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.