---
title: delete
card_id: 34478
---

# delete

```
delete [ph:chunk] of [ph:container]
delete [[ph:menuItem] of] [ph:menu]
delete [[ph:menuItem] from] [ph:menu]
delete { [ph:button] | [ph:field] | [ph:part] }
```

The `delete` command removes text from a container, menu items from a menu,  menus from the menu bar, and buttons or fields from the current card or background.

When you use the form `delete [ph:part]`, `deleteButton` or `deleteField` is sent to the object that's being deleted.

You can't use this command to delete a `[ph:part]` anywhere except on the current card.

Note: Using `delete` to delete a line is not the same as putting `empty` into the line: `delete` removes the final `return` character as well as the text, while putting `empty` into the line just removes the text.

## Examples

```
delete item 3 of line 1 of field "Expenses"
delete line 5 of button "Text Holder"

put " this has a space" into theText
delete character 1 of theText

delete menu "File"
delete menu 2
delete second menu

delete menuItem "New" from menu "File"
delete menuItem 2 from menu 2
delete second menuItem from second menu

delete button 1
delete last card field
delete background button id 1234
delete last background part
```

## Demo Script

```
on surpriseDelete
 -- appropriate surprise with style
 set the cantModify of this stack to true -- to easily restore the text
 find string "ropriate surprise with sty"
 wait 1 sec
 <b>delete</b> the foundChunk
 wait 1 sec
 set cantModify of this stack to false
end surpriseDelete
```

## Related Topics

* [put](/HyperTalkReference/commands/put)