Workshop › Wordle-style Word Guess › Step 10 of 26

Backspace

What we are doing

Backspace removes the last letter: slice(0, -1) is everything but the last character. Since type now gets keys that are not letters, it checks for a letter itself too.

```js
function type(key) {
  if (key === 'Backspace') current = current.slice(0, -1)
  else if (/^[a-z]$/.test(key) && current.length < 5) current += key
}

  if (key === 'Backspace' || /^[a-z]$/.test(key)) {
```

What it means

• slice(0, -1) takes the text from the start up to, but not including, the last character. Negative positions count from the end.
• else if is checked only when the first if was false.
• The listener now also passes Backspace on.

Your turn

1. In type, replace the line with the two lines shown.
2. In the listener, add key === 'Backspace' || to the if. Press Run.

Skills: Keyboard and mouse input

← Show the letters Leave shortcuts alone →

All steps

1. The canvas and the pen
2. Paint the background
3. A function that draws
4. A row of five tiles
5. Six rows
6. Draw again and again
7. The typed letters
8. Type with the keyboard
9. Show the letters
10. Backspace
11. Leave shortcuts alone
12. A secret word
13. Right letter, right place
14. Right letter, wrong place
15. Enter sends the guess
16. Colour the guesses
17. Winning and losing
18. A message line
19. Where the keys go
20. Draw the keyboard
21. Tap a key
22. Enter and Delete keys
23. Keys that remember
24. Keep statistics
25. Show the statistics
26. Build it yourself: only real words