diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 7fb9afe908e46..505ef9b8bd15b 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -338,6 +338,10 @@ Library improvements
   * The function `chop` now accepts two arguments `head` and `tail` allowing to specify
     number of characters to remove from the head and tail of the string ([#24126]).
 
+  * `get(io, :color, false)` can now be used to query whether a stream `io` supports
+    [ANSI color codes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_escape_code) ([#25067]),
+    rather than using the undocumented `Base.have_color` global flag.
+
   * Functions `first` and `last` now accept `nchar` argument for `AbstractString`.
     If this argument is used they return a string consisting of first/last `nchar`
     characters from the original string ([#23960]).
diff --git a/base/logging.jl b/base/logging.jl
index eae786f5b76a2..319c8efd1df54 100644
--- a/base/logging.jl
+++ b/base/logging.jl
@@ -485,16 +485,17 @@ function handle_message(logger::SimpleLogger, level, message, _module, group, id
             level < Warn  ? :cyan :
             level < Error ? :yellow : :red
     buf = IOBuffer()
-    print_with_color(color, buf, first(levelstr), "- ", bold=true)
+    iob = IOContext(buf, logger.stream)
+    print_with_color(color, iob, first(levelstr), "- ", bold=true)
     msglines = split(string(message), '\n')
     for i in 1:length(msglines)-1
-        println(buf, msglines[i])
-        print_with_color(color, buf, "|  ", bold=true)
+        println(iob, msglines[i])
+        print_with_color(color, iob, "|  ", bold=true)
     end
-    println(buf, msglines[end], " -", levelstr, ":", _module, ":", basename(filepath), ":", line)
+    println(iob, msglines[end], " -", levelstr, ":", _module, ":", basename(filepath), ":", line)
     for (key,val) in pairs(kwargs)
-        print_with_color(color, buf, "|  ", bold=true)
-        println(buf, key, " = ", val)
+        print_with_color(color, iob, "|  ", bold=true)
+        println(iob, key, " = ", val)
     end
     write(logger.stream, take!(buf))
     nothing
diff --git a/base/markdown/Markdown.jl b/base/markdown/Markdown.jl
index 3794d77d13bd2..6fd3a71343bd9 100644
--- a/base/markdown/Markdown.jl
+++ b/base/markdown/Markdown.jl
@@ -60,10 +60,4 @@ macro doc_str(s::AbstractString, t...)
     docexpr(__source__, __module__, s, t...)
 end
 
-function Base.display(d::Base.REPL.REPLDisplay, mds::Vector{MD})
-    for md in mds
-        display(d, md)
-    end
-end
-
 end
diff --git a/base/markdown/render/terminal/formatting.jl b/base/markdown/render/terminal/formatting.jl
index 36a4d390a7138..130b9b698ac5b 100644
--- a/base/markdown/render/terminal/formatting.jl
+++ b/base/markdown/render/terminal/formatting.jl
@@ -18,13 +18,13 @@ const text_formats = Dict(
     :negative  => ("\e[7m", "\e[27m"))
 
 function with_output_format(f::Function, formats::Vector{Symbol}, io::IO, args...)
-    Base.have_color && for format in formats
+    get(io, :color, false) && for format in formats
         haskey(text_formats, format) &&
             print(io, text_formats[format][1])
     end
     try f(io, args...)
     finally
-        Base.have_color && for format in formats
+        get(io, :color, false) && for format in formats
             haskey(text_formats, format) &&
                 print(io, text_formats[format][2])
         end
@@ -58,9 +58,9 @@ words(s) = split(s, " ")
 lines(s) = split(s, "\n")
 
 # This could really be more efficient
-function wrapped_lines(s::AbstractString; width = 80, i = 0)
+function wrapped_lines(io::IO, s::AbstractString; width = 80, i = 0)
     if ismatch(r"\n", s)
-        return vcat(map(s->wrapped_lines(s, width = width, i = i), split(s, "\n"))...)
+        return vcat(map(s->wrapped_lines(io, s, width = width, i = i), split(s, "\n"))...)
     end
     ws = words(s)
     lines = AbstractString[ws[1]]
@@ -78,11 +78,11 @@ function wrapped_lines(s::AbstractString; width = 80, i = 0)
     return lines
 end
 
-wrapped_lines(f::Function, args...; width = 80, i = 0) =
-    wrapped_lines(sprint(f, args...), width = width, i = 0)
+wrapped_lines(io::IO, f::Function, args...; width = 80, i = 0) =
+    wrapped_lines(io, sprint(f, args...; context=io), width = width, i = 0)
 
 function print_wrapped(io::IO, s...; width = 80, pre = "", i = 0)
-    lines = wrapped_lines(s..., width = width, i = i)
+    lines = wrapped_lines(io, s..., width = width, i = i)
     println(io, lines[1])
     for line in lines[2:end]
         println(io, pre, line)
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ end
 print_wrapped(f::Function, io::IO, args...; kws...) = print_wrapped(io, f, args...; kws...)
 
