Forward delete symbol

A right-pointing arrow marking the key that deletes ahead of the cursor.

Everyday & digitalStandard profile

Meanings

The glyph ⌦ marks the forward delete key, which removes the character after the insertion point. On keyboards without a dedicated key the same action is reached by holding a modifier with backspace.

Officially standardisedVerified fact
Encoded as U+2326 ERASE TO THE RIGHT, the mirror of the backspace character.
Contexts: Software
Common modern usageVerified fact
Marks the key that removes the character immediately after the insertion point, leaving the cursor where it is.
Contexts: Software

Visual description

A right-pointing arrow whose rectangular body carries a small diagonal cross, the head a solid triangle at the right end.

Symmetry: horizontal
Orientation: upright

Opposite of: Backspace symbol
Both are built from arrows, and both are used in software contexts.

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is defined by a current official standard.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references.

Sources

Delete key
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity, origin and current use, not for contested detail or exact dates.
Unicode Code Chart: Miscellaneous Technical (U+2300–U+23FF)
The Unicode Consortium · retrieved 2026-07-31
Authoritative for the character's code point, name and block only. Unicode assigns identity; it does not define what a symbol means in use.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

Part of

Keyboard navigation and editing keys

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Meanings

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Encoded as U+2326 ERASE TO THE RIGHT, the mirror of the backspace character.

Contexts: Software

Common modern usageVerified fact

Marks the key that removes the character immediately after the insertion point, leaving the cursor where it is.

Contexts: Software

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is defined by a current official standard.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references.

Sources

Delete key
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity, origin and current use, not for contested detail or exact dates.
Unicode Code Chart: Miscellaneous Technical (U+2300–U+23FF)
The Unicode Consortium · retrieved 2026-07-31
Authoritative for the character's code point, name and block only. Unicode assigns identity; it does not define what a symbol means in use.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

Meanings

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols

Meanings

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols