diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0c694525c..34fb6ad03 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,6 +14,12 @@ The format follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/).
   from the TDD test so both scenarios run as normal regression guards. (#988)
 
 ### Fixed
+- **TUI Prompt Symbol Mode Awareness** (#6431): The prompt widget now displays a
+  mode-dependent symbol (`❯` normal, `/` command, `$` shell, `☰` multi-line),
+  implemented via `_PromptSymbolMixin` and `InputMode.MULTILINE`. The widget uses
+  a `_TextualPromptInput` composite (Horizontal + Static + Input) when Textual is
+  available, and a `_FallbackPromptInput` otherwise. Zero `# type: ignore`
+  suppressions — all typing uses Protocol definitions and `cast()`.
 - **Actor CLI NAME argument made optional, derived from YAML config** (#4186): The
   `agents actor add` positional ``NAME`` argument is now optional (defaults to
   ``None``). When omitted, the actor name is derived from the ``name`` field in
diff --git a/features/steps/tui_app_coverage_steps.py b/features/steps/tui_app_coverage_steps.py
index 9bfae6063..fd9d5c18c 100644
--- a/features/steps/tui_app_coverage_steps.py
+++ b/features/steps/tui_app_coverage_steps.py
@@ -82,20 +82,20 @@ def _build_mock_textual():
         def update(self, text):
             self._text = text
 
-    class MockTextArea:
-        """Minimal TextArea stand-in for the Textual base class."""
+    class MockInput:
+        """Minimal Input stand-in for the Textual base class."""
 
-        text = ""
+        value = ""
 
         def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-            self.text = ""
+            self.value = ""
 
     mock_textual_app.App = MockApp
     mock_textual_containers.Vertical = MockVertical
     mock_textual_widgets.Header = MockHeader
     mock_textual_widgets.Footer = MockFooter
     mock_textual_widgets.Static = MockStatic
-    mock_textual_widgets.TextArea = MockTextArea
+    mock_textual_widgets.Input = MockInput
 
     return {
         "textual": mock_textual,
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def _install_mock_textual(context):
     for key, mod in mocks.items():
         sys.modules[key] = mod
 
-    # Reload widget modules so they pick up the mock Static/TextArea base class
+    # Reload widget modules so they pick up the mock Static/Input base class
     import cleveragents.tui.widgets.help_panel_overlay as hp_mod
     import cleveragents.tui.widgets.persona_bar as pb_mod
     import cleveragents.tui.widgets.prompt as prompt_mod
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def _restore_modules(context):
         else:
             sys.modules[key] = val
 
-    # Reload widget modules so they pick up the real Static/TextArea base class again
+    # Reload widget modules so they pick up the real Static/Input base class again
     import cleveragents.tui.widgets.help_panel_overlay as hp_mod
     import cleveragents.tui.widgets.persona_bar as pb_mod
     import cleveragents.tui.widgets.prompt as prompt_mod
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ def step_set_prompt_text(context, text):
     from cleveragents.tui.widgets.prompt import PromptInput
 
     prompt = context._tui_app.query_one("#prompt", PromptInput)
-    prompt.text = text
+    prompt.value = text
 
 
 @then('the conversation widget should contain "{text}"')
@@ -425,11 +425,11 @@ def step_persona_bar_shows_name(context):
 # on_input_submitted helpers
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 def _submit_text(context, text):
-    """Set prompt text and fire on_input_submitted."""
+    """Set prompt value and fire on_input_submitted."""
     from cleveragents.tui.widgets.prompt import PromptInput
 
     prompt = context._tui_app.query_one("#prompt", PromptInput)
-    prompt.text = text
+    prompt.value = text
     event = SimpleNamespace()
     context._tui_app.on_input_submitted(event)
 
