On full size computer keyboards, the delete key, labelled "Del", should, during normal text editing, discard the character at the cursor's position, moving all following characters one position "back" towards the freed place. On Macintosh computers, however, the backspace key is called the delete key, while a separate key, also called delete and in the traditional location above the cursor arrows, serves as a forward delete key.

On many notebook computer keyboards the key labeled Delete (sometimes Delete and Backspace are printed on the same key) serves the same purpose as a Backspace key.

Sometimes this desired effect is replaced by inserting "^H" (or, less frequently, "^?") instead. This is related to ASCII control characters for BS and DEL.

See also

• Control-Alt-Delete

Computer keys | Delete