c == "\e" && row[i + 1] == '['
+          j = i + 2
+          j += 1 while j < len && row[j] != 'm'
+          parts = row[i + 2...j].split(';')
+          k = 0
+          while k < parts.length
+            p = parts[k].to_i
+            case p
+            when 0, 49 then bg = 'default'
+            when 40..47 then bg = BG_NAMES[p - 40]
+            when 100..107 then bg = "bright-#{BG_NAMES[p - 100]}"
+            when 48
+              if parts[k + 1] == '5'
+                bg = "256:#{parts[k + 2]}"
+                k += 2
+              elsif parts[k + 1] == '2'
+                bg = "rgb:#{parts[k + 2]}:#{parts[k + 3]}:#{parts[k + 4]}"
+                k += 4
+              end
+            end
+            k += 1
+          end
+          i = j + 1
+        else
+          cells << bg
+          i += 1
+        end
+      end
+      ranges = []
+      start = 0
+      cells.each_with_index do |b, idx|
+        if idx.positive? && b != cells[idx - 1]
+          ranges << [start, idx - 1, cells[idx - 1]]
+          start = idx
+        end
+      end
+      ranges << [start, cells.length - 1, cells.last] unless cells.empty?
+      ranges
+    end
+  end
+
   def until(refresh = false, timeout: DEFAULT_TIMEOUT)
     lines = nil
     begin

test/test_layout.rb

@@ -1392,5 +1392,159 @@ class TestLayout < TestInteractive
                     input: "(printf 'Xaa\\nYbb\\nZcc\\n'; seq 5)",
                     clicks: clicks)
     end
+
+    # Inline header inside a rounded list border.
+    define_method(:"test_click_header_border_inline_#{slug}") do
+      opts = %(--layout=#{layout} --style full --header $'Aaa\\nBbb\\nCcc' --header-border=inline)
+      verify_clicks(kind: :header, opts: opts, input: 'seq 5', clicks: HEADER_CLICKS)
+    end
+
+    # Inline header inside a horizontal list border (top+bottom only, no T-junctions).
+    define_method(:"test_click_header_border_inline_horizontal_list_#{slug}") do
+      opts = %(--layout=#{layout} --style full --list-border=horizontal --header $'Aaa\\nBbb\\nCcc' --header-border=inline)
+      verify_clicks(kind: :header, opts: opts, input: 'seq 5', clicks: HEADER_CLICKS)
+    end
+
+    # Inline header-lines inside a rounded list border.
+    define_method(:"test_click_header_lines_border_inline_#{slug}") do
+      clicks_hl = if layout == 'default'
+                    [%w[Xaa 3], %w[Ybb 2], %w[Zcc 1]]
+                  else
+                    [%w[Xaa 1], %w[Ybb 2], %w[Zcc 3]]
+                  end
+      opts = %(--layout=#{layout} --style full --header-lines 3 --header-lines-border=inline)
+      verify_clicks(kind: :header, opts: opts,
+                    input: "(printf 'Xaa\\nYbb\\nZcc\\n'; seq 5)",
+                    clicks: clicks_hl)
+    end
+
+    # Inline footer inside a rounded list border.
+    define_method(:"test_click_footer_border_inline_#{slug}") do
+      opts = %(--layout=#{layout} --style full --footer $'Foo\\nBar\\nBaz' --footer-border=inline)
+      verify_clicks(kind: :footer, opts: opts, input: 'seq 5',
+                    clicks: [%w[Foo 1], %w[Bar 2], %w[Baz 3]])
+    end
+  end
+
+  # An inline section requesting far more rows than the terminal can fit must not
+  # break the layout. The list frame must still render inside the pane with both
+  # corners visible and the prompt line present.
+  def test_inline_header_lines_oversized
+    tmux.send_keys %(seq 10000 | #{FZF} --style full --header-border inline --header-lines 9999), :Enter
+    tmux.until { |lines| lines.any_include?(%r{ [0-9]+/[0-9]+}) }
+    lines = tmux.capture
+    # Rounded (light) and sharp (tcell) default border glyphs.
+    top_corners = /[╭┌]/
+    bottom_corners = /[╰└]/
+    assert(lines.any? { |l| l.match?(top_corners) }, "list frame top missing: #{lines.inspect}")
+    assert(lines.any? { |l| l.match?(bottom_corners) }, "list frame bottom missing: #{lines.inspect}")
+    assert(lines.any? { |l| l.include?('>') }, "prompt missing: #{lines.inspect}")
+    tmux.send_keys 'Escape'
+  end
+
+  # A non-inline section that consumes all available rows must still render without
+  # crashing when another section is inline but has no budget. The inline section's
+  # content is clipped to 0 but the layout proceeds.
+  def test_inline_footer_starved_by_non_inline_header
+    tmux.send_keys %(seq 10000 | #{FZF} --style full --footer-border inline --footer "$(seq 1000)" --header "$(seq 1000)"), :Enter
+    tmux.until { |lines| lines.any_include?(%r{ [0-9]+/[0-9]+}) }
+    lines = tmux.capture
+    assert(lines.any? { |l| l.include?('>') }, "prompt missing: #{lines.inspect}")
+    tmux.send_keys 'Escape'
+  end
+
+  # Without a line-drawing --list-border, --header-border=inline must silently
+  # fall back to the `line` style (documented behavior).
