diff --git a/bun.lock b/bun.lock
index ceb74ff..5af5b0e 100644
--- a/bun.lock
+++ b/bun.lock
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
     "": {
       "name": "clarc",
       "dependencies": {
+        "@xterm/addon-serialize": "^0.14.0",
+        "@xterm/headless": "^6.0.0",
         "bun-pty": "^0.4.8",
       },
       "devDependencies": {
@@ -39,6 +41,10 @@
 
     "@types/node": ["@types/node@25.0.10", "", { "dependencies": { "undici-types": "~7.16.0" } }, "sha512-zWW5KPngR/yvakJgGOmZ5vTBemDoSqF3AcV/LrO5u5wTWyEAVVh+IT39G4gtyAkh3CtTZs8aX/yRM82OfzHJRg=="],
 
+    "@xterm/addon-serialize": ["@xterm/addon-serialize@0.14.0", "", {}, "sha512-uteyTU1EkrQa2Ux6P/uFl2fzmXI46jy5uoQMKEOM0fKTyiW7cSn0WrFenHm5vO5uEXX/GpwW/FgILvv3r0WbkA=="],
+
+    "@xterm/headless": ["@xterm/headless@6.0.0", "", {}, "sha512-5Yj1QINYCyzrZtf8OFIHi47iQtI+0qYFPHmouEfG8dHNxbZ9Tb9YGSuLcsEwj9Z+OL75GJqPyJbyoFer80a2Hw=="],
+
     "bun-pty": ["bun-pty@0.4.8", "", {}, "sha512-rO70Mrbr13+jxHHHu2YBkk2pNqrJE5cJn29WE++PUr+GFA0hq/VgtQPZANJ8dJo6d7XImvBk37Innt8GM7O28w=="],
 
     "bun-types": ["bun-types@1.3.7", "", { "dependencies": { "@types/node": "*" } }, "sha512-qyschsA03Qz+gou+apt6HNl6HnI+sJJLL4wLDke4iugsE6584CMupOtTY1n+2YC9nGVrEKUlTs99jjRLKgWnjQ=="],
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e94aaae..dfce470 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
     "typescript": "^5"
   },
   "dependencies": {
+    "@xterm/addon-serialize": "^0.14.0",
+    "@xterm/headless": "^6.0.0",
     "bun-pty": "^0.4.8"
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/server.ts b/src/server.ts
index be49575..1342e95 100644
--- a/src/server.ts
+++ b/src/server.ts
@@ -494,7 +494,9 @@ const server = Bun.serve<SessionData>({
           // Determine if new tail is an incomplete control sequence and split
           const [body, carry] = splitAnsiCarryover(combined);
           if (carry) {
-            console.debug(`Session ${sessionId}: ANSI carryover detected (${carry.length} bytes)`);
+            console.debug(
+              `Session ${sessionId}: ANSI carryover detected (${carry.length} bytes)`,
+            );
             ansiCarryovers.set(sessionId, carry);
           } else if (prevCarry) {
             console.debug(`Session ${sessionId}: ANSI carryover resolved`);
diff --git a/src/terminal.ts b/src/terminal.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05a5b89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/terminal.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { SerializeAddon } from "@xterm/addon-serialize";
+import { Terminal } from "@xterm/headless";
+
+export interface TerminalSession {
+  terminal: Terminal;
+  serialize: SerializeAddon;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a new headless terminal emulator instance
+ * @param cols - Terminal width in columns
+ * @param rows - Terminal height in rows
+ * @returns Terminal session with emulator and serialization addon
+ */
+export function createTerminal(cols: number, rows: number): TerminalSession {
+  const terminal = new Terminal({
+    cols,
+    rows,
+    scrollback: 1000, // Keep 1000 lines of scrollback
+    allowProposedApi: true,
+  });
+
+  const serialize = new SerializeAddon();
+  terminal.loadAddon(serialize);
+
+  return { terminal, serialize };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Serialize terminal screen buffer as HTML
+ */
+export function serializeAsHTML(session: TerminalSession): string {
+  return session.serialize.serializeAsHTML({
+    onlySelection: false,
+    includeGlobalBackground: true,
+  });
+}
+
+/**
+ * Clean up terminal resources
+ */
+export function disposeTerminal(session: TerminalSession): void {
+  session.serialize.dispose();
+  session.terminal.dispose();
+}