---
title: Eraser
created_at: 1/31/2026
updated_at: 1/31/2026
keywords:
  - eraser
  - eraser tool
  - delete
  - remove shapes
  - scribble
status: draft
date: 1/31/2026
---

The eraser tool deletes shapes from the canvas. Click a shape to erase it, or drag to erase every shape along the pointer's path. Users can select the eraser from the toolbar or press `E`; you can also activate it programmatically:

```tsx
import { Tldraw } from 'tldraw'
import 'tldraw/tldraw.css'

export default function App() {
	return (
		<div style={{ position: 'fixed', inset: 0 }}>
			<Tldraw onMount={(editor) => editor.setCurrentTool('eraser')} />
		</div>
	)
}
```

## Click vs. drag

A click erases the shapes under the pointer. Hold Cmd/Ctrl while clicking to erase only the topmost shape. A click that hits a shape inside a frame doesn't also erase the frame.

Dragging (or long-pressing) starts scribble erasing. A scribble trail follows the pointer, and every shape the path crosses is marked for deletion. Shapes aren't deleted until you release: marked shapes render at reduced opacity (32% of normal) so the user can see what's about to go.

Releasing the pointer deletes the marked shapes. Pressing Escape cancels the gesture and unmarks them.

The draw and highlight tools use the eraser too: hold Cmd/Ctrl and press down to erase without leaving the tool. They switch to `eraser.pointing` with `onInteractionEnd` set to their own id, and the eraser returns to that tool when the gesture ends.

Each erase gesture is a single history stopping point, so one undo brings back everything it deleted.

## What can be erased

Locked shapes can't be erased. The eraser also skips shapes with a locked ancestor. See [Locked shapes](/sdk-features/locked-shapes).

Groups are erased as a unit: hitting any shape inside a group marks the whole group. The exception is when the drag starts inside the group's bounds—then the eraser works on the shapes inside it and leaves the group alone.

Frames behave the same way. Start dragging inside a frame and the eraser deletes the frame's children without deleting the frame itself.

## Erasing state

While a gesture is in progress, the editor tracks marked shapes in the current page state:

```ts
// Mark shapes as being erased (they render faded)
editor.setErasingShapes([shapeId1, shapeId2])

// Read the marked shapes
editor.getErasingShapeIds()
editor.getErasingShapes()
```

The eraser uses [Editor#setErasingShapes](?), [Editor#getErasingShapeIds](?), and [Editor#getErasingShapes](?) internally. You can use them from your own tools to get the same faded preview before deleting shapes with [Editor#deleteShapes](?).

## Tool states

The eraser is an [EraserTool](?) with the id `eraser` and three child states. Tool lock doesn't apply to it. Pressing Escape in `idle` returns to the select tool.

| State      | Description                                                                                                        |
| ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `idle`     | Waiting for input. Pointer down transitions to `pointing`.                                                         |
| `pointing` | The pointer is down. Shapes under the point are marked; releasing deletes them. Dragging transitions to `erasing`. |
| `erasing`  | Scribble erasing. Marks every shape the pointer path crosses; releasing deletes them.                              |

Hit testing during scribble erasing uses the segment between the previous and current pointer positions, with a margin of [Editor#getHitTestMargin](?) (`hitTestMargin`, or `coarseHitTestMargin` for touch, divided by the zoom level). This catches shapes even when the pointer moves quickly. Shapes clipped by a frame are skipped unless the pointer is inside the clip.

## Related

- [Tools](/sdk-features/tools) — How tools and their child states work
- [Scribble](/sdk-features/scribble) — The scribble system that draws the eraser trail
- [Locked shapes](/sdk-features/locked-shapes) — Locking shapes to protect them from edits