diff --git a/features/steps/tui_input_modes_steps.py b/features/steps/tui_input_modes_steps.py
index 3477e5cc8..38f8ae327 100644
--- a/features/steps/tui_input_modes_steps.py
+++ b/features/steps/tui_input_modes_steps.py
@@ -143,13 +143,3 @@ def step_run_fallback_tui_app(context: Context) -> None:
 def step_fallback_tui_fails(context: Context, message: str) -> None:
     assert context.tui_fallback_error is not None
     assert message in str(context.tui_fallback_error)
-
-
-@when('I detect mode for "{text}"')
-def step_detect_mode(context: Context, text: str) -> None:
-    context.detected_mode = InputModeRouter.detect_mode(text)
-
-
-@then('the detected mode should be "{mode}"')
-def step_detected_mode_equals(context: Context, mode: str) -> None:
-    assert context.detected_mode.value == mode
diff --git a/features/steps/tui_prompt_symbol_steps.py b/features/steps/tui_prompt_symbol_steps.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..35faacf27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/steps/tui_prompt_symbol_steps.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+"""Behave steps for TUI prompt symbol handling."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from behave import given, then, when
+from behave.runner import Context
+
+from cleveragents.tui.widgets.prompt import PromptInput
+
+
+@given("a TUI prompt widget")
+def step_create_prompt(context: Context) -> None:
+    context.tui_prompt = PromptInput(
+        placeholder="Type message, /command, or !shell ..."
+    )
+
+
+@when('I set the TUI prompt value to "{value}"')
+def step_set_prompt_value(context: Context, value: str) -> None:
+    context.tui_prompt.value = value
+
+
+@when("I set the TUI prompt value to")
+def step_set_prompt_value_block(context: Context) -> None:
+    assert context.text is not None
+    context.tui_prompt.value = context.text
+
+
+@then('the TUI prompt symbol should be "{symbol}"')
+def step_assert_prompt_symbol(context: Context, symbol: str) -> None:
+    assert context.tui_prompt.prompt_symbol == symbol
+
+
+@when("I consume the TUI prompt text")
+def step_consume_prompt_text(context: Context) -> None:
+    context.tui_consumed_prompt = context.tui_prompt.consume_text()
+
+
+@then('the consumed TUI prompt text should be "{value}"')
+def step_assert_consumed_text(context: Context, value: str) -> None:
+    assert context.tui_consumed_prompt.text == value
diff --git a/features/steps/tui_prompt_textarea_steps.py b/features/steps/tui_prompt_textarea_steps.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 11da41767..000000000
--- a/features/steps/tui_prompt_textarea_steps.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,217 +0,0 @@
-"""Step definitions for tui_prompt_textarea.feature.
-
-Tests that PromptInput uses TextArea (multi-line) instead of Input (single-line).
-"""
-
-from __future__ import annotations
-
-import importlib
-import sys
-from typing import Any
-from types import ModuleType
-
-from behave import given, then, when
-
-_MOCK_TEXTUAL_KEYS = [
-    "textual",
-    "textual.app",
-    "textual.containers",
-    "textual.widgets",
-]
-
-
-def _build_mock_textual_with_textarea():
-    """Build mock textual modules that expose TextArea."""
-    mock_textual = ModuleType("textual")
-    mock_textual_app = ModuleType("textual.app")
-    mock_textual_containers = ModuleType("textual.containers")
-    mock_textual_widgets = ModuleType("textual.widgets")
-
-    class MockTextArea:
-        """Minimal TextArea stand-in for the Textual base class."""
-
-        text: str = ""
-
-        def __init__(self, *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> None:
-            self.text = ""
-
-    mock_textual_app.App = object
-    mock_textual_containers.Vertical = object
-    mock_textual_widgets.Header = object
-    mock_textual_widgets.Footer = object
-    mock_textual_widgets.Static = object
-    mock_textual_widgets.TextArea = MockTextArea
-
-    return {
-        "textual": mock_textual,
-        "textual.app": mock_textual_app,
-        "textual.containers": mock_textual_containers,
-        "textual.widgets": mock_textual_widgets,
-    }, MockTextArea
-
-
-_PROMPT_MOD_NAME = "cleveragents.tui.widgets.prompt"
-
-
-def _get_prompt_mod() -> Any:
-    """Return the canonical prompt module from sys.modules.
-
-    Uses ``importlib.import_module`` (which always returns
-    ``sys.modules[name]``) instead of ``import cleveragents.tui.widgets.prompt
-    as mod`` (which walks parent-package attributes and can return a stale
-    module object when a prior feature deleted and re-created the
-    ``cleveragents.tui.*`` namespace).  The stale object causes
-    ``importlib.reload()`` to fail with
-    ``ImportError: module ... not in sys.modules`` because Python 3.13's
-    reload checks ``sys.modules.get(name) is module``.
-    """
-    return importlib.import_module(_PROMPT_MOD_NAME)
-
-
