Backspace Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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backspace
[ˈbækˌspeɪs ]
Definitions
keyboard
The key on a computer keyboard that deletes the character to the left of the cursor. The backspace key is commonly used to correct typing errors or to remove unwanted characters.
Synonyms
delete key, erase key.
Examples of usage
- Press the backspace key to erase the last character typed.
- I made a mistake, let me hit the backspace key.
typing
To remove characters to the left of the cursor, typically by pressing the backspace key on a keyboard.
Examples of usage
- I need to backspace a few letters to correct this word.
- If you make a mistake, just backspace and correct it.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Technology
- The backspace key has become essential in text editing software, allowing users to correct errors quickly and efficiently.
- Modern devices like tablets and smartphones often mimic the backspace function through touchscreen gestures or on-screen keyboards.
- Some computer languages, like HTML, utilize the backspace function in their formatting processes, showing its importance in coding as well.
Pop Culture
- In various video games, the backspace key is often used to delete or correct actions quickly, tying it into gameplay mechanics.
- Songs and movies sometimes refer to 'backspacing' as a metaphor for wishing to undo past actions or mistakes.
- Social media platforms have also created memes that humorously depict the human desire to 'backspace' regrets from life.
Psychology
- The concept of backspacing can symbolize a desire to erase memories or regrets, reflecting how people often want to fix mistakes in their lives.
- Researchers have found that action-based tools, like backspace keys, can influence our cognitive processes when dealing with errors or corrections.
- Neurologically, the act of typing has been linked to fine motor skills and cognitive response, enhancing the importance of the backspace function.
Origin of 'backspace'
Main points about word origin
- The word 'backspace' combines 'back,' meaning to go behind, and 'space,' referring to the empty area made when you erase a character.
- The term has been in use since the 1960s as computers began to gain popularity, providing a practical naming convention for the key.
- In earlier typewriters, an equivalent action was performed by using the carriage return and manually deleting characters.
The term 'backspace' originated from typewriters, where the key would move the carriage one position backwards, allowing the typist to overwrite or delete the previous character. With the evolution of computers, the backspace key retained its function of deleting characters to the left of the cursor. The backspace key has become a fundamental tool in editing and correcting text in digital writing.
See also: back, backbone, backchat, backdrop, backed, backer, backers, backhander, backing, backline, backmarker, backpack, backroom, backside, backstop, backup, backward, backwards, backyard, unbacked.