 function print_centred(io::IO, s...; columns = 80, width = columns)
-    lines = wrapped_lines(s..., width = width)
+    lines = wrapped_lines(io, s..., width = width)
     for line in lines
         print(io, " "^(div(columns-ansi_length(line), 2)))
         println(io, line)
diff --git a/base/markdown/render/terminal/render.jl b/base/markdown/render/terminal/render.jl
index c8ba9455a0ec9..40439aafc27df 100644
--- a/base/markdown/render/terminal/render.jl
+++ b/base/markdown/render/terminal/render.jl
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ function term(io::IO, md::Paragraph, columns)
 end
 
 function term(io::IO, md::BlockQuote, columns)
-    s = sprint(term, md.content, columns - 10)
+    s = sprint(term, md.content, columns - 10; context=io)
     for line in split(rstrip(s), "\n")
         println(io, " "^margin, "|", line)
     end
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ function term(io::IO, md::Admonition, columns)
     print(io, " "^margin, "| ")
     with_output_format(:bold, print, io, isempty(md.title) ? md.category : md.title)
     println(io, "\n", " "^margin, "|")
-    s = sprint(term, md.content, columns - 10)
+    s = sprint(term, md.content, columns - 10; context=io)
     for line in split(rstrip(s), "\n")
         println(io, " "^margin, "|", line)
     end
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ function term(io::IO, f::Footnote, columns)
     print(io, " "^margin, "| ")
     with_output_format(:bold, print, io, "[^$(f.id)]")
     println(io, "\n", " "^margin, "|")
-    s = sprint(term, f.text, columns - 10)
+    s = sprint(term, f.text, columns - 10; context=io)
     for line in split(rstrip(s), "\n")
         println(io, " "^margin, "|", line)
     end
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ function term(io::IO, md::List, columns)
 end
 
 function _term_header(io::IO, md, char, columns)
-    text = terminline(md.text)
+    text = terminline_string(io, md.text)
     with_output_format(:bold, io) do io
         print(io, " "^(margin))
         line_no, lastline_width = print_wrapped(io, text,
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ term(io::IO, x, _) = show(io, MIME"text/plain"(), x)
 
 # Inline Content
 
-terminline(md) = sprint(terminline, md)
+terminline_string(io::IO, md) = sprint(terminline, md; context=io)
 
 terminline(io::IO, content...) = terminline(io, collect(content))
 
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ terminline(io::IO, f::Footnote) = with_output_format(:bold, terminline, io, "[^$
 
 function terminline(io::IO, md::Link)
     url = !Base.startswith(md.url, "@ref") ? " ($(md.url))" : ""
-    text = terminline(md.text)
+    text = terminline_string(io, md.text)
     terminline(io, text, url)
 end
 
@@ -148,5 +148,4 @@ end
 terminline(io::IO, x) = show(io, MIME"text/plain"(), x)
 
 # Show in terminal
-
-Base.display(d::Base.REPL.REPLDisplay, md::MD) = term(Base.REPL.outstream(d.repl), md)
+Base.show(io::IO, ::MIME"text/plain", md::MD) = (term(io, md); nothing)
diff --git a/base/repl/REPL.jl b/base/repl/REPL.jl
index a3175eb35d901..47175d5982a7b 100644
--- a/base/repl/REPL.jl
+++ b/base/repl/REPL.jl
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ end
 
 function display(d::REPLDisplay, mime::MIME"text/plain", x)
     io = outstream(d.repl)
-    Base.have_color && write(io, answer_color(d.repl))
+    get(io, :color, false) && write(io, answer_color(d.repl))
     show(IOContext(io, :limit => true), mime, x)
     println(io)
 end
diff --git a/base/repl/Terminals.jl b/base/repl/Terminals.jl
index 1941043a5e65b..bd882ba5dfdb0 100644
--- a/base/repl/Terminals.jl
+++ b/base/repl/Terminals.jl
@@ -167,4 +167,7 @@ else
     end
 end
 
+# use cached value of have_color
+Base.get(::TTYTerminal, k::Symbol, default) = k === :color ? Base.have_color : default
+
 end # module
diff --git a/base/replutil.jl b/base/replutil.jl
index 00c41d55ff2e1..de8046e4377ff 100644
--- a/base/replutil.jl
+++ b/base/replutil.jl
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ end
 