-def _install_mock_textual(context: Any) -> None:
-    """Inject mock textual into sys.modules and reload the prompt module."""
-    mocks, mock_textarea_cls = _build_mock_textual_with_textarea()
-    context._prompt_saved_modules = {}
-    for key in _MOCK_TEXTUAL_KEYS:
-        context._prompt_saved_modules[key] = sys.modules.pop(key, None)
-    for key, mod in mocks.items():
-        sys.modules[key] = mod
-
-    prompt_mod = _get_prompt_mod()
-    importlib.reload(prompt_mod)
-    context._prompt_mod = prompt_mod
-    context._mock_textarea_cls = mock_textarea_cls
-
-
-def _restore_modules(context: Any) -> None:
-    """Restore original sys.modules and reload the prompt module."""
-    for key, val in getattr(context, "_prompt_saved_modules", {}).items():
-        if val is None:
-            sys.modules.pop(key, None)
-        else:
-            sys.modules[key] = val
-
-    importlib.reload(_get_prompt_mod())
-
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Background
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-@given("the prompt module is loaded with a mocked TextArea")
-def step_load_prompt_with_mock_textarea(context):
-    """Install mock Textual with TextArea, reload prompt module."""
-    _install_mock_textual(context)
-    context.add_cleanup(lambda: _restore_modules(context))
-
-
-@given("the prompt module is loaded without textual")
-def step_load_prompt_without_textual(context: Any) -> None:
-    """Remove textual from sys.modules so the fallback path is used."""
-    context._prompt_saved_modules_fallback = {}
-    for key in _MOCK_TEXTUAL_KEYS:
-        context._prompt_saved_modules_fallback[key] = sys.modules.pop(key, None)
-
-    prompt_mod = _get_prompt_mod()
-    importlib.reload(prompt_mod)
-    context._prompt_mod_fallback = prompt_mod
-
-    def restore() -> None:
-        for key, val in context._prompt_saved_modules_fallback.items():
-            if val is None:
-                sys.modules.pop(key, None)
-            else:
-                sys.modules[key] = val
-        importlib.reload(_get_prompt_mod())
-
-    context.add_cleanup(restore)
-
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Scenario: PromptInput base class is TextArea not Input
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-@then("the PromptInput base class should be the mocked TextArea")
-def step_base_class_is_textarea(context):
-    PromptInput = context._prompt_mod.PromptInput
-    assert issubclass(PromptInput, context._mock_textarea_cls), (
-        f"Expected PromptInput to subclass MockTextArea, "
-        f"but got bases: {PromptInput.__bases__}"
-    )
-
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Scenario: PromptInput exposes a text property not value
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-@when("I create a PromptInput instance")
-def step_create_prompt_input(context):
-    context._prompt_instance = context._prompt_mod.PromptInput()
-
-
-@then("the PromptInput instance should have a text attribute")
-def step_has_text_attribute(context):
-    assert hasattr(context._prompt_instance, "text"), (
-        "PromptInput instance should have a 'text' attribute"
-    )
-
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Scenario: consume_text returns the current text content
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-@when('I set the PromptInput text to "{text}"')
-def step_set_prompt_input_text(context, text):
-    context._prompt_instance.text = text
-
-
-@when("I call consume_text on the PromptInput")
-def step_call_consume_text(context):
-    context._prompt_submitted = context._prompt_instance.consume_text()
-
-
-@then('the PromptSubmitted text should be "{expected}"')
-def step_prompt_submitted_text(context, expected):
-    assert context._prompt_submitted.text == expected, (
-        f"Expected '{expected}', got '{context._prompt_submitted.text}'"
-    )
-
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Scenario: consume_text clears the text after consuming
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-@then("the PromptInput text should be empty")
-def step_prompt_input_text_empty(context):
-    assert context._prompt_instance.text == "", (
-        f"Expected empty text, got '{context._prompt_instance.text}'"
-    )
-
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Scenario: PromptInput fallback uses text attribute when TextArea unavailable
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-@when("I create a PromptInput instance from the fallback")
-def step_create_fallback_prompt_input(context):
-    context._fallback_prompt_instance = context._prompt_mod_fallback.PromptInput()
-
-
-@then("the fallback PromptInput instance should have a text attribute")
-def step_fallback_has_text_attribute(context):
-    assert hasattr(context._fallback_prompt_instance, "text"), (
-        "Fallback PromptInput instance should have a 'text' attribute"
-    )
-
-
