diff --git a/src/Buffer.test.ts b/src/Buffer.test.ts
index 93650dab..0200f9a6 100644
--- a/src/Buffer.test.ts
+++ b/src/Buffer.test.ts
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ describe('Buffer', () => {
 
   describe('fillViewportRows', () => {
     it('should fill the buffer with blank lines based on the size of the viewport', () => {
-      const blankLineChar = buffer.getBlankLine(DEFAULT_ATTR_DATA).loadCell(0, new CellData()).asCharData;
+      const blankLineChar = buffer.getBlankLine(DEFAULT_ATTR_DATA).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getAsCharData();
       buffer.fillViewportRows();
       assert.equal(buffer.lines.length, INIT_ROWS);
       for (let y = 0; y < INIT_ROWS; y++) {
         assert.equal(buffer.lines.get(y).length, INIT_COLS);
         for (let x = 0; x < INIT_COLS; x++) {
-          assert.deepEqual(buffer.lines.get(y).loadCell(x, new CellData()).asCharData, blankLineChar);
+          assert.deepEqual(buffer.lines.get(y).loadCell(x, new CellData()).getAsCharData(), blankLineChar);
         }
       }
     });
@@ -155,15 +155,15 @@ describe('Buffer', () => {
           assert.equal(buffer.lines.maxLength, INIT_ROWS);
           buffer.y = INIT_ROWS - 1;
           buffer.fillViewportRows();
-          let chData = buffer.lines.get(5).loadCell(0, new CellData()).asCharData;
+          let chData = buffer.lines.get(5).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getAsCharData();
           chData[1] = 'a';
           buffer.lines.get(5).setCell(0, CellData.fromCharData(chData));
-          chData = buffer.lines.get(INIT_ROWS - 1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).asCharData;
+          chData = buffer.lines.get(INIT_ROWS - 1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getAsCharData();
           chData[1] = 'b';
           buffer.lines.get(INIT_ROWS - 1).setCell(0, CellData.fromCharData(chData));
           buffer.resize(INIT_COLS, INIT_ROWS - 5);
-          assert.equal(buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).asCharData[1], 'a');
-          assert.equal(buffer.lines.get(INIT_ROWS - 1 - 5).loadCell(0, new CellData()).asCharData[1], 'b');
+          assert.equal(buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getAsCharData()[1], 'a');
+          assert.equal(buffer.lines.get(INIT_ROWS - 1 - 5).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getAsCharData()[1], 'b');
         });
       });
     });
@@ -1264,7 +1264,7 @@ describe('Buffer', () => {
       assert.equal(input, s);
       const stringIndex = s.match(/😃/).index;
       const bufferIndex = terminal.buffer.stringIndexToBufferIndex(0, stringIndex);
-      assert(terminal.buffer.lines.get(bufferIndex[0]).loadCell(bufferIndex[1], new CellData()).chars, '😃');
+      assert(terminal.buffer.lines.get(bufferIndex[0]).loadCell(bufferIndex[1], new CellData()).getChars(), '😃');
     });
 
     it('multiline fullwidth chars with offset 1 (currently tests for broken behavior)', () => {
@@ -1291,7 +1291,7 @@ describe('Buffer', () => {
       assert.equal(input, s);
       for (let i = 0; i < input.length; ++i) {
         const bufferIndex = terminal.buffer.stringIndexToBufferIndex(0, i, true);
-        assert.equal(input[i], terminal.buffer.lines.get(bufferIndex[0]).loadCell(bufferIndex[1], new CellData()).chars);
+        assert.equal(input[i], terminal.buffer.lines.get(bufferIndex[0]).loadCell(bufferIndex[1], new CellData()).getChars());
       }
     });
 
@@ -1309,7 +1309,7 @@ describe('Buffer', () => {
             : (i % 3 === 1)
               ? input.substr(i, 2)
               : input.substr(i - 1, 2),
-          terminal.buffer.lines.get(bufferIndex[0]).loadCell(bufferIndex[1], new CellData()).chars);
+          terminal.buffer.lines.get(bufferIndex[0]).loadCell(bufferIndex[1], new CellData()).getChars());
       }
     });
 