 function showerror(io::IO, ex, bt; backtrace=true)
     try
-        with_output_color(have_color ? error_color() : :nothing, io) do io
+        with_output_color(get(io, :color, false) ? error_color() : :nothing, io) do io
             showerror(io, ex)
         end
     finally
@@ -488,6 +488,7 @@ function show_method_candidates(io::IO, ex::MethodError, kwargs::NamedTuple = Na
     for (func,arg_types_param) in funcs
         for method in methods(func)
             buf = IOBuffer()
+            iob = IOContext(buf, io)
             tv = Any[]
             sig0 = method.sig
             if Base.is_default_method(method)
@@ -499,20 +500,20 @@ function show_method_candidates(io::IO, ex::MethodError, kwargs::NamedTuple = Na
             end
             s1 = sig0.parameters[1]
             sig = sig0.parameters[2:end]
-            print(buf, "  ")
+            print(iob, "  ")
             if !isa(func, s1)
                 # function itself doesn't match
                 return
             else
                 # TODO: use the methodshow logic here
                 use_constructor_syntax = isa(func, Type)
-                print(buf, use_constructor_syntax ? func : typeof(func).name.mt.name)
+                print(iob, use_constructor_syntax ? func : typeof(func).name.mt.name)
             end
-            print(buf, "(")
+            print(iob, "(")
             t_i = copy(arg_types_param)
             right_matches = 0
             for i = 1 : min(length(t_i), length(sig))
-                i > 1 && print(buf, ", ")
+                i > 1 && print(iob, ", ")
                 # If isvarargtype then it checks whether the rest of the input arguments matches
                 # the varargtype
                 if Base.isvarargtype(sig[i])
@@ -529,12 +530,12 @@ function show_method_candidates(io::IO, ex::MethodError, kwargs::NamedTuple = Na
                 # the type of the first argument is not matched.
                 t_in === Union{} && special && i == 1 && break
                 if t_in === Union{}
-                    if Base.have_color
-                        Base.with_output_color(Base.error_color(), buf) do buf
-                            print(buf, "::$sigstr")
+                    if get(io, :color, false)
+                        Base.with_output_color(Base.error_color(), iob) do iob
+                            print(iob, "::$sigstr")
                         end
                     else
-                        print(buf, "!Matched::$sigstr")
+                        print(iob, "!Matched::$sigstr")
                     end
                     # If there is no typeintersect then the type signature from the method is
                     # inserted in t_i this ensures if the type at the next i matches the type
@@ -542,7 +543,7 @@ function show_method_candidates(io::IO, ex::MethodError, kwargs::NamedTuple = Na
                     t_i[i] = sig[i]
                 else
                     right_matches += j==i ? 1 : 0
-                    print(buf, "::$sigstr")
+                    print(iob, "::$sigstr")
                 end
             end
             special && right_matches==0 && return # continue the do-block
@@ -569,14 +570,14 @@ function show_method_candidates(io::IO, ex::MethodError, kwargs::NamedTuple = Na
                             sigstr = string(sigtype)
                         end
                         if !((min(length(t_i), length(sig)) == 0) && k==1)
-                            print(buf, ", ")
+                            print(iob, ", ")
                         end
-                        if Base.have_color
-                            Base.with_output_color(Base.error_color(), buf) do buf
-                                print(buf, "::$sigstr")
+                        if get(io, :color, false)
+                            Base.with_output_color(Base.error_color(), iob) do iob
+                                print(iob, "::$sigstr")
                             end
                         else
-                            print(buf, "!Matched::$sigstr")
+                            print(iob, "!Matched::$sigstr")
                         end
                     end
                 end
@@ -584,11 +585,11 @@ function show_method_candidates(io::IO, ex::MethodError, kwargs::NamedTuple = Na
                 if isdefined(ft.name.mt, :kwsorter)
                     kwsorter_t = typeof(ft.name.mt.kwsorter)
                     kwords = kwarg_decl(method, kwsorter_t)
-                    length(kwords) > 0 && print(buf, "; ", join(kwords, ", "))
+                    length(kwords) > 0 && print(iob, "; ", join(kwords, ", "))
                 end
-                print(buf, ")")
-                show_method_params(buf, tv)
-                print(buf, " at ", method.file, ":", method.line)
+                print(iob, ")")
+                show_method_params(iob, tv)
+                print(iob, " at ", method.file, ":", method.line)
                 if !isempty(kwargs)
                     unexpected = Symbol[]
                     if isempty(kwords) || !(any(endswith(string(kword), "...") for kword in kwords))
@@ -599,14 +600,14 @@ function show_method_candidates(io::IO, ex::MethodError, kwargs::NamedTuple = Na
                         end
                     end
                     if !isempty(unexpected)
-                        Base.with_output_color(Base.error_color(), buf) do buf
+                        Base.with_output_color(Base.error_color(), iob) do iob
                             plur = length(unexpected) > 1 ? "s" : ""
-                            print(buf, " got unsupported keyword argument$plur \"", join(unexpected, "\", \""), "\"")
+                            print(iob, " got unsupported keyword argument$plur \"", join(unexpected, "\", \""), "\"")
                         end
                     end
                 end
                 if ex.world < min_world(method)
-                    print(buf, " (method too new to be called from this world context.)")
+                    print(iob, " (method too new to be called from this world context.)")
                 end
                 # TODO: indicate if it's in the wrong world
                 push!(lines, (buf, right_matches))
diff --git a/base/show.jl b/base/show.jl
index c7c515bf6efb0..98caad4eb68c3 100644
--- a/base/show.jl
+++ b/base/show.jl
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ struct IOContext{IO_t <: IO} <: AbstractPipe
     end
 end
 
-unwrapcontext(io::IO) = io, ImmutableDict{Symbol,Any}()
+# (Note that TTY and TTYTerminal io types have a :color property.)
+unwrapcontext(io::IO) = io, get(io,:color,false) ? ImmutableDict{Symbol,Any}(:color, true) : ImmutableDict{Symbol,Any}()
 unwrapcontext(io::IOContext) = io.io, io.dict
 
 function IOContext(io::IO, dict::ImmutableDict)
@@ -67,6 +68,9 @@ The following properties are in common use:
    can be avoided (e.g. `[Float16(0)]` can be shown as "Float16[0.0]" instead
    of "Float16[Float16(0.0)]" : while displaying the elements of the array, the `:typeinfo`
    property will be set to `Float16`).
+ - `:color`: Boolean specifying whether ANSI color/escape codes are supported/expected.
+   By default, this is determined by whether `io` is a compatible terminal and by any
+   `--color` command-line flag when `julia` was launched.
 
