Why doesn't `echo abc^H` just print `ab`?

Question

As I recall, ^H means Backspace. I generated it by pressing CTRL+V, CTRL+H.

So the ^H should remove the last character, as it is the same as Backspace and it should act just as if I pressed Backspace at this position.

Why the does the output of echo abc^H remain abc and not ab?

Answer 1

backspace is only moving the cursor backward.

backspace (or delete or whatever character depending on the configuration) deletes the last printed character only when these conditions are met:

• it is typed on the keyboard, not a command output like echo in your example
• the terminal device is in cooked mode (the usual case)

If you want to erase the c in your example, you need to overwrite it by another character, for example:

echo "abc^H "

Answer 2

stty erase ^H that should solve it.