diff --git a/src/BufferLine.test.ts b/src/BufferLine.test.ts
index 894cc204..7dfcbd2c 100644
--- a/src/BufferLine.test.ts
+++ b/src/BufferLine.test.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class TestBufferLine extends BufferLine {
   public toArray(): CharData[] {
     const result = [];
     for (let i = 0; i < this.length; ++i) {
-      result.push(this.loadCell(i, new CellData()).asCharData);
+      result.push(this.loadCell(i, new CellData()).getAsCharData());
     }
     return result;
   }
@@ -27,24 +27,24 @@ describe('CellData', () => {
     const cell = new CellData();
     // ASCII
     cell.setFromCharData([123, 'a', 1, 'a'.charCodeAt(0)]);
-    chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.asCharData, [123, 'a', 1, 'a'.charCodeAt(0)]);
-    chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined, 0);
+    chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.getAsCharData(), [123, 'a', 1, 'a'.charCodeAt(0)]);
+    chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined(), 0);
     // combining
     cell.setFromCharData([123, 'e\u0301', 1, '\u0301'.charCodeAt(0)]);
-    chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.asCharData, [123, 'e\u0301', 1, '\u0301'.charCodeAt(0)]);
-    chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined, Content.IS_COMBINED);
+    chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.getAsCharData(), [123, 'e\u0301', 1, '\u0301'.charCodeAt(0)]);
+    chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined(), Content.IS_COMBINED);
     // surrogate
     cell.setFromCharData([123, '𝄞', 1, 0x1D11E]);
-    chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.asCharData, [123, '𝄞', 1, 0x1D11E]);
-    chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined, 0);
+    chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.getAsCharData(), [123, '𝄞', 1, 0x1D11E]);
+    chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined(), 0);
     // surrogate + combining
     cell.setFromCharData([123, '𓂀\u0301', 1, '𓂀\u0301'.charCodeAt(2)]);
-    chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.asCharData, [123, '𓂀\u0301', 1, '𓂀\u0301'.charCodeAt(2)]);
-    chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined, Content.IS_COMBINED);
+    chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.getAsCharData(), [123, '𓂀\u0301', 1, '𓂀\u0301'.charCodeAt(2)]);
+    chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined(), Content.IS_COMBINED);
     // wide char
     cell.setFromCharData([123, '１', 2, '１'.charCodeAt(0)]);
-    chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.asCharData, [123, '１', 2, '１'.charCodeAt(0)]);
-    chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined, 0);
+    chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.getAsCharData(), [123, '１', 2, '１'.charCodeAt(0)]);
+    chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined(), 0);
   });
 });
 
@@ -55,15 +55,15 @@ describe('BufferLine', function(): void {
     chai.expect(line.isWrapped).equals(false);
     line = new TestBufferLine(10);
     chai.expect(line.length).equals(10);
-    chai.expect(line.loadCell(0, new CellData()).asCharData).eql([0, NULL_CELL_CHAR, NULL_CELL_WIDTH, NULL_CELL_CODE]);
+    chai.expect(line.loadCell(0, new CellData()).getAsCharData()).eql([0, NULL_CELL_CHAR, NULL_CELL_WIDTH, NULL_CELL_CODE]);
     chai.expect(line.isWrapped).equals(false);
     line = new TestBufferLine(10, null, true);
     chai.expect(line.length).equals(10);
-    chai.expect(line.loadCell(0, new CellData()).asCharData).eql([0, NULL_CELL_CHAR, NULL_CELL_WIDTH, NULL_CELL_CODE]);
+    chai.expect(line.loadCell(0, new CellData()).getAsCharData()).eql([0, NULL_CELL_CHAR, NULL_CELL_WIDTH, NULL_CELL_CODE]);
     chai.expect(line.isWrapped).equals(true);
     line = new TestBufferLine(10, CellData.fromCharData([123, 'a', 456, 'a'.charCodeAt(0)]), true);
     chai.expect(line.length).equals(10);
-    chai.expect(line.loadCell(0, new CellData()).asCharData).eql([123, 'a', 456, 'a'.charCodeAt(0)]);
+    chai.expect(line.loadCell(0, new CellData()).getAsCharData()).eql([123, 'a', 456, 'a'.charCodeAt(0)]);
     chai.expect(line.isWrapped).equals(true);
   });
   it('insertCells', function(): void {
@@ -335,9 +335,9 @@ describe('BufferLine', function(): void {
       const cell = line.loadCell(0, new CellData());
       // chars contains single combining char
       // width is set to 1
-      chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.asCharData, [DEFAULT_ATTR, '\u0301', 1, 0x0301]);
+      chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.getAsCharData(), [DEFAULT_ATTR, '\u0301', 1, 0x0301]);
       // do not account a single combining char as combined
-      chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined, 0);
+      chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined(), 0);
     });
     it('should add char to combining string in cell', () => {
       const line = new TestBufferLine(3, CellData.fromCharData([DEFAULT_ATTR, NULL_CELL_CHAR, NULL_CELL_WIDTH, NULL_CELL_CODE]), false);
@@ -348,9 +348,9 @@ describe('BufferLine', function(): void {
       line.loadCell(0, cell);
       // chars contains 3 chars
       // width is set to 1
-      chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.asCharData, [123, 'e\u0301\u0301', 1, 0x0301]);
+      chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.getAsCharData(), [123, 'e\u0301\u0301', 1, 0x0301]);
       // do not account a single combining char as combined
-      chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined, Content.IS_COMBINED);
+      chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined(), Content.IS_COMBINED);
     });
     it('should create combining string on taken cell', () => {
       const line = new TestBufferLine(3, CellData.fromCharData([DEFAULT_ATTR, NULL_CELL_CHAR, NULL_CELL_WIDTH, NULL_CELL_CODE]), false);
@@ -361,9 +361,9 @@ describe('BufferLine', function(): void {
       line.loadCell(0, cell);
       // chars contains 2 chars
       // width is set to 1
-      chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.asCharData, [123, 'e\u0301', 1, 0x0301]);
+      chai.assert.deepEqual(cell.getAsCharData(), [123, 'e\u0301', 1, 0x0301]);
       // do not account a single combining char as combined
-      chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined, Content.IS_COMBINED);
+      chai.assert.equal(cell.isCombined(), Content.IS_COMBINED);
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/BufferLine.ts b/src/BufferLine.ts
index 67d75c50..c5b4e2d7 100644
--- a/src/BufferLine.ts
+++ b/src/BufferLine.ts
@@ -211,17 +211,17 @@ export class CellData extends AttributeData implements ICellData {
   public combinedData: string = '';
 
