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The delete key is a key on most computer keyboards which typically is used to
delete either (in text mode) the character ahead of or beneath the cursor, or (in
GUI mode) the currently-selected object. The key is sometimes referred to as
the "forward delete" key. This is because the backspace key also deletes
characters, but to the left of the cursor. On many keyboards, such as most
Apple keyboards, the key with the backspace function is also labelled "delete".
Contents
Delete key on PC
Position and labelling on keyboards keyboard
Uses
Alternative Key Mapping
See also
References
In other cases, the Delete key is in its original IBM notebook position of above and to the right of the
Backspace key. Many laptops add rows of smaller keys above the Function key line to add keys on a non-
standard size keyboard. On this row of smaller keys, the position of the Delete key is positioned at or near
the right-hand end. On a Macbook, the forward delete function can be achieved using the Fn + ← Backspace
key combination.
The Delete key is typically smaller and less-conveniently located than the Backspace key, and on keyboards
where space is limited, for example those omitting the numeric keypad or virtual keyboards on mobile
devices, it is often omitted altogether.
On some compact keyboards (for example, the 60-key Happy Hacking Keyboard), the Delete key replaces
the conventional Backspace key, and the Backspace function is achieved by holding the Fn key and pressing
Delete.
Uses
When struck on a computer keyboard during text or command editing, the delete key ( Delete or Del ),
known less ambiguously as forward delete, discards the character ahead of the cursor's position, moving all
following characters one position "back" towards the freed letterspace. The key is also used by many GUI
applications to request deletion of the currently-selected object, for example a file in a file browser or a
block of text in a word processor.
The delete key often works as a generic command to remove a selected object, such as an image embedded
in a document (on Apple Keyboards, both the forward delete key and the delete (backspace) key have the
same effect when pressed while an object is selected).[1]
Many people were wondering how to forward delete text, so on a Chromebook the shortcut is
Search+backspace the search button should be on the left side of your keyboard, and you all should know
where the backspace button is.
On Unix-like systems, the delete key is usually mapped to ESC[3~ which is the VT220 escape code for the
"delete character" key.[4]
The delete key, on many modern motherboards, also functions to open the BIOS setup screen when pressed
after starting the computer.
In GUI applications where the Delete key is enabled, especially in file browsers, pressing it does not
necessarily immediately delete the selected object, but often a confirmation dialog box will appear to allow
the user to cancel the deletion, or the object may instead be silently moved to a "trash folder" or equivalent,
so that it can be recovered later. In other GUI contexts, the Undo function can often reverse a deletion.
See also
Control-Alt-Delete
Backspace
References
1. "Forward Delete (Fwd Del)" (https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/UserExp
erience/Conceptual/AppleHIGuidelines/XHIGUserInput/XHIGUserInput.html#//apple_ref/doc/ui
d/TP30000361-CECIEFIA). Apple Human Interface Guidelines.
2. "Image of the keyboard layout of a full-sized aluminum Apple keyboard" (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20120803113151/http://images.apple.com/keyboard/images/gallery/wired_1_20070813.
jpg). Archived from the original (https://images.apple.com/keyboard/images/gallery/wired_1_20
070813.jpg) on 2012-08-03. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
3. Matthew Rogers (2011-05-18). "The Mac OS X Delete Key: It Goes Both Ways" (http://lifehack
er.com/5803041/the-mac-os-x-delete-key-it-goes-both-ways). Lifehacker. Retrieved
2015-09-21.
4. "9.8 Keyboard configuration" (https://web.archive.org/web/20160310144541/http://www.debian.
org/doc/debian-policy/ch-opersys.html#s9.8). Debian Policy Manual. Archived from the original
(http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-opersys.html#s9.8) on 2016-03-10. Retrieved
2010-05-11.
5. Soundforge DoubleCommand download page,
http://doublecommand.sourceforge.net/features.html Accessed 2016-11-10
IBM PC keyboard (Windows, US layout)
PrtScn/ Scroll Pause/
Esc F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12
SysRq Lock Break
Num
Insert Home PgUp
Lock
⁄ ∗ −
↑ 1 2 3
Enter
0 .
← ↓ → Ins Del
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