+  def test_inline_falls_back_without_list_border
+    tmux.send_keys %(seq 5 | #{FZF} --list-border=none --header HEADER --header-border=inline), :Enter
+    tmux.until { |lines| lines.any_include?(%r{ [0-9]+/[0-9]+}) }
+    lines = tmux.capture
+    assert(lines.any? { |l| l.include?('HEADER') }, "header missing: #{lines.inspect}")
+    # Neither list frame corners (rounded/sharp) nor T-junction runes appear,
+    # since we've fallen back to a plain line separator.
+    assert(lines.none? { |l| l.match?(/[╭╮╰╯┌┐└┘├┤]/) }, "unexpected frame glyphs: #{lines.inspect}")
+    tmux.send_keys 'Escape'
+  end
+
+  # Invalid inline combinations must be rejected at startup.
+  def test_inline_rejected_on_unsupported_options
+    [
+      ['--border=inline', 'inline border is only supported'],
+      ['--list-border=inline', 'inline border is only supported'],
+      ['--input-border=inline', 'inline border is only supported'],
+      ['--preview-window=border-inline --preview :', 'invalid preview window option: border-inline'],
+      ['--header-first --header-border=inline', '--header-first is not compatible'],
+      ['--header-first --header-lines-border=inline --header-lines=1', '--header-first is not compatible'],
+      ['--header-border=inline --header-lines-border=sharp --header-lines=1',
+       '--header-border=inline requires --header-lines-border to be inline or unset']
+    ].each do |args, expected|
+      output = `#{FZF} #{args} < /dev/null 2>&1`
+      refute_equal 0, $CHILD_STATUS.exitstatus, "expected non-zero exit for: #{args}"
+      assert_includes output, expected, "wrong error for: #{args}"
+    end
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  # Count rows whose entire width is a single `color` range.
+  def count_full_rows(ranges_by_row, color)
+    ranges_by_row.count { |r| r.length == 1 && r[0][2] == color }
+  end
+
+  # Wait until `tmux.bg_ranges` has at least `count` fully-`color` rows; return them.
+  def wait_for_full_rows(color, count)
+    ranges = nil
+    tmux.until do |_|
+      ranges = tmux.bg_ranges
+      count_full_rows(ranges, color) >= count
+    end
+    ranges
+  end
+
+  public
+
+  # Inline header's entire section (outer edge + content-row verticals + separator)
+  # carries the header-bg color; list rows below carry list-bg.
+  def test_inline_header_bg_color
+    tmux.send_keys %(seq 5 | #{FZF} --list-border --reverse --header HEADER --header-border=inline --color=bg:-1,header-border:white,list-border:white,header-bg:red,list-bg:green), :Enter
+    tmux.until { |lines| lines.any_include?(%r{ [0-9]+/[0-9]+}) }
+    # 3 fully-red rows: top edge, header content, separator.
+    ranges = wait_for_full_rows('red', 3)
+    assert_equal_org(3, count_full_rows(ranges, 'red'))
+    # List rows below (>=5) are fully green.
+    assert_operator count_full_rows(ranges, 'green'), :>=, 5
+    tmux.send_keys 'Escape'
+  end
+
+  # Regression: when --header-lines-border=inline is the only inline section
+  # (no --header-border), the section must still use header-bg, not list-bg.
+  def test_inline_header_lines_bg_without_main_header
+    tmux.send_keys %(seq 5 | #{FZF} --list-border --reverse --header-lines 2 --header-lines-border=inline --color=bg:-1,header-border:white,list-border:white,header-bg:red,list-bg:green), :Enter
+    tmux.until { |lines| lines.any_include?(%r{ [0-9]+/[0-9]+}) }
+    # Top edge + 2 content rows + separator = 4 fully-red rows.
+    ranges = wait_for_full_rows('red', 4)
+    assert_equal_org(4, count_full_rows(ranges, 'red'))
+    tmux.send_keys 'Escape'
+  end
+
+  # Inline footer's entire section carries footer-bg; list rows above carry list-bg.
+  def test_inline_footer_bg_color
+    tmux.send_keys %(seq 5 | #{FZF} --list-border --footer FOOTER --footer-border=inline --color=bg:-1,footer-border:white,list-border:white,footer-bg:blue,list-bg:green), :Enter
+    tmux.until { |lines| lines.any_include?(%r{ [0-9]+/[0-9]+}) }
+    ranges = wait_for_full_rows('blue', 3)
+    assert_equal_org(3, count_full_rows(ranges, 'blue'))
+    tmux.send_keys 'Escape'
+  end
+
+  # The list-label's bg is swapped to match the adjacent inline section so it reads as
+  # part of the section frame rather than a list-colored island on a section-colored edge.
+  def test_list_label_bg_on_inline_section_edge
+    tmux.send_keys %(seq 5 | #{FZF} --list-border --reverse --header HEADER --header-border=inline --list-label=LL --color=bg:-1,header-border:white,list-border:white,header-bg:red,list-bg:green,list-label:yellow:bold), :Enter
+    tmux.until { |lines| lines.any_include?(%r{ [0-9]+/[0-9]+}) }
+    # The label sits on the header-owned top edge, so the entire row must be a
+    # single red run (no green breaks where the label cells are).
+    ranges = wait_for_full_rows('red', 3)
+    assert_operator count_full_rows(ranges, 'red'), :>=, 3
+    tmux.send_keys 'Escape'
   end
 end