   /** Whether cell contains a combined string. */
-  public get isCombined(): number {
+  public isCombined(): number {
     return this.content & Content.IS_COMBINED;
   }
 
   /** Width of the cell. */
-  public get width(): number {
+  public getWidth(): number {
     return this.content >> Content.WIDTH_SHIFT;
   }
 
   /** JS string of the content. */
-  public get chars(): string {
+  public getChars(): string {
     if (this.content & Content.IS_COMBINED) {
       return this.combinedData;
     }
@@ -237,8 +237,8 @@ export class CellData extends AttributeData implements ICellData {
    * if content is a combined string it returns the codepoint
    * of the last char in string to be in line with code in CharData.
    * */
-  public get code(): number {
-    return (this.isCombined)
+  public getCode(): number {
+    return (this.isCombined())
       ? this.combinedData.charCodeAt(this.combinedData.length - 1)
       : this.content & Content.CODEPOINT_MASK;
   }
@@ -276,8 +276,8 @@ export class CellData extends AttributeData implements ICellData {
   }
 
   /** Get data as CharData. */
-  public get asCharData(): CharData {
-    return [this.fg, this.chars, this.width, this.code];
+  public getAsCharData(): CharData {
+    return [this.fg, this.getChars(), this.getWidth(), this.getCode()];
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/CharWidth.test.ts b/src/CharWidth.test.ts
index 7cab3882..8608c6fa 100644
--- a/src/CharWidth.test.ts
+++ b/src/CharWidth.test.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ describe('getStringCellWidth', function(): void {
     for (let i = start; i < end; ++i) {
       const line = buffer.lines.get(i);
       for (let j = 0; j < line.length; ++j) { // TODO: change to trimBorder with multiline
-        const ch = line.loadCell(j, new CellData()).asCharData;
+        const ch = line.loadCell(j, new CellData()).getAsCharData();
         result += ch[CHAR_DATA_WIDTH_INDEX];
         // return on sentinel
         if (ch[CHAR_DATA_CHAR_INDEX] === sentinel) {
diff --git a/src/InputHandler.ts b/src/InputHandler.ts
index 1a6a798f..cbf468b9 100644
--- a/src/InputHandler.ts
+++ b/src/InputHandler.ts
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ export class InputHandler extends Disposable implements IInputHandler {
       // since they always follow a cell consuming char
       // therefore we can test for buffer.x to avoid overflow left
       if (!chWidth && buffer.x) {
-        if (!bufferRow.loadCell(buffer.x - 1, this._cell).width) {
+        if (!bufferRow.getWidth(buffer.x - 1)) {
           // found empty cell after fullwidth, need to go 2 cells back
           // it is save to step 2 cells back here
           // since an empty cell is only set by fullwidth chars
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ export class InputHandler extends Disposable implements IInputHandler {
         // test last cell - since the last cell has only room for
         // a halfwidth char any fullwidth shifted there is lost
         // and will be set to empty cell
-        if (bufferRow.loadCell(cols - 1, this._cell).width === 2) {
+        if (bufferRow.getWidth(cols - 1) === 2) {
           bufferRow.setCellFromCodePoint(cols - 1, NULL_CELL_CODE, NULL_CELL_WIDTH, curAttr.fg, curAttr.bg);
         }
       }
diff --git a/src/SelectionManager.ts b/src/SelectionManager.ts
index e2399173..9d49a860 100644
--- a/src/SelectionManager.ts
+++ b/src/SelectionManager.ts
@@ -669,8 +669,8 @@ export class SelectionManager extends EventEmitter implements ISelectionManager
   private _convertViewportColToCharacterIndex(bufferLine: IBufferLine, coords: [number, number]): number {
     let charIndex = coords[0];
     for (let i = 0; coords[0] >= i; i++) {
-      const length = bufferLine.loadCell(i, this._cell).chars.length;
-      if (this._cell.width === 0) {
+      const length = bufferLine.loadCell(i, this._cell).getChars().length;
+      if (this._cell.getWidth() === 0) {
         // Wide characters aren't included in the line string so decrement the
         // index so the index is back on the wide character.
         charIndex--;
@@ -757,8 +757,8 @@ export class SelectionManager extends EventEmitter implements ISelectionManager
       // Expand the string in both directions until a space is hit
       while (startCol > 0 && startIndex > 0 && !this._isCharWordSeparator(bufferLine.loadCell(startCol - 1, this._cell))) {
         bufferLine.loadCell(startCol - 1, this._cell);
-        const length = this._cell.chars.length;
-        if (this._cell.width === 0) {
+        const length = this._cell.getChars().length;
+        if (this._cell.getWidth() === 0) {
           // If the next character is a wide char, record it and skip the column
           leftWideCharCount++;
           startCol--;
@@ -773,8 +773,8 @@ export class SelectionManager extends EventEmitter implements ISelectionManager
       }
       while (endCol < bufferLine.length && endIndex + 1 < line.length && !this._isCharWordSeparator(bufferLine.loadCell(endCol + 1, this._cell))) {
         bufferLine.loadCell(endCol + 1, this._cell);
-        const length = this._cell.chars.length;
-        if (this._cell.width === 2) {
+        const length = this._cell.getChars().length;
+        if (this._cell.getWidth() === 2) {
           // If the next character is a wide char, record it and skip the column
           rightWideCharCount++;
           endCol++;
@@ -899,10 +899,10 @@ export class SelectionManager extends EventEmitter implements ISelectionManager
   private _isCharWordSeparator(cell: CellData): boolean {
     // Zero width characters are never separators as they are always to the
     // right of wide characters
-    if (cell.width === 0) {
+    if (cell.getWidth() === 0) {
       return false;
     }
-    return WORD_SEPARATORS.indexOf(cell.chars) >= 0;
+    return WORD_SEPARATORS.indexOf(cell.getChars()) >= 0;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/Terminal.integration.ts b/src/Terminal.integration.ts
index b5165490..10043006 100644
--- a/src/Terminal.integration.ts
+++ b/src/Terminal.integration.ts
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ function terminalToString(term: Terminal): string {
   for (let line = term.buffer.ybase; line < term.buffer.ybase + term.rows; line++) {
     lineText = '';
     for (let cell = 0; cell < term.cols; ++cell) {
-      lineText += term.buffer.lines.get(line).loadCell(cell, new CellData()).chars || WHITESPACE_CELL_CHAR;
+      lineText += term.buffer.lines.get(line).loadCell(cell, new CellData()).getChars() || WHITESPACE_CELL_CHAR;
     }
     // rtrim empty cells as xterm does
     lineText = lineText.replace(/\s+$/, '');
diff --git a/src/Terminal.test.ts b/src/Terminal.test.ts
index e6ed7b98..f4b717d8 100644
--- a/src/Terminal.test.ts
+++ b/src/Terminal.test.ts
@@ -461,9 +461,9 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
           term.buffer.y = INIT_ROWS - 1; // Move cursor to last line
           term.scroll();
           assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.length, INIT_ROWS + 1);
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'a');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(INIT_ROWS - 1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'b');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(INIT_ROWS).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, '');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'a');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(INIT_ROWS - 1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'b');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(INIT_ROWS).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), '');
         });
 