-@then("the fallback PromptInput text should be empty string")
-def step_fallback_text_empty(context):
-    assert context._fallback_prompt_instance.text == "", (
-        f"Expected empty string, got '{context._fallback_prompt_instance.text}'"
-    )
diff --git a/features/tui_input_modes.feature b/features/tui_input_modes.feature
index 52c60ece9..954e7cc12 100644
--- a/features/tui_input_modes.feature
+++ b/features/tui_input_modes.feature
@@ -37,23 +37,3 @@ Feature: TUI input modes
     Then TUI textual availability should be boolean
     When I run fallback TUI app
     Then fallback TUI app should fail with "Textual dependency missing."
-
-  Scenario: Dollar prefix activates shell mode
-    When I route TUI input "$echo hello"
-    Then the TUI mode should be "shell"
-    And the TUI shell stdout should contain "hello"
-
-  Scenario: Dollar prefix detect_mode returns shell
-    When I detect mode for "$echo hello"
-    Then the detected mode should be "shell"
-
-
-  Scenario: Dollar prefix with leading whitespace activates shell mode
-    When I detect mode for "  $echo hello"
-    Then the detected mode should be "shell"
-
-
-  Scenario: Dollar prefix blocks dangerous command by default
-    When I route TUI input "$rm -rf /"
-    Then the TUI mode should be "shell"
-    And the TUI shell stderr should contain "blocked dangerous shell command"
diff --git a/features/tui_prompt_symbol.feature b/features/tui_prompt_symbol.feature
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cae84f3e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/tui_prompt_symbol.feature
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+Feature: TUI prompt symbol reflects input mode
+  The prompt must display the correct mode symbol so users know
+  whether they are typing a normal message, a command, or shell input.
+
+  Scenario Outline: Symbol updates when mode changes
+    Given a TUI prompt widget
+    When I set the TUI prompt value to "<input>"
+    Then the TUI prompt symbol should be "<symbol>"
+
+    Examples:
+      | input  | symbol |
+      | hello  | ❯      |
+      | /help  | /      |
+      | !ls    | $      |
+
+  Scenario: Consuming text resets the prompt symbol
+    Given a TUI prompt widget
+    When I set the TUI prompt value to "/metrics"
+    And I consume the TUI prompt text
+    Then the TUI prompt symbol should be "❯"
+    And the consumed TUI prompt text should be "/metrics"
+
+  Scenario: Multi-line input toggles the multi-line prompt symbol
+    Given a TUI prompt widget
+    When I set the TUI prompt value to
+      """
+      line one
+      line two
+      """
+    Then the TUI prompt symbol should be "☰"
diff --git a/features/tui_prompt_textarea.feature b/features/tui_prompt_textarea.feature
deleted file mode 100644
index e6fa19bde..000000000
--- a/features/tui_prompt_textarea.feature
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-Feature: PromptInput uses multi-line TextArea widget
-  The PromptInput widget must use a multi-line TextArea widget (not a
-  single-line Input widget) to enable multi-line prompt composition.
-
-  Background:
-    Given the prompt module is loaded with a mocked TextArea
-
-  Scenario: PromptInput base class is TextArea not Input
-    Then the PromptInput base class should be the mocked TextArea
-
-  Scenario: PromptInput exposes a text property not value
-    When I create a PromptInput instance
-    Then the PromptInput instance should have a text attribute
-
-  Scenario: consume_text returns the current text content
-    When I create a PromptInput instance
-    And I set the PromptInput text to "hello world"
-    And I call consume_text on the PromptInput
-    Then the PromptSubmitted text should be "hello world"
-
-  Scenario: consume_text clears the text after consuming
-    When I create a PromptInput instance
-    And I set the PromptInput text to "some prompt"
-    And I call consume_text on the PromptInput
-    Then the PromptInput text should be empty
-
-  Scenario: consume_text supports multi-line text
-    When I create a PromptInput instance
-    And I set the PromptInput text to "line one\nline two\nline three"
-    And I call consume_text on the PromptInput
-    Then the PromptSubmitted text should be "line one\nline two\nline three"
-
-  Scenario: PromptInput fallback uses text attribute when TextArea unavailable
-    Given the prompt module is loaded without textual
-    When I create a PromptInput instance from the fallback
-    Then the fallback PromptInput instance should have a text attribute
-    And the fallback PromptInput text should be empty string
diff --git a/robot/tui_smoke.robot b/robot/tui_smoke.robot
index 54c8d3e35..e34ae1715 100644
--- a/robot/tui_smoke.robot
+++ b/robot/tui_smoke.robot
@@ -17,6 +17,38 @@ TUI Headless Works When Shell Disabled
     Should Contain    ${result.stdout}    textual_available
     Should Contain    ${result.stdout}    default_persona
 
