[bak-speys] 
verb, -spaced, -spac⋅ing, noun | 1. | to shift the carriage or typing element of a typewriter one space backward by depressing a special key. |
| 2. | Computers. to move the cursor, printhead, etc., toward the beginning of the data. |
| 3. | the space made by backspacing. |
| 4. | Also called backspacer, backspace key. the labeled key on a typewriter or computer keyboard used for backspacing. |
| back·space (bāk'spās') intr.v. back·spaced, back·spac·ing, back·spac·es To move the cursor on a computer screen or the carriage of a typewriter back one or more spaces by striking the key used for this purpose. n. The key on a keyboard or typewriter used for backspacing. |
backspace character
(BS) ASCII code 8, Control-H. The control character that should cause most output devices to move their current output position back to the previous character so that the next character output will replace (or overprint) it. Inputting a backspace (typically by pressing the backspace key) causes many systems to delete the character before the input cursor, though others use delete for this.
See twirling baton for an imaginitive use of backspace.
(2003-10-25)