         it('should properly scroll inside a scroll region (scrollTop set)', () => {
@@ -474,8 +474,8 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
           term.buffer.scrollTop = 1;
           term.scroll();
           assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.length, INIT_ROWS);
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'a');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'c');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'a');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'c');
         });
 
         it('should properly scroll inside a scroll region (scrollBottom set)', () => {
@@ -488,12 +488,12 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
           term.buffer.scrollBottom = 3;
           term.scroll();
           assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.length, INIT_ROWS + 1);
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'a', '\'a\' should be pushed to the scrollback');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'b');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(2).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'c');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(3).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'd');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(4).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, '', 'a blank line should be added at scrollBottom\'s index');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(5).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'e');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'a', '\'a\' should be pushed to the scrollback');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'b');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(2).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'c');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(3).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'd');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(4).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), '', 'a blank line should be added at scrollBottom\'s index');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(5).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'e');
         });
 
         it('should properly scroll inside a scroll region (scrollTop and scrollBottom set)', () => {
@@ -507,11 +507,11 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
           term.buffer.scrollBottom = 3;
           term.scroll();
           assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.length, INIT_ROWS);
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'a');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'c', '\'b\' should be removed from the buffer');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(2).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'd');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(3).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, '', 'a blank line should be added at scrollBottom\'s index');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(4).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'e');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'a');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'c', '\'b\' should be removed from the buffer');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(2).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'd');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(3).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), '', 'a blank line should be added at scrollBottom\'s index');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(4).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'e');
         });
       });
 
@@ -530,10 +530,10 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
           term.scroll();
           assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.length, INIT_ROWS);
           // 'a' gets pushed out of buffer
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'b');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, '');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(INIT_ROWS - 2).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'c');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(INIT_ROWS - 1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, '');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'b');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), '');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(INIT_ROWS - 2).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'c');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(INIT_ROWS - 1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), '');
         });
 
         it('should properly scroll inside a scroll region (scrollTop set)', () => {
@@ -544,8 +544,8 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
           term.buffer.scrollTop = 1;
           term.scroll();
           assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.length, INIT_ROWS);
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'a');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'c');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'a');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'c');
         });
 
         it('should properly scroll inside a scroll region (scrollBottom set)', () => {
@@ -558,11 +558,11 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
           term.buffer.scrollBottom = 3;
           term.scroll();
           assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.length, INIT_ROWS);
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'b');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'c');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(2).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'd');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(3).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, '', 'a blank line should be added at scrollBottom\'s index');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(4).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'e');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'b');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'c');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(2).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'd');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(3).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), '', 'a blank line should be added at scrollBottom\'s index');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(4).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'e');
         });
 