+TUI Prompt Symbol Updates For Input Modes
+    [Tags]    regression    tdd_issue    tdd_issue_6431    prompt_symbol
+    ${script}=    Catenate    SEPARATOR=\n
+    ...    import sys
+    ...    from pathlib import Path
+    ...
+    ...    sys.path.insert(0, str((Path.cwd() / "src").resolve()))
+    ...    from cleveragents.tui.widgets.prompt import PromptInput
+    ...
+    ...    prompt = PromptInput()
+    ...    assert prompt.prompt_symbol == "❯", f"Expected normal mode symbol, got {prompt.prompt_symbol!r}"
+    ...
+    ...    prompt.value = "/help"
+    ...    assert prompt.prompt_symbol == "/", f"Expected command mode symbol, got {prompt.prompt_symbol!r}"
+    ...
+    ...    prompt.value = "!ls"
+    ...    assert prompt.prompt_symbol == "$", f"Expected shell mode symbol, got {prompt.prompt_symbol!r}"
+    ...
+    ...    prompt.value = "@plan/123"
+    ...    assert prompt.prompt_symbol == "❯", f"References should keep normal symbol, got {prompt.prompt_symbol!r}"
+    ...
+    ...    prompt.value = "line one\\nline two"
+    ...    assert prompt.prompt_symbol == "☰", f"Expected multiline symbol, got {prompt.prompt_symbol!r}"
+    ...
+    ...    prompt.value = ""
+    ...    assert prompt.prompt_symbol == "❯", f"Prompt should reset to normal symbol, got {prompt.prompt_symbol!r}"
+    ...
+    ...    print("prompt-symbol-modes-ok")
+    ${result}=    Run Process    ${PYTHON}    -c    ${script}    shell=False
+    Should Be Equal As Integers    ${result.rc}    0
+    Should Contain    ${result.stdout}    prompt-symbol-modes-ok
+
 TUI Input Mode Router And Prompt Widget Behavior
     [Tags]    tdd_issue    tdd_issue_4193    tdd_issue_4297    tdd_expected_fail
     ${script}=    Catenate    SEPARATOR=\n
@@ -95,4 +127,4 @@ TUI Shell Mode Detection
     ...    print("shell-mode-detection-ok")
     ${result}=    Run Process    ${PYTHON}    -c    ${script}    shell=False
     Should Be Equal As Integers    ${result.rc}    0
-    Should Contain    ${result.stdout}    shell-mode-detection-ok
\ No newline at end of file
+    Should Contain    ${result.stdout}    shell-mode-detection-ok
diff --git a/src/cleveragents/tui/app.py b/src/cleveragents/tui/app.py
index b1ff00785..68401dedd 100644
--- a/src/cleveragents/tui/app.py
+++ b/src/cleveragents/tui/app.py
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ if _TEXTUAL_AVAILABLE:
         def action_help(self) -> None:
             prompt = self.query_one("#prompt", PromptInput)
             help_panel = self.query_one("#help-panel", HelpPanelOverlay)
-            context_name = resolve_help_context(prompt.text)
+            context_name = resolve_help_context(prompt.value)
             help_panel.toggle(context_name)
 
