Delete Key - Background

Background

On Unix-like systems, the delete key is usually mapped to ESC

On many notebook computer keyboards the key labeled delete (sometimes with backspace printed on the same key) serves the same purpose as a Backspace key. 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 Delete key is often the third key in from the right. On Apple Inc.'s line of laptops (e.g. the MacBook and MacBook Pro), the forward delete function can be achieved using the Fn+← Backspace key combination.

In some systems the forward delete function can be invoked with Control-H (or, less frequently, Control-?) instead. This is related to ASCII control characters for BS and DEL.

Also, the delete key often works as a generic command to remove a selected object, such as an image embedded in a document (on Macs both the forward delete key and the delete (backspace) key have the same effect when pressed while an object is selected).

The delete key, on many modern motherboards, also functions to open the BIOS setup screen when pressed after starting the computer.