         it('should properly scroll inside a scroll region (scrollTop and scrollBottom set)', () => {
@@ -576,11 +576,11 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
           term.buffer.scrollBottom = 3;
           term.scroll();
           assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.length, INIT_ROWS);
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'a');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'c', '\'b\' should be removed from the buffer');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(2).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'd');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(3).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, '', 'a blank line should be added at scrollBottom\'s index');
-          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(4).loadCell(0, new CellData()).chars, 'e');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'a');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'c', '\'b\' should be removed from the buffer');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(2).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'd');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(3).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), '', 'a blank line should be added at scrollBottom\'s index');
+          assert.equal(term.buffer.lines.get(4).loadCell(0, new CellData()).getChars(), 'e');
         });
       });
     });
@@ -775,10 +775,10 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
       for (let i = 0xDC00; i <= 0xDCFF; ++i) {
         term.write(high + String.fromCharCode(i));
         const tchar = term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, cell);
-        expect(tchar.chars).eql(high + String.fromCharCode(i));
-        expect(tchar.chars.length).eql(2);
-        expect(tchar.width).eql(1);
-        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(1, cell).chars).eql('');
+        expect(tchar.getChars()).eql(high + String.fromCharCode(i));
+        expect(tchar.getChars().length).eql(2);
+        expect(tchar.getWidth()).eql(1);
+        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(1, cell).getChars()).eql('');
         term.reset();
       }
     });
@@ -788,9 +788,9 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
       for (let i = 0xDC00; i <= 0xDCFF; ++i) {
         term.buffer.x = term.cols - 1;
         term.write(high + String.fromCharCode(i));
-        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.buffer.x - 1, cell).chars).eql(high + String.fromCharCode(i));
-        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.buffer.x - 1, cell).chars.length).eql(2);
-        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell).chars).eql('');
+        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.buffer.x - 1, cell).getChars()).eql(high + String.fromCharCode(i));
+        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.buffer.x - 1, cell).getChars().length).eql(2);
+        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell).getChars()).eql('');
         term.reset();
       }
     });
@@ -801,10 +801,10 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
         term.buffer.x = term.cols - 1;
         term.wraparoundMode = true;
         term.write('a' + high + String.fromCharCode(i));
-        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.cols - 1, cell).chars).eql('a');
-        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell).chars).eql(high + String.fromCharCode(i));
-        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell).chars.length).eql(2);
-        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(1, cell).chars).eql('');
+        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.cols - 1, cell).getChars()).eql('a');
+        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell).getChars()).eql(high + String.fromCharCode(i));
+        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell).getChars().length).eql(2);
+        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(1, cell).getChars()).eql('');
         term.reset();
       }
     });
@@ -816,9 +816,9 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
         term.wraparoundMode = false;
         term.write('a' + high + String.fromCharCode(i));
         // auto wraparound mode should cut off the rest of the line
-        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.cols - 1, cell).chars).eql('a');
-        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.cols - 1, cell).chars.length).eql(1);
-        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(1, cell).chars).eql('');
+        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.cols - 1, cell).getChars()).eql('a');
+        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.cols - 1, cell).getChars().length).eql(1);
+        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(1, cell).getChars()).eql('');
         term.reset();
       }
     });
@@ -829,10 +829,10 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
         term.write(high);
         term.write(String.fromCharCode(i));
         const tchar = term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(0, cell);
-        expect(tchar.chars).eql(high + String.fromCharCode(i));
-        expect(tchar.chars.length).eql(2);
-        expect(tchar.width).eql(1);
-        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(1, cell).chars).eql('');
+        expect(tchar.getChars()).eql(high + String.fromCharCode(i));
+        expect(tchar.getChars().length).eql(2);
+        expect(tchar.getWidth()).eql(1);
+        expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(1, cell).getChars()).eql('');
         term.reset();
       }
     });
@@ -843,49 +843,49 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
     it('café', () => {
       term.write('cafe\u0301');
       term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(3, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('e\u0301');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(2);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(1);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('e\u0301');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(2);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(1);
     });
     it('café - end of line', () => {
       term.buffer.x = term.cols - 1 - 3;
       term.write('cafe\u0301');
       term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.cols - 1, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('e\u0301');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(2);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(1);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('e\u0301');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(2);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(1);
       term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(1, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(0);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(1);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(0);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(1);
     });
     it('multiple combined é', () => {
       term.wraparoundMode = true;
       term.write(Array(100).join('e\u0301'));
       for (let i = 0; i < term.cols; ++i) {
         term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(i, cell);
-        expect(cell.chars).eql('e\u0301');
-        expect(cell.chars.length).eql(2);
-        expect(cell.width).eql(1);
+        expect(cell.getChars()).eql('e\u0301');
+        expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(2);
+        expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(1);
       }
       term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('e\u0301');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(2);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(1);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('e\u0301');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(2);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(1);
     });
     it('multiple surrogate with combined', () => {
       term.wraparoundMode = true;
       term.write(Array(100).join('\uD800\uDC00\u0301'));
       for (let i = 0; i < term.cols; ++i) {
         term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(i, cell);
-        expect(cell.chars).eql('\uD800\uDC00\u0301');
-        expect(cell.chars.length).eql(3);
-        expect(cell.width).eql(1);
+        expect(cell.getChars()).eql('\uD800\uDC00\u0301');
+        expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(3);
+        expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(1);
       }
       term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('\uD800\uDC00\u0301');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(3);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(1);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('\uD800\uDC00\u0301');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(3);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(1);
     });
   });
 
