erasechar - Linux
Overview
erasechar is a Linux command primarily used to delete characters from a terminal input buffer. It is particularly useful when correcting typos or making quick modifications without the need to use the backspace key.
Syntax
erasechar [[-xcdl] | -] [<character>]
Options/Flags
- -c: Delete the last character. This is the default behavior.
- -d: Delete the last entire word.
- -l: Delete the entire line.
- -x: Delete the last character typed before the current character.
- –: Use the first character after – as the character to delete.
: Delete the specified character. If no character is provided, the default is the last character entered.
Examples
- Delete the last character entered:
erasechar
- Delete the last five characters entered:
erasechar -x -x -x -x -x
- Delete the last word entered:
erasechar -d
- Delete the entire line:
erasechar -l
- Delete the character
a:
erasechar -a
Common Issues
- Unable to delete a specific character: Ensure that you use the – flag followed by the character to delete if it is not the last character entered.
- Deleting characters in the middle of a long line: Use the -x flag to delete individual characters.
Integration
- Bash: Enable erasechar in Bash by adding the following line to your
.bashrcfile:
set -o erasechars
- Chain with other commands: Pipe the output of erasechar into other commands for more complex operations. For example, to delete the last character entered and then search for it in a file:
erasechar | grep -F
Related Commands
backspacedeletekill