Personal computers normally allow deletion of typing mistakes by either the backspace key or the Del key. Users must either specify which of these keys they wish to use, or set their communication software to match whichever key the network expects.

The delete key is often abbreviated to Del. The delete key is used to remove characters. To delete characters the cursor can be positioned under the character, to the right of the character or a block of text can be selected to be deleted. The delete key can be found on your keyboard above the arrow keys. Also see Backspace key.

The key used to erase the character to the right of the insertion point.

The keyboard key which deletes the character at the cursor location.

On IBM and PC-compatible computers, a key whose function changes depending on the application program. Usually it erases the character under the cursor, although in some applications it can erase selected text or graphics.

interface: The key located in the upper right hand corner of the keyboard that erases what's selected. Older Mac keyboards (the Plus and earlier) have a Backspace key instead. Some terminal programs and services treat them differently.

On computer keyboards, the delete key (sometimes shortened "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.