@@ -908,19 +908,19 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
       for (let i = 0; i < term.cols; ++i) {
         term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(i, cell);
         if (i % 2) {
-          expect(cell.chars).eql('');
-          expect(cell.chars.length).eql(0);
-          expect(cell.width).eql(0);
+          expect(cell.getChars()).eql('');
+          expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(0);
+          expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(0);
         } else {
-          expect(cell.chars).eql('￥');
-          expect(cell.chars.length).eql(1);
-          expect(cell.width).eql(2);
+          expect(cell.getChars()).eql('￥');
+          expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(1);
+          expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(2);
         }
       }
       term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('￥');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(1);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(2);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('￥');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(1);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(2);
     });
     it('line of ￥ odd', () => {
       term.wraparoundMode = true;
@@ -929,23 +929,23 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
       for (let i = 1; i < term.cols - 1; ++i) {
         term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(i, cell);
         if (!(i % 2)) {
-          expect(cell.chars).eql('');
-          expect(cell.chars.length).eql(0);
-          expect(cell.width).eql(0);
+          expect(cell.getChars()).eql('');
+          expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(0);
+          expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(0);
         } else {
-          expect(cell.chars).eql('￥');
-          expect(cell.chars.length).eql(1);
-          expect(cell.width).eql(2);
+          expect(cell.getChars()).eql('￥');
+          expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(1);
+          expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(2);
         }
       }
       term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.cols - 1, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(0);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(1);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(0);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(1);
       term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('￥');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(1);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(2);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('￥');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(1);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(2);
     });
     it('line of ￥ with combining odd', () => {
       term.wraparoundMode = true;
@@ -954,23 +954,23 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
       for (let i = 1; i < term.cols - 1; ++i) {
         term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(i, cell);
         if (!(i % 2)) {
-          expect(cell.chars).eql('');
-          expect(cell.chars.length).eql(0);
-          expect(cell.width).eql(0);
+          expect(cell.getChars()).eql('');
+          expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(0);
+          expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(0);
         } else {
-          expect(cell.chars).eql('￥\u0301');
-          expect(cell.chars.length).eql(2);
-          expect(cell.width).eql(2);
+          expect(cell.getChars()).eql('￥\u0301');
+          expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(2);
+          expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(2);
         }
       }
       term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.cols - 1, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(0);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(1);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(0);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(1);
       term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('￥\u0301');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(2);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(2);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('￥\u0301');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(2);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(2);
     });
     it('line of ￥ with combining even', () => {
       term.wraparoundMode = true;
@@ -978,19 +978,19 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
       for (let i = 0; i < term.cols; ++i) {
         term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(i, cell);
         if (i % 2) {
-          expect(cell.chars).eql('');
-          expect(cell.chars.length).eql(0);
-          expect(cell.width).eql(0);
+          expect(cell.getChars()).eql('');
+          expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(0);
+          expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(0);
         } else {
-          expect(cell.chars).eql('￥\u0301');
-          expect(cell.chars.length).eql(2);
-          expect(cell.width).eql(2);
+          expect(cell.getChars()).eql('￥\u0301');
+          expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(2);
+          expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(2);
         }
       }
       term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('￥\u0301');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(2);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(2);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('￥\u0301');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(2);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(2);
     });
     it('line of surrogate fullwidth with combining odd', () => {
       term.wraparoundMode = true;
@@ -999,23 +999,23 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
       for (let i = 1; i < term.cols - 1; ++i) {
         term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(i, cell);
         if (!(i % 2)) {
-          expect(cell.chars).eql('');
-          expect(cell.chars.length).eql(0);
-          expect(cell.width).eql(0);
+          expect(cell.getChars()).eql('');
+          expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(0);
+          expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(0);
         } else {
-          expect(cell.chars).eql('\ud843\ude6d\u0301');
-          expect(cell.chars.length).eql(3);
-          expect(cell.width).eql(2);
+          expect(cell.getChars()).eql('\ud843\ude6d\u0301');
+          expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(3);
+          expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(2);
         }
       }
       term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(term.cols - 1, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(0);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(1);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(0);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(1);
       term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('\ud843\ude6d\u0301');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(3);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(2);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('\ud843\ude6d\u0301');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(3);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(2);
     });
     it('line of surrogate fullwidth with combining even', () => {
       term.wraparoundMode = true;
@@ -1023,19 +1023,19 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
       for (let i = 0; i < term.cols; ++i) {
         term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(i, cell);
         if (i % 2) {
-          expect(cell.chars).eql('');
-          expect(cell.chars.length).eql(0);
-          expect(cell.width).eql(0);
+          expect(cell.getChars()).eql('');
+          expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(0);
+          expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(0);
         } else {
-          expect(cell.chars).eql('\ud843\ude6d\u0301');
-          expect(cell.chars.length).eql(3);
-          expect(cell.width).eql(2);
+          expect(cell.getChars()).eql('\ud843\ude6d\u0301');
+          expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(3);
+          expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(2);
         }
       }
       term.buffer.lines.get(1).loadCell(0, cell);
-      expect(cell.chars).eql('\ud843\ude6d\u0301');
-      expect(cell.chars.length).eql(3);
-      expect(cell.width).eql(2);
+      expect(cell.getChars()).eql('\ud843\ude6d\u0301');
+      expect(cell.getChars().length).eql(3);
+      expect(cell.getWidth()).eql(2);
     });
   });
 
