# forward-delete-char(2)

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## NAME

forward-delete-char - Delete next character at the cursor position
backward-delete-char - Delete previous character at the cursor position

## SYNOPSIS

n forward-delete-char (C-d)
n backward-delete-char (backspace)

## DESCRIPTION

forward-delete-char deletes the next n characters from the current cursor position. If the cursor is at the end of a line, the next line is joined onto the end of the current line. If a numeric argument is given the character(s) are added to the kill buffer, otherwise the kill buffer remains unaltered.

backward-delete-char deletes the next n characters immediately to the left of the cursor (e.g. more conventionally backspace). If the cursor is at the beginning of a line, this joins the current line to the end of the previous line. If an argument is given then the character is added to the kill buffer, otherwise the kill buffer remains unaltered.

Where the numeric argument is `0` the command has no effect. A negative argument changes the direction.

## NOTES

forward-delete-char is also bound to delete and S-delete.

backward-delete-char is also bound to S-backspace.

## HISTORY

As of December 2004 the mode letter(2m) which controlled whether the deleted character is added to the kill buffer was removed. Letter mode used to be disabled by default, the behavior of the old letter mode, when enabled, may be achieved through the key bindings:-

    1 global-bind-key backward-delete-char "backspace"
    1 global-bind-key forward-delete-char "delete"

The use of the numeric argument of 1 in the global binding has the has the same effect as the existing letter(2m) mode (when enabled).

## SEE ALSO

backward-char(2), backward-kill-word(2), forward-char(2), forward-kill-word(2), kill-paragraph(2), kill-region(2).

(c) Copyright JASSPA 2009
Last Modified: 2009/08/29
Generated On: 2009/10/12

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