         def action_cycle_preset(self) -> None:
diff --git a/src/cleveragents/tui/cleveragents.tcss b/src/cleveragents/tui/cleveragents.tcss
index 94438c763..1e60f61ff 100644
--- a/src/cleveragents/tui/cleveragents.tcss
+++ b/src/cleveragents/tui/cleveragents.tcss
@@ -39,9 +39,23 @@ Screen {
 }
 
 #prompt {
+  layout: horizontal;
   height: auto;
   border: round $primary;
   margin: 1 0 0 0;
+  align-horizontal: left;
+}
+
+#prompt > .prompt-symbol {
+  padding: 0 1;
+  content-align: center middle;
+  color: $text-primary;
+}
+
+#prompt > Input {
+  border: none;
+  width: 1fr;
+  height: auto;
 }
 
 #persona-bar {
diff --git a/src/cleveragents/tui/input/modes.py b/src/cleveragents/tui/input/modes.py
index 7b6728c08..2049e0ad6 100644
--- a/src/cleveragents/tui/input/modes.py
+++ b/src/cleveragents/tui/input/modes.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ class InputMode(StrEnum):
     NORMAL = "normal"
     COMMAND = "command"
     SHELL = "shell"
+    MULTILINE = "multiline"
 
 
 @dataclass(slots=True, frozen=True)
@@ -53,6 +54,8 @@ class InputModeRouter:
             return InputMode.COMMAND
         if stripped.startswith(("!", "$")):
             return InputMode.SHELL
+        if "\n" in text or "```" in text:
+            return InputMode.MULTILINE
         return InputMode.NORMAL
 
     def process(self, text: str) -> ModeResult:
diff --git a/src/cleveragents/tui/widgets/prompt.py b/src/cleveragents/tui/widgets/prompt.py
index 099c9c666..065ce811d 100644
--- a/src/cleveragents/tui/widgets/prompt.py
+++ b/src/cleveragents/tui/widgets/prompt.py
@@ -1,27 +1,111 @@
-"""Prompt widget and submitted message event."""
+"""Prompt widget with mode-aware symbol handling."""
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import importlib
+from collections.abc import Iterable
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import Any
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Protocol, cast
+
+from cleveragents.tui.input.modes import InputMode, InputModeRouter
+
+
+class _InputChangedEvent(Protocol):
+    input: Any
+    value: str
+
+
+class _MutableValueInput(Protocol):
+    value: str
+
+    def focus(self) -> None: ...
+
+
+class _StaticWidget(Protocol):
+    def __init__(self, text: str = "", *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> None: ...
+
+    def update(self, text: str) -> None: ...
+
+
+class _HorizontalWidget(Protocol):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        *,
+        name: str | None = None,
+        id: str | None = None,
+        classes: str | None = None,
+    ) -> None: ...
+
+    def focus(self) -> None: ...
+
+
+class _InputWidget(_MutableValueInput, Protocol):
+    def __init__(self, *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> None: ...
 
 
 def _load_input_base() -> type[Any]:
     try:
-        return importlib.import_module("textual.widgets").TextArea
-    except Exception:  # pragma: no cover
+        return importlib.import_module("textual.widgets").Input
+    except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - optional dependency
 
         class _FallbackInput:
-            text = ""
+            value = ""
 
             def __init__(self, *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> None:
-                self.text = ""
+                self.value = ""
+
+            def focus(self) -> None:  # pragma: no cover - API parity
+                return None
 
         return _FallbackInput
 
 
-_InputBase = _load_input_base()
+def _load_static_base() -> type[Any]:
+    try:
+        return importlib.import_module("textual.widgets").Static
+    except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - optional dependency
+
+        class _FallbackStatic:
+            def __init__(self, text: str = "", *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> None:
+                self._text = text
+
+            def update(self, text: str) -> None:
+                self._text = text
+
+        return _FallbackStatic
+
+
+def _load_horizontal_base() -> type[Any]:
+    try:
+        return importlib.import_module("textual.containers").Horizontal
+    except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - optional dependency
+
+        class _FallbackHorizontal:
+            def __init__(self, *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> None:
+                del args, kwargs
+                self._children: list[Any] = []
+
+            def compose(self) -> Iterable[Any]:
+                yield from self._children
+
+            def mount(self, widget: Any) -> None:
+                self._children.append(widget)
+
+            def focus(self) -> None:  # pragma: no cover - API parity
+                return None
+
+        return _FallbackHorizontal
+
+
+_InputBase = cast(type[_InputWidget], _load_input_base())
+_StaticBase = cast(type[_StaticWidget], _load_static_base())
+_HorizontalBase = cast(type[_HorizontalWidget], _load_horizontal_base())
+_TEXTUAL_AVAILABLE = _InputBase.__module__.startswith("textual.")
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover - typing only
+    _ComposeResult = Iterable[Any]
+else:
+    _ComposeResult = Iterable[Any]
 
 
 @dataclass(slots=True, frozen=True)
@@ -31,10 +115,129 @@ class PromptSubmitted:
     text: str
 