@@ -1048,10 +1048,10 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
       term.insertMode = true;
       term.write('abcde');
       expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).length).eql(term.cols);
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(10, cell).chars).eql('a');
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(14, cell).chars).eql('e');
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(15, cell).chars).eql('0');
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(79, cell).chars).eql('4');
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(10, cell).getChars()).eql('a');
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(14, cell).getChars()).eql('e');
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(15, cell).getChars()).eql('0');
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(79, cell).getChars()).eql('4');
     });
     it('fullwidth - insert', () => {
       term.write(Array(9).join('0123456789').slice(-80));
@@ -1060,11 +1060,11 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
       term.insertMode = true;
       term.write('￥￥￥');
       expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).length).eql(term.cols);
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(10, cell).chars).eql('￥');
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(11, cell).chars).eql('');
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(14, cell).chars).eql('￥');
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(15, cell).chars).eql('');
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(79, cell).chars).eql('3');
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(10, cell).getChars()).eql('￥');
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(11, cell).getChars()).eql('');
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(14, cell).getChars()).eql('￥');
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(15, cell).getChars()).eql('');
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(79, cell).getChars()).eql('3');
     });
     it('fullwidth - right border', () => {
       term.write(Array(41).join('￥'));
@@ -1073,14 +1073,14 @@ describe('term.js addons', () => {
       term.insertMode = true;
       term.write('a');
       expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).length).eql(term.cols);
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(10, cell).chars).eql('a');
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(11, cell).chars).eql('￥');
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(79, cell).chars).eql('');  // fullwidth char got replaced
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(10, cell).getChars()).eql('a');
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(11, cell).getChars()).eql('￥');
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(79, cell).getChars()).eql('');  // fullwidth char got replaced
       term.write('b');
       expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).length).eql(term.cols);
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(11, cell).chars).eql('b');
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(12, cell).chars).eql('￥');
-      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(79, cell).chars).eql('');  // empty cell after fullwidth
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(11, cell).getChars()).eql('b');
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(12, cell).getChars()).eql('￥');
+      expect(term.buffer.lines.get(0).loadCell(79, cell).getChars()).eql('');  // empty cell after fullwidth
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/Types.ts b/src/Types.ts
index c74d0efc..fb453682 100644
--- a/src/Types.ts
+++ b/src/Types.ts
@@ -558,12 +558,12 @@ export interface IAttributeData {
 export interface ICellData extends IAttributeData {
   content: number;
   combinedData: string;
-  isCombined: number;
-  width: number;
-  chars: string;
-  code: number;
+  isCombined(): number;
+  getWidth(): number;
+  getChars(): string;
+  getCode(): number;
   setFromCharData(value: CharData): void;
-  asCharData: CharData;
+  getAsCharData(): CharData;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/renderer/BaseRenderLayer.ts b/src/renderer/BaseRenderLayer.ts
index e0d3e731..11de5860 100644
--- a/src/renderer/BaseRenderLayer.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/BaseRenderLayer.ts
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ export abstract class BaseRenderLayer implements IRenderLayer {
     this._ctx.textBaseline = 'middle';
     this._clipRow(terminal, y);
     this._ctx.fillText(
-        cell.chars,
+        cell.getChars(),
         x * this._scaledCellWidth + this._scaledCharLeft,
         (y + 0.5) * this._scaledCellHeight + this._scaledCharTop);
   }
@@ -279,8 +279,8 @@ export abstract class BaseRenderLayer implements IRenderLayer {
     const drawInBrightColor = terminal.options.drawBoldTextInBrightColors && cell.isBold() && fg < 8 && fg !== INVERTED_DEFAULT_COLOR;
 
     fg += drawInBrightColor ? 8 : 0;
-    this._currentGlyphIdentifier.chars = cell.chars || WHITESPACE_CELL_CHAR;
-    this._currentGlyphIdentifier.code = cell.code || WHITESPACE_CELL_CODE;
+    this._currentGlyphIdentifier.chars = cell.getChars() || WHITESPACE_CELL_CHAR;
+    this._currentGlyphIdentifier.code = cell.getCode() || WHITESPACE_CELL_CODE;
     this._currentGlyphIdentifier.bg = bg;
     this._currentGlyphIdentifier.fg = fg;
     this._currentGlyphIdentifier.bold = cell.isBold() && terminal.options.enableBold;
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ export abstract class BaseRenderLayer implements IRenderLayer {
     }
     // Draw the character
     this._ctx.fillText(
-        cell.chars,
+        cell.getChars(),
         x * this._scaledCellWidth + this._scaledCharLeft,
         (y + 0.5) * this._scaledCellHeight + this._scaledCharTop);
     this._ctx.restore();
diff --git a/src/renderer/CharacterJoinerRegistry.ts b/src/renderer/CharacterJoinerRegistry.ts
index 459975c7..7b03f2aa 100644
--- a/src/renderer/CharacterJoinerRegistry.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/CharacterJoinerRegistry.ts
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ export class CharacterJoinerRegistry implements ICharacterJoinerRegistry {
     for (let x = 0; x < line.getTrimmedLength(); x++) {
       line.loadCell(x, this._cell);
 
-      if (this._cell.width === 0) {
+      if (this._cell.getWidth() === 0) {
         // If this character is of width 0, skip it.
         continue;
       }
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ export class CharacterJoinerRegistry implements ICharacterJoinerRegistry {
         rangeAttrBG = this._cell.bg;
       }
 
-      currentStringIndex += this._cell.chars.length || WHITESPACE_CELL_CHAR.length;
+      currentStringIndex += this._cell.getChars().length || WHITESPACE_CELL_CHAR.length;
     }
 
     // Process any trailing ranges.
diff --git a/src/renderer/CursorRenderLayer.ts b/src/renderer/CursorRenderLayer.ts
index 18ba7ada..c3b751fa 100644
--- a/src/renderer/CursorRenderLayer.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/CursorRenderLayer.ts
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ export class CursorRenderLayer extends BaseRenderLayer {
       this._state.y = viewportRelativeCursorY;
       this._state.isFocused = false;
       this._state.style = terminal.options.cursorStyle;
-      this._state.width = this._cell.width;
+      this._state.width = this._cell.getWidth();
       return;
     }
 