 # Examples
 ```jldoctest
@@ -715,7 +719,7 @@ function show_expr_type(io::IO, @nospecialize(ty), emph::Bool)
     end
 end
 
-emphasize(io, str::AbstractString) = have_color ?
+emphasize(io, str::AbstractString) = get(io, :color, false) ?
     print_with_color(Base.error_color(), io, str; bold = true) :
     print(io, Unicode.uppercase(str))
 
@@ -1253,7 +1257,7 @@ end
 
 function show_tuple_as_call(io::IO, name::Symbol, sig::Type)
     # print a method signature tuple for a lambda definition
-    color = have_color && get(io, :backtrace, false) ? stackframe_function_color() : :nothing
+    color = get(io, :color, false) && get(io, :backtrace, false) ? stackframe_function_color() : :nothing
     if sig === Tuple
         Base.print_with_color(color, io, name, "(...)")
         return
@@ -1274,7 +1278,7 @@ function show_tuple_as_call(io::IO, name::Symbol, sig::Type)
         end
     end
     first = true
-    print_style = have_color && get(io, :backtrace, false) ? :bold : :nothing
+    print_style = get(io, :color, false) && get(io, :backtrace, false) ? :bold : :nothing
     print_with_color(print_style, io, "(")
     for i = 2:length(sig)  # fixme (iter): `eachindex` with offset?
         first || print(io, ", ")
diff --git a/base/stacktraces.jl b/base/stacktraces.jl
index 030fc4c79d282..9d057c63f5c02 100644
--- a/base/stacktraces.jl
+++ b/base/stacktraces.jl
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ function show_spec_linfo(io::IO, frame::StackFrame)
         elseif frame.func === top_level_scope_sym
             print(io, "top-level scope")
         else
-            print_with_color(Base.have_color && get(io, :backtrace, false) ? Base.stackframe_function_color() : :nothing, io, string(frame.func))
+            print_with_color(get(io, :color, false) && get(io, :backtrace, false) ? Base.stackframe_function_color() : :nothing, io, string(frame.func))
         end
     elseif frame.linfo isa Core.MethodInstance
         if isa(frame.linfo.def, Method)
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ function show(io::IO, frame::StackFrame; full_path::Bool=false)
     if frame.file !== empty_sym
         file_info = full_path ? string(frame.file) : basename(string(frame.file))
         print(io, " at ")
-        Base.with_output_color(Base.have_color && get(io, :backtrace, false) ? Base.stackframe_lineinfo_color() : :nothing, io) do io
+        Base.with_output_color(get(io, :color, false) && get(io, :backtrace, false) ? Base.stackframe_lineinfo_color() : :nothing, io) do io
             print(io, file_info, ":")
             if frame.line >= 0
                 print(io, frame.line)
diff --git a/base/stream.jl b/base/stream.jl
index 36316e0688027..6838d7070bcfb 100644
--- a/base/stream.jl
+++ b/base/stream.jl
@@ -403,6 +403,7 @@ function displaysize(io::TTY)
     return h, w
 end
 
+get(::TTY, k::Symbol, default) = k === :color ? have_color : default
 
 ### Libuv callbacks ###
 
diff --git a/base/util.jl b/base/util.jl
index 1d62826bc5bf2..c9849cc4a3ba6 100644
--- a/base/util.jl
+++ b/base/util.jl
@@ -319,12 +319,13 @@ end
 
 function with_output_color(f::Function, color::Union{Int, Symbol}, io::IO, args...; bold::Bool = false)
     buf = IOBuffer()
-    have_color && bold && print(buf, text_colors[:bold])
-    have_color && print(buf, get(text_colors, color, color_normal))
+    iscolor = get(io, :color, false)
+    iscolor && bold && print(buf, text_colors[:bold])
+    iscolor && print(buf, get(text_colors, color, color_normal))
     try f(IOContext(buf, io), args...)
     finally
-        have_color && color != :nothing && print(buf, get(disable_text_style, color, text_colors[:default]))
-        have_color && (bold || color == :bold) && print(buf, disable_text_style[:bold])
+        iscolor && color != :nothing && print(buf, get(disable_text_style, color, text_colors[:default]))
+        iscolor && (bold || color == :bold) && print(buf, disable_text_style[:bold])
         print(io, String(take!(buf)))
     end
 end
diff --git a/base/version.jl b/base/version.jl
index 9e18099faeae4..7ccbf138aa0a7 100644
--- a/base/version.jl
+++ b/base/version.jl
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ function banner(io::IO = STDOUT)
     end
     commit_date = !isempty(GIT_VERSION_INFO.date_string) ? " ($(GIT_VERSION_INFO.date_string))" : ""
 
-    if have_color
+    if get(io, :color, false)
         c = text_colors
         tx = c[:normal] # text
         jl = c[:normal] # julia
diff --git a/stdlib/Test/src/Test.jl b/stdlib/Test/src/Test.jl
index c48300a641307..c7babe9bd5b70 100644
--- a/stdlib/Test/src/Test.jl
+++ b/stdlib/Test/src/Test.jl
@@ -527,20 +527,16 @@ See also [`@test_nowarn`](@ref) to check for the absence of error output.
 """
 macro test_warn(msg, expr)
     quote
-        let fname = tempname(), have_color = Base.have_color
+        let fname = tempname()
             try
-                @eval Base have_color = false
                 ret = open(fname, "w") do f
                     redirect_stderr(f) do
                         $(esc(expr))
                     end
                 end
-                eval(Base, Expr(:(=), :have_color, have_color))
