(Emacs+Org-Mode) Why Not Bind `delete-forward-char'?

Thank you Greg for the big correction here <2018-01-12 Fri>…

The documentation for delete-char suggests that delete-forward-char ought to be used for interactive use instead of delete-char

(global-set-key (kbd "C-d") #'delete-forward-char)

2 thoughts on “(Emacs+Org-Mode) Why Not Bind `delete-forward-char'?”

Greg says:

2018-01-12 at 08:29

Doesn’t `C-d` do this by default already? I use the default bindings for `C-d` and `M-d` frequently.
One thing I just noticed: `C-d` is it is mapped to `delete-char`, even though that function’s doc string says “The command ‘delete-forward-char’ is preferable for interactive use, e.g. because it respects values of ‘delete-active-region’ and ‘overwrite-mode’.” Seems odd that a default key binding would use a function for which there is a built-in “preferable” alternative.

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1. Grant says:
  
  2018-01-12 at 21:54
  
  Doesn’t `C-d` do this by default already?
  
  Yes. I had meant to refer to backward-delete-char.
  
  Thank your for pointing out that minor detail (Joy)(Surprise).
  
  Seems odd that a default key binding would use a function for which there is a
  built-in “preferable” alternative.
  
  That flexibility make me think of delete-selection-mode, too. I’m curious
  about why somebody’s Emacs might get configured without and with these.
  
  Reply