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ export class CursorRenderLayer extends BaseRenderLayer {
           this._state.y === viewportRelativeCursorY &&
           this._state.isFocused === terminal.isFocused &&
           this._state.style === terminal.options.cursorStyle &&
-          this._state.width === this._cell.width) {
+          this._state.width === this._cell.getWidth()) {
         return;
       }
       this._clearCursor();
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ export class CursorRenderLayer extends BaseRenderLayer {
     this._state.y = viewportRelativeCursorY;
     this._state.isFocused = false;
     this._state.style = terminal.options.cursorStyle;
-    this._state.width = this._cell.width;
+    this._state.width = this._cell.getWidth();
   }
 
   private _clearCursor(): void {
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ export class CursorRenderLayer extends BaseRenderLayer {
   private _renderBlockCursor(terminal: ITerminal, x: number, y: number, cell: ICellData): void {
     this._ctx.save();
     this._ctx.fillStyle = this._colors.cursor.css;
-    this.fillCells(x, y, cell.width, 1);
+    this.fillCells(x, y, cell.getWidth(), 1);
     this._ctx.fillStyle = this._colors.cursorAccent.css;
     this.fillCharTrueColor(terminal, cell, x, y);
     this._ctx.restore();
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ export class CursorRenderLayer extends BaseRenderLayer {
   private _renderBlurCursor(terminal: ITerminal, x: number, y: number, cell: ICellData): void {
     this._ctx.save();
     this._ctx.strokeStyle = this._colors.cursor.css;
-    this.strokeRectAtCell(x, y, cell.width, 1);
+    this.strokeRectAtCell(x, y, cell.getWidth(), 1);
     this._ctx.restore();
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/TextRenderLayer.ts b/src/renderer/TextRenderLayer.ts
index 7ff2d002..19cd6cb0 100644
--- a/src/renderer/TextRenderLayer.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/TextRenderLayer.ts
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export class TextRenderLayer extends BaseRenderLayer {
 
         // The character to the left is a wide character, drawing is owned by
         // the char at x-1
-        if (cell.width === 0) {
+        if (cell.getWidth() === 0) {
           continue;
         }
 
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ export class TextRenderLayer extends BaseRenderLayer {
           this._ctx.fillStyle = this._colors.ansi[cell.getFgColor()].css;
         }
 
-        this.fillBottomLineAtCells(x, y, cell.width);
+        this.fillBottomLineAtCells(x, y, cell.getWidth());
         this._ctx.restore();
       }
       this.drawChars(terminal, cell, x, y);
@@ -255,18 +255,20 @@ export class TextRenderLayer extends BaseRenderLayer {
   private _isOverlapping(cell: ICellData): boolean {
     // Only single cell characters can be overlapping, rendering issues can
     // occur without this check
-    if (cell.width !== 1) {
+    if (cell.getWidth() !== 1) {
       return false;
     }
 
     // We assume that any ascii character will not overlap
-    if (cell.code < 256) {
+    if (cell.getCode() < 256) {
       return false;
     }
 
+    const chars = cell.getChars();
+
     // Deliver from cache if available
-    if (this._characterOverlapCache.hasOwnProperty(cell.chars)) {
-      return this._characterOverlapCache[cell.chars];
+    if (this._characterOverlapCache.hasOwnProperty(chars)) {
+      return this._characterOverlapCache[chars];
     }
 
     // Setup the font
@@ -276,13 +278,13 @@ export class TextRenderLayer extends BaseRenderLayer {
     // Measure the width of the character, but Math.floor it
     // because that is what the renderer does when it calculates
     // the character dimensions we are comparing against
-    const overlaps = Math.floor(this._ctx.measureText(cell.chars).width) > this._characterWidth;
+    const overlaps = Math.floor(this._ctx.measureText(chars).width) > this._characterWidth;
 
     // Restore the original context
     this._ctx.restore();
 
     // Cache and return
-    this._characterOverlapCache[cell.chars] = overlaps;
+    this._characterOverlapCache[chars] = overlaps;
     return overlaps;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/dom/DomRendererRowFactory.ts b/src/renderer/dom/DomRendererRowFactory.ts
index b37eb02b..b11801b0 100644
--- a/src/renderer/dom/DomRendererRowFactory.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/dom/DomRendererRowFactory.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export class DomRendererRowFactory {
     // the viewport).
     let lineLength = 0;
     for (let x = Math.min(lineData.length, cols) - 1; x >= 0; x--) {
-      if (lineData.loadCell(x, this._cell).code !== NULL_CELL_CODE || (isCursorRow && x === cursorX)) {
+      if (lineData.loadCell(x, this._cell).getCode() !== NULL_CELL_CODE || (isCursorRow && x === cursorX)) {
         lineLength = x + 1;
         break;
       }
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export class DomRendererRowFactory {
 
     for (let x = 0; x < lineLength; x++) {
       lineData.loadCell(x, this._cell);
-      const width = this._cell.width;
+      const width = this._cell.getWidth();
 
       // The character to the left is a wide character, drawing is owned by the char at x-1
       if (width === 0) {
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export class DomRendererRowFactory {
         charElement.classList.add(ITALIC_CLASS);
       }
 
-      charElement.textContent = this._cell.chars || WHITESPACE_CELL_CHAR;
+      charElement.textContent = this._cell.getChars() || WHITESPACE_CELL_CHAR;
 
       const swapColor = this._cell.isInverse();