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{{singlesource|date=October 2009}} |
{{singlesource|date=October 2009}} |
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[[Image:Key delete.jpg|right|70px|Delete key on PC keyboard]] |
[[Image:Key delete.jpg|right|70px|Delete key on PC keyboard]] |
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The '''delete key''' ({{Keypress|Delete}} or {{Keypress|Del}}), known less ambiguously as ''forward delete'', performs a function when struck on a [[computer keyboard]] during text or command editing, which is to discard the character ahead of the [[cursor (computers)|cursor]]'s position, moving all following characters one position "back" towards the freed letterspace. The key appears on [[IBM PC keyboard|IBM-compatible PC keyboards]] labeled as ''Delete'', or ''Del''. On [[Apple keyboard|Mac keyboard]]s, the key which performs this function is labeled ''del'', as the full word ''delete'' is reserved for labelling the key otherwise known as [[Backspace]].{{Citation needed|date= October 2010}} |
The '''delete key''' ({{Keypress|Delete}} or {{Keypress|Del}}; formerly {{Keypress|RubOut}}<ref>{{cite|title=The UNIX Programming Environment|last1=Kernighan|first1=Brian|last2=Pike|first2=Rob|publisher=Prentice Hall Software Series|Location=New Jersey|year=1984|ISBN=0-13-937681-X}}</ref>), known less ambiguously as ''forward delete'', performs a function when struck on a [[computer keyboard]] during text or command editing, which is to discard the character ahead of the [[cursor (computers)|cursor]]'s position, moving all following characters one position "back" towards the freed letterspace. The key appears on [[IBM PC keyboard|IBM-compatible PC keyboards]] labeled as ''Delete'', or ''Del''. On [[Apple keyboard|Mac keyboard]]s, the key which performs this function is labeled ''del'', as the full word ''delete'' is reserved for labelling the key otherwise known as [[Backspace]].{{Citation needed|date= October 2010}} |
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On [[Unix-like]] systems, the delete key is usually mapped to ESC [3 ~ which is the [[VT220]] escape code for the "delete character" key.<ref>{{cite web | title=9.8 Keyboard configuration | work=Debian Policy Manual | url=http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-opersys.html#s9.8}}</ref> |
On [[Unix-like]] systems, the delete key is usually mapped to ESC [3 ~ which is the [[VT220]] escape code for the "delete character" key.<ref>{{cite web | title=9.8 Keyboard configuration | work=Debian Policy Manual | url=http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-opersys.html#s9.8}}</ref> |
Revision as of 19:06, 23 February 2011
The delete key (Delete or Del; formerly RubOut[1]), known less ambiguously as forward delete, performs a function when struck on a computer keyboard during text or command editing, which is to discard the character ahead of the cursor's position, moving all following characters one position "back" towards the freed letterspace. The key appears on IBM-compatible PC keyboards labeled as Delete, or Del. On Mac keyboards, the key which performs this function is labeled del, as the full word delete is reserved for labelling the key otherwise known as Backspace.[citation needed]
On Unix-like systems, the delete key is usually mapped to ESC [3 ~ which is the VT220 escape code for the "delete character" key.[2]
On many a notebook computer keyboard, the key labeled Delete (sometimes Delete and Backspace are printed on the same key) serves the same purpose as a Backspace key. Othertimes, the Delete Key is in its original IBM notebook position of above and to the right of the Backspace key. Many laptops, to add keys on a non-standard size keyboard add rows of smaller keys above the Function Key line. On this line, the Delete Key is often the third key in from the right. On Apple Inc.'s line of laptops (notably the MacBook and MacBook Pro), the function of the delete key can be achieved using the Fn+backspace key combination.
Sometimes this desired effect is replaced by inserting "^H" (or, less frequently, "^?") instead. This is related to ASCII control characters for BS and DEL.
Also, the delete key often works as a generic command to remove an object (such as an image embedded in a document, or a file in a file manager).
The delete key, on many modern motherboards, also functions to open the BIOS screen when pressed after starting the computer.
References
See also
Esc | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | F6 | F7 | F8 | F9 | F10 | F11 | F12 | PrtScn/ SysRq |
Scroll Lock |
Pause/ Break |
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Insert | Home | PgUp | Num Lock |
∕ | ∗ | − | ||||||||||||||||||
Delete | End | PgDn | 7 | 8 | 9 | + | ||||||||||||||||||
4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
↑ | 1 | 2 | 3 | Enter | ||||||||||||||||||||
← | ↓ | → | 0 Ins |
. Del |