---
name: "delch"
section: "3x"
platform: "linux"
package: "ncurses"
version: "6.6-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/curs_delch/3x"
---

# delch(3x)

delete a character from a curses window

Part of [curs\_delch(3x)](/curs_delch/3x.md).

## NAME

**delch**, **wdelch**, **mvdelch**, **mvwdelch** - delete a character from a *curses* window

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <curses.h>
```

**int delch(void);** **int wdelch(WINDOW \*** *win***);** **int mvdelch(int** *y***, int** *x***);** **int mvwdelch(WINDOW \*** *win***, int** *y***, int** *x***);**

## DESCRIPTION

**wdelch** **deletes the character at the cursor position in** *win*. **It moves all characters to the right of the cursor on the same line to** **the left one position and replaces the contents of the rightmost** **position on the line with the window's background character;** **see bkgd(3X)** **(wide-character API users: bkgrnd(3X)).** **The cursor position does not change** **(after moving to** (*y*, *x*), **if specified).** **ncurses(3X) describes the variants of this function.**

## RETURN VALUE

**These functions return** **OK** **on success and** **ERR** **on failure.**

**In** *ncurses*, **these functions fail if**

- •

  **the** *curses* **screen has not been initialized,** **or**

- •

  **(for functions taking a** *WINDOW* **pointer argument)** *win* **is a null pointer.**

**Functions prefixed with “mv” first perform cursor movement and** **fail if the position** (*y*, *x*) **is outside the window boundaries.**

## NOTES

**delch**, **mvdelch**, **and** **mvwdelch** **may be implemented as macros.**

**A terminal's** **delete\_character** (**dch1**) **capability** **is not necessarily employed.**

## PORTABILITY

**X/Open Curses Issue 4 describes these functions.** **It specifies no error conditions for them.**

**SVr4 describes a successful return value only as** **“an integer value other than** *ERR*”.

## HISTORY

**SVr2 (1984) introduced** *wdelch*.

## SEE ALSO

**curses(3X)**