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Definition: Backspace key


The keyboard key that moves the text at the current cursor location one character to the left, deleting the character on the left. In contrast, the Delete key removes the character at, or to the right of, the current cursor, and everything to the right moves left. In the Windows Explorer file manager, the Backspace key moves back one level.

All Windows machines have Backspace and Delete keys. On Mac laptops (not desktops), there is only a Backspace key and no Delete key. However, the Backspace key is labeled Delete, which is very confusing for Windows users working on a Mac laptop. See Delete key.