                 @test ismatch_warn($(esc(msg)), read(fname, String))
-                eval(Base, Expr(:(=), :have_color, have_color))
                 ret
             finally
-                eval(Base, Expr(:(=), :have_color, have_color))
                 rm(fname, force=true)
             end
         end
diff --git a/test/compile.jl b/test/compile.jl
index d4325ba2e98ba..5b26de146e8de 100644
--- a/test/compile.jl
+++ b/test/compile.jl
@@ -200,8 +200,8 @@ try
         @test Foo.override(UInt(1)) == 2
 
         # issue #12284:
-        @test stringmime("text/plain", Base.Docs.doc(Foo.foo)) == "foo function\n"
-        @test stringmime("text/plain", Base.Docs.doc(Foo.Bar.bar)) == "bar function\n"
+        @test string(Base.Docs.doc(Foo.foo)) == "foo function\n"
+        @test string(Base.Docs.doc(Foo.Bar.bar)) == "bar function\n"
 
         modules, deps, required_modules = Base.parse_cache_header(cachefile)
         discard_module = mod_fl_mt -> (mod_fl_mt[2], mod_fl_mt[3])
diff --git a/test/docs.jl b/test/docs.jl
index 89a2d323a056a..48a9d77a24d4c 100644
--- a/test/docs.jl
+++ b/test/docs.jl
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ docstring_startswith(d1::DocStr, d2) = docstring_startswith(parsedoc(d1), d2)
 
 @doc "Doc abstract type" ->
 abstract type C74685{T,N} <: AbstractArray{T,N} end
-@test stringmime("text/plain", Docs.doc(C74685))=="Doc abstract type\n"
+@test stringmime("text/plain", Docs.doc(C74685))=="  Doc abstract type\n"
+@test string(Docs.doc(C74685))=="Doc abstract type\n"
 
 macro macro_doctest() end
 @doc "Helps test if macros can be documented with `@doc \"...\" -> @...`." ->
@@ -957,15 +958,8 @@ for (line, expr) in Pair[
     @test eval(Base, Docs.helpmode(buf, line)) isa Union{Base.Markdown.MD,Void}
 end
 
-let save_color = Base.have_color
-    try
-        @eval Base have_color = false
-        @test sprint(Base.Docs.repl_latex, "√") == "\"√\" can be typed by \\sqrt<tab>\n\n"
-        @test sprint(Base.Docs.repl_latex, "x̂₂") == "\"x̂₂\" can be typed by x\\hat<tab>\\_2<tab>\n\n"
-    finally
-        @eval Base have_color = $save_color
-    end
-end
+@test sprint(Base.Docs.repl_latex, "√") == "\"√\" can be typed by \\sqrt<tab>\n\n"
+@test sprint(Base.Docs.repl_latex, "x̂₂") == "\"x̂₂\" can be typed by x\\hat<tab>\\_2<tab>\n\n"
 
 # issue #15684
 begin
diff --git a/test/markdown.jl b/test/markdown.jl
index 05785771940ed..218d9fae1fd2b 100644
--- a/test/markdown.jl
+++ b/test/markdown.jl
@@ -308,23 +308,24 @@ table = md"""
 
 # mime output
 let out =
-    """
-    # Title
+    @test sprint(show, "text/plain", book) ==
+        "  Title\n  ≡≡≡≡≡≡≡\n\n  Some discussion\n\n  |  A quote\n\n  Section important\n  ===================\n\n  Some bolded\n\n    •    list1\n      \n    •    list2\n      \n"
+    @test sprint(show, "text/markdown", book) ==
+        """
+        # Title
 
-    Some discussion
+        Some discussion
 
-    > A quote
+        > A quote
 
 
-    ## Section *important*
+        ## Section *important*
 
-    Some **bolded**
+        Some **bolded**
 
-      * list1
-      * list2
-    """
-    @test sprint(show, "text/plain", book) == out
-    @test sprint(show, "text/markdown", book) == out
+          * list1
+          * list2
+        """
 end
 let out =
     """
@@ -1061,3 +1062,13 @@ let text =
         @test expected == Markdown.latex(md)
     end
 end
+
+# different output depending on whether color is requested:
+let buf = IOBuffer()
+    show(buf, "text/plain", md"*emph*")
+    @test String(take!(buf)) == "  emph\n"
+    show(buf, "text/markdown", md"*emph*")
+    @test String(take!(buf)) == "*emph*\n"
+    show(IOContext(buf, :color=>true), "text/plain", md"*emph*")
+    @test String(take!(buf)) == "  \e[4memph\e[24m\n"
+end
diff --git a/test/misc.jl b/test/misc.jl
index 84199a6ce063a..fccc13d555a62 100644
--- a/test/misc.jl
+++ b/test/misc.jl
@@ -594,35 +594,21 @@ if Sys.iswindows()
     end
 end
 
-let
-    old_have_color = Base.have_color
-    try
-        @eval Base have_color = true
-        buf = IOBuffer()
-        print_with_color(:red, buf, "foo")
-        @test startswith(String(take!(buf)), Base.text_colors[:red])
-    finally
-        @eval Base have_color = $(old_have_color)
-    end
+let buf = IOBuffer()
+    print_with_color(:red, IOContext(buf, :color=>true), "foo")
+    @test startswith(String(take!(buf)), Base.text_colors[:red])
 end
 
 # Test that `print_with_color` accepts non-string values, just as `print` does
-let
-    old_have_color = Base.have_color
-    try
-        @eval Base have_color = true
-        buf_color = IOBuffer()
-        args = (3.2, "foo", :testsym)
-        print_with_color(:red, buf_color, args...)
-        buf_plain = IOBuffer()
-        print(buf_plain, args...)
-        expected_str = string(Base.text_colors[:red],
-                              String(take!(buf_plain)),
-                              Base.text_colors[:default])
-        @test expected_str == String(take!(buf_color))
-    finally
-        @eval Base have_color = $(old_have_color)
-    end
+let buf_color = IOBuffer()
+    args = (3.2, "foo", :testsym)
+    print_with_color(:red, IOContext(buf_color, :color=>true), args...)