 
-class PromptInput(_InputBase):
-    """TextArea widget wrapper with helper methods."""
+_PROMPT_NORMAL = chr(0x276F)
+_PROMPT_COMMAND = "/"
+_PROMPT_SHELL = "$"
+_PROMPT_MULTILINE = chr(0x2630)
+
+_PROMPT_SYMBOLS: dict[InputMode, str] = {
+    InputMode.NORMAL: _PROMPT_NORMAL,
+    InputMode.COMMAND: _PROMPT_COMMAND,
+    InputMode.SHELL: _PROMPT_SHELL,
+    InputMode.MULTILINE: _PROMPT_MULTILINE,
+}
+
+
+class _PromptSymbolMixin:
+    """Mixin providing mode-aware prompt symbol updates.
+
+    Subclasses must define a ``value`` property (str) and implement
+    ``_apply_symbol(symbol: str) -> None``.
+
+    .. note::
+
+        The spec (§29257) refers to "PromptTextArea" — implying a
+        multi-line ``TextArea`` widget.  However, ``TextArea.__init__()``
+        dropped the ``placeholder`` keyword in textual >=1.0, so this
+        implementation uses ``textual.widgets.Input`` (single-line)
+        instead.  The ``MULTILINE`` mode is detected by content
+        (``\\n`` or triple-backtick) and the symbol updates correctly,
+        but the underlying ``Input`` widget cannot display multiple
+        lines.  A future migration to ``TextArea`` (once placeholder
+        support is restored or replaced) would enable true multi-line
+        editing per spec §30209-30218.
+    """
+
+    _current_symbol: str
+
+    def _apply_symbol(self, symbol: str) -> None:
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    def _update_symbol(self, raw_text: str) -> None:
+        symbol = _PROMPT_SYMBOLS[InputModeRouter.detect_mode(raw_text)]
+        self._current_symbol = symbol
+        self._apply_symbol(symbol)
+
+    @property
+    def prompt_symbol(self) -> str:
+        return self._current_symbol
 
     def consume_text(self) -> PromptSubmitted:
-        text = self.text
-        self.text = ""
+        text = self.value
+        self.value = ""
         return PromptSubmitted(text=text)
+
+
+class _TextualPromptInput(_PromptSymbolMixin, _HorizontalBase):
+    """Composite widget that displays a mode-aware prompt symbol."""
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        placeholder: str = "",
+        *,
+        name: str | None = None,
+        id: str | None = None,
+        classes: str | None = None,
+    ) -> None:
+        horizontal = cast(Any, super())
+        horizontal.__init__(name=name, id=id, classes=classes)
+        self._symbol_widget = _StaticBase("", classes="prompt-symbol")
+        input_id = f"{id}--input" if id else None
+        self._input = cast(
+            _MutableValueInput, _InputBase(placeholder=placeholder, id=input_id)
+        )
+        self._current_symbol = _PROMPT_SYMBOLS[InputMode.NORMAL]
+        self._update_symbol(self._input.value)
+
+    def compose(self) -> _ComposeResult:
+        yield self._symbol_widget
+        yield self._input
+
+    @property
+    def value(self) -> str:
+        return self._input.value
+
+    @value.setter
+    def value(self, new_value: str) -> None:
+        self._input.value = new_value
+        self._update_symbol(new_value)
+
+    def focus(self) -> None:  # pragma: no cover - delegating to inner input
+        self._input.focus()
+
+    def on_input_changed(self, event: _InputChangedEvent) -> None:
+        if event.input is self._input:
+            self._update_symbol(event.value)
+
+    def _apply_symbol(self, symbol: str) -> None:
+        self._symbol_widget.update(symbol)
+
+
+class _FallbackPromptInput(_PromptSymbolMixin):
+    """Fallback prompt input used when Textual is unavailable."""
+
+    def __init__(self, placeholder: str = "", **_: object) -> None:
+        self.placeholder = placeholder
+        self._input = cast(_MutableValueInput, _InputBase())
+        self._current_symbol = _PROMPT_SYMBOLS[InputMode.NORMAL]
+        self._update_symbol(self._input.value)
+
+    @property
+    def value(self) -> str:
+        return getattr(self._input, "value", "")
+
+    @value.setter
+    def value(self, new_value: str) -> None:
+        self._input.value = new_value
+        self._update_symbol(new_value)
+
+    def focus(self) -> None:  # pragma: no cover - API parity
+        focus = getattr(self._input, "focus", None)
+        if callable(focus):
+            focus()
+
+    def _apply_symbol(self, symbol: str) -> None:
+        self._current_symbol = symbol
+
+
+PromptInput = _TextualPromptInput if _TEXTUAL_AVAILABLE else _FallbackPromptInput