+    buf_plain = IOBuffer()
+    print(buf_plain, args...)
+    expected_str = string(Base.text_colors[:red],
+                          String(take!(buf_plain)),
+                          Base.text_colors[:default])
+    @test expected_str == String(take!(buf_color))
 end
 
 let
@@ -635,21 +621,15 @@ let
     @test c_18711 == 1
 end
 
-let
-    old_have_color = Base.have_color
-    try
-        @eval Base have_color = true
-        buf = IOBuffer()
-        print_with_color(:red, buf, "foo")
-        # Check that we get back to normal text color in the end
-        @test String(take!(buf)) == "\e[31mfoo\e[39m"
-
-        # Check that boldness is turned off
-        print_with_color(:red, buf, "foo"; bold = true)
-        @test String(take!(buf)) == "\e[1m\e[31mfoo\e[39m\e[22m"
-    finally
-        @eval Base have_color = $(old_have_color)
-    end
+let buf = IOBuffer()
+    buf_color = IOContext(buf, :color => true)
+    print_with_color(:red, buf_color, "foo")
+    # Check that we get back to normal text color in the end
+    @test String(take!(buf)) == "\e[31mfoo\e[39m"
+
+    # Check that boldness is turned off
+    print_with_color(:red, buf_color, "foo"; bold = true)
+    @test String(take!(buf)) == "\e[1m\e[31mfoo\e[39m\e[22m"
 end
 
 abstract type DA_19281{T, N} <: AbstractArray{T, N} end
diff --git a/test/reflection.jl b/test/reflection.jl
index e79374018f4a5..af895c022b55d 100644
--- a/test/reflection.jl
+++ b/test/reflection.jl
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ end
 pos_stable(x) = x > 0 ? x : zero(x)
 pos_unstable(x) = x > 0 ? x : 0
 
-tag = Base.have_color ? Base.text_colors[Base.error_color()] : "UNION"
+tag = "UNION"
 @test warntype_hastag(pos_unstable, Tuple{Float64}, tag)
 @test !warntype_hastag(pos_stable, Tuple{Float64}, tag)
 
@@ -80,13 +80,13 @@ end
 Base.getindex(A::Stable, i) = A.A[i]
 Base.getindex(A::Unstable, i) = A.A[i]
 
-tag = Base.have_color ? Base.text_colors[Base.error_color()] : "ARRAY{FLOAT64,N}"
+tag = "ARRAY{FLOAT64,N}"
 @test warntype_hastag(getindex, Tuple{Unstable{Float64},Int}, tag)
 @test !warntype_hastag(getindex, Tuple{Stable{Float64,2},Int}, tag)
 @test warntype_hastag(getindex, Tuple{Stable{Float64},Int}, tag)
 
 # Make sure emphasis is not used for other functions
-tag = Base.have_color ? Base.text_colors[Base.error_color()] : "ANY"
+tag = "ANY"
 iob = IOBuffer()
 show(iob, Meta.lower(Main, :(x -> x^2)))
 str = String(take!(iob))
diff --git a/test/replutil.jl b/test/replutil.jl
index dbf15cd9dc659..b61eb627e15fe 100644
--- a/test/replutil.jl
+++ b/test/replutil.jl
@@ -3,42 +3,27 @@
 # For curmod_*
 include("testenv.jl")
 
-function test_have_color(buf, color, no_color)
-    if Base.have_color
-        @test String(take!(buf)) == color
-    else
-        @test String(take!(buf)) == no_color
-    end
-end
-
 cfile = " at $(@__FILE__):"
 c1line = @__LINE__() + 1
 method_c1(x::Float64, s::AbstractString...) = true
 
 buf = IOBuffer()
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, Base.MethodError(method_c1,(1, 1, "")))
-no_color = "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c1(!Matched::Float64, !Matched::AbstractString...)$cfile$c1line"
+@test String(take!(buf)) == "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c1(!Matched::Float64, !Matched::AbstractString...)$cfile$c1line"
 @test length(methods(method_c1)) <= 3 # because of '...' in candidate printing
-test_have_color(buf,
-                "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c1(\e[1m\e[31m::Float64\e[0m, \e[1m\e[31m::AbstractString...\e[0m)$cfile$c1line\e[0m",
-                no_color)
+Base.show_method_candidates(IOContext(buf, :color => true), Base.MethodError(method_c1,(1, 1, "")))
+@test String(take!(buf)) == "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c1(\e[91m::Float64\e[39m, \e[91m::AbstractString...\e[39m)$cfile$c1line"
 
-no_color = "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c1(!Matched::Float64, ::AbstractString...)$cfile$c1line"
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, Base.MethodError(method_c1,(1, "", "")))
-test_have_color(buf,
-                "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c1(\e[1m\e[31m::Float64\e[0m, ::AbstractString...)$cfile$c1line\e[0m",
-                no_color)
+@test String(take!(buf)) == "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c1(!Matched::Float64, ::AbstractString...)$cfile$c1line"
 
 # should match
-no_color = "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c1(::Float64, ::AbstractString...)$cfile$c1line"
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, Base.MethodError(method_c1,(1., "", "")))
-test_have_color(buf,
-                "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c1(::Float64, ::AbstractString...)$cfile$c1line\e[0m",
-                no_color)
+@test String(take!(buf)) == "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c1(::Float64, ::AbstractString...)$cfile$c1line"
 
 # Have no matches so should return empty
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, Base.MethodError(method_c1,(1, 1, 1)))
-test_have_color(buf, "", "")
+@test String(take!(buf)) == ""
 
 # matches the implicit constructor -> convert method
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, Base.MethodError(Tuple{}, (1, 1, 1)))
@@ -55,41 +40,33 @@ method_c2(x::Int32, y::Int32, z::Int32) = true
 method_c2(x::T, y::T, z::T) where {T<:Real} = true
 
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, Base.MethodError(method_c2,(1., 1., 2)))
-color = "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c2(\e[1m\e[31m::Int32\e[0m, ::Float64, ::Any...)$cfile$(c2line+2)\n  method_c2(\e[1m\e[31m::Int32\e[0m, ::Any...)$cfile$(c2line+1)\n  method_c2(::T<:Real, ::T<:Real, \e[1m\e[31m::T<:Real\e[0m)$cfile$(c2line+5)\n  ...\e[0m"
-no_color = no_color = "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c2(!Matched::Int32, ::Float64, ::Any...)$cfile$(c2line+2)\n  method_c2(!Matched::Int32, ::Any...)$cfile$(c2line+1)\n  method_c2(::T<:Real, ::T<:Real, !Matched::T<:Real) where T<:Real$cfile$(c2line+5)\n  ..."
-test_have_color(buf, color, no_color)
+@test String(take!(buf)) ==  "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c2(!Matched::Int32, ::Float64, ::Any...)$cfile$(c2line+2)\n  method_c2(!Matched::Int32, ::Any...)$cfile$(c2line+1)\n  method_c2(::T<:Real, ::T<:Real, !Matched::T<:Real) where T<:Real$cfile$(c2line+5)\n  ..."
 
 c3line = @__LINE__() + 1
 method_c3(x::Float64, y::Float64) = true
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, Base.MethodError(method_c3,(1.,)))
-color = "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c3(::Float64, \e[1m\e[31m::Float64\e[0m)$cfile$c3line\e[0m"
-no_color = no_color = "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c3(::Float64, !Matched::Float64)$cfile$c3line"
-test_have_color(buf, color, no_color)
+@test String(take!(buf)) ==  "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c3(::Float64, !Matched::Float64)$cfile$c3line"
 
 # Test for the method error in issue #8651
 c4line = @__LINE__
 method_c4() = true
 method_c4(x::AbstractString) = false
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, MethodError(method_c4,("",)))
-test_have_color(buf,
-    "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c4(::AbstractString)$cfile$(c4line+2)\n  method_c4()$cfile$(c4line+1)\e[0m",
-    "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c4(::AbstractString)$cfile$(c4line+2)\n  method_c4()$cfile$(c4line+1)")
+@test String(take!(buf)) == "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c4(::AbstractString)$cfile$(c4line+2)\n  method_c4()$cfile$(c4line+1)"
 
 c5line = @__LINE__() + 1
 method_c5(::Type{Float64}) = true
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, MethodError(method_c5,(Float64,)))
-test_have_color(buf, "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c5(::Type{Float64})$cfile$c5line\e[0m",
-                "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c5(::Type{Float64})$cfile$c5line")
+@test String(take!(buf)) == "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c5(::Type{Float64})$cfile$c5line"
 
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, MethodError(method_c5,(Int32,)))
-test_have_color(buf, "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c5(\e[1m\e[31m::Type{Float64}\e[0m)$cfile$c5line\e[0m",
-                "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c5(!Matched::Type{Float64})$cfile$c5line")
+@test String(take!(buf)) == "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c5(!Matched::Type{Float64})$cfile$c5line"
 
 mutable struct Test_type end
 test_type = Test_type()
 for f in [getindex, setindex!]
     Base.show_method_candidates(buf, MethodError(f,(test_type, 1,1)))
-    test_have_color(buf, "", "")
+    @test String(take!(buf)) == ""
 end
 
 PR16155line = @__LINE__() + 2
@@ -101,12 +78,10 @@ PR16155line2 = @__LINE__() + 1
 (::Type{T})(arg::Any) where {T<:PR16155} = "replace call-to-convert method from sysimg"
 
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, MethodError(PR16155,(1.0, 2.0, Int64(3))))
-test_have_color(buf, "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Any, ::Any)$cfile$PR16155line\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(\e[1m\e[31m::Int64\e[0m, ::Any)$cfile$PR16155line\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Any) where T<:$(curmod_prefix)PR16155$cfile$PR16155line2\e[0m",
-                     "\nClosest candidates are:\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Any, ::Any)$cfile$PR16155line\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(!Matched::Int64, ::Any)$cfile$PR16155line\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Any) where T<:$(curmod_prefix)PR16155$cfile$PR16155line2")
+@test String(take!(buf)) == "\nClosest candidates are:\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Any, ::Any)$cfile$PR16155line\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(!Matched::Int64, ::Any)$cfile$PR16155line\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Any) where T<:$(curmod_prefix)PR16155$cfile$PR16155line2"
 
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, MethodError(PR16155,(Int64(3), 2.0, Int64(3))))
-test_have_color(buf, "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Int64, ::Any)$cfile$PR16155line\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Any, ::Any)$cfile$PR16155line\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Any) where T<:$(curmod_prefix)PR16155$cfile$PR16155line2\e[0m",
-                     "\nClosest candidates are:\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Int64, ::Any)$cfile$PR16155line\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Any, ::Any)$cfile$PR16155line\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Any) where T<:$(curmod_prefix)PR16155$cfile$PR16155line2")
+@test String(take!(buf)) == "\nClosest candidates are:\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Int64, ::Any)$cfile$PR16155line\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Any, ::Any)$cfile$PR16155line\n  $(curmod_prefix)PR16155(::Any) where T<:$(curmod_prefix)PR16155$cfile$PR16155line2"
 
 c6line = @__LINE__
 method_c6(; x=1) = x
@@ -130,40 +105,28 @@ m_error = try TestKWError.method_c6_in_module(1, x=1) catch e; e; end
 showerror(buf, m_error)
 error_out3 = String(take!(buf))
 
-if Base.have_color
-    @test contains(error_out, "method_c6(; x)$cfile$(c6line + 1)\e[1m\e[31m got unsupported keyword argument \"y\"\e[0m")
-    @test contains(error_out, "method_c6(\e[1m\e[31m::Any\e[0m; y)$cfile$(c6line + 2)")
-    @test contains(error_out1, "method_c6(::Any; y)$cfile$(c6line + 2)\e[1m\e[31m got unsupported keyword argument \"x\"\e[0m")
-    @test contains(error_out2, "method_c6_in_module(; x)$cfile$(c6mline + 2)\e[1m\e[31m got unsupported keyword argument \"y\"\e[0m")
-    @test contains(error_out2, "method_c6_in_module(\e[1m\e[31m::Any\e[0m; y)$cfile$(c6mline + 3)")
-    @test contains(error_out3, "method_c6_in_module(::Any; y)$cfile$(c6mline + 3)\e[1m\e[31m got unsupported keyword argument \"x\"\e[0m")
-else
-    @test contains(error_out, "method_c6(; x)$cfile$(c6line + 1) got unsupported keyword argument \"y\"")
-    @test contains(error_out, "method_c6(!Matched::Any; y)$cfile$(c6line + 2)")
-    @test contains(error_out1, "method_c6(::Any; y)$cfile$(c6line + 2) got unsupported keyword argument \"x\"")
-    @test contains(error_out2, "method_c6_in_module(; x)$cfile$(c6mline + 2) got unsupported keyword argument \"y\"")
-    @test contains(error_out2, "method_c6_in_module(!Matched::Any; y)$cfile$(c6mline + 3)")
-    @test contains(error_out3, "method_c6_in_module(::Any; y)$cfile$(c6mline + 3) got unsupported keyword argument \"x\"")
-end
+@test contains(error_out, "method_c6(; x)$cfile$(c6line + 1) got unsupported keyword argument \"y\"")
+@test contains(error_out, "method_c6(!Matched::Any; y)$cfile$(c6line + 2)")
+@test contains(error_out1, "method_c6(::Any; y)$cfile$(c6line + 2) got unsupported keyword argument \"x\"")
+@test contains(error_out2, "method_c6_in_module(; x)$cfile$(c6mline + 2) got unsupported keyword argument \"y\"")
+@test contains(error_out2, "method_c6_in_module(!Matched::Any; y)$cfile$(c6mline + 3)")
+@test contains(error_out3, "method_c6_in_module(::Any; y)$cfile$(c6mline + 3) got unsupported keyword argument \"x\"")
 
 c7line = @__LINE__() + 1
 method_c7(a, b; kargs...) = a
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, MethodError(method_c7, (1, 1)), (x = 1, y = 2))
-test_have_color(buf, "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c7(::Any, ::Any; kargs...)$cfile$c7line\e[0m",
-                     "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c7(::Any, ::Any; kargs...)$cfile$c7line")
+@test String(take!(buf)) == "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c7(::Any, ::Any; kargs...)$cfile$c7line"
 c8line = @__LINE__() + 1
 method_c8(a, b; y=1, w=1) = a
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, MethodError(method_c8, (1, 1)), (x = 1, y = 2, z = 1, w = 1))
-test_have_color(buf, "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c8(::Any, ::Any; y, w)$cfile$c8line\e[1m\e[31m got unsupported keyword arguments \"x\", \"z\"\e[0m\e[0m",
-                     "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c8(::Any, ::Any; y, w)$cfile$c8line got unsupported keyword arguments \"x\", \"z\"")
+@test String(take!(buf)) == "\nClosest candidates are:\n  method_c8(::Any, ::Any; y, w)$cfile$c8line got unsupported keyword arguments \"x\", \"z\""
 
 ac15639line = @__LINE__
 addConstraint_15639(c::Int32) = c
 addConstraint_15639(c::Int64; uncset=nothing) = addConstraint_15639(Int32(c), uncset=uncset)
 
 Base.show_method_candidates(buf, MethodError(addConstraint_15639, (Int32(1),)), (uncset = nothing,))
-test_have_color(buf, "\e[0m\nClosest candidates are:\n  addConstraint_15639(::Int32)$cfile$(ac15639line + 1)\e[1m\e[31m got unsupported keyword argument \"uncset\"\e[0m\n  addConstraint_15639(\e[1m\e[31m::Int64\e[0m; uncset)$cfile$(ac15639line + 2)\e[0m",
-                     "\nClosest candidates are:\n  addConstraint_15639(::Int32)$cfile$(ac15639line + 1) got unsupported keyword argument \"uncset\"\n  addConstraint_15639(!Matched::Int64; uncset)$cfile$(ac15639line + 2)")
+@test String(take!(buf)) == "\nClosest candidates are:\n  addConstraint_15639(::Int32)$cfile$(ac15639line + 1) got unsupported keyword argument \"uncset\"\n  addConstraint_15639(!Matched::Int64; uncset)$cfile$(ac15639line + 2)"
 
 macro except_str(expr, err_type)
     return quote