Emacs: Delete Brackets by Pair 🚀

Here's a command that deletes char backward (Backspace ⌫), but if the char is a bracket, any type ()[]{}, or ASCII quote, delete the bracket/quote and the inner text.

(defun xah-delete-backward-char-or-bracket-text ()
  "Delete backward 1 character, but if it's a \"quote\" or bracket ()[]{}【】「」 etc, delete bracket and the inner text, push the deleted text to `kill-ring'.

What char is considered bracket or quote is determined by current syntax table.

If `universal-argument' is called first, do not delete inner text.

URL `http://xahlee.info/emacs/emacs/emacs_delete_backward_char_or_bracket_text.html'
Version 2017-07-02"
  (interactive)
  (if (and delete-selection-mode (region-active-p))
      (delete-region (region-beginning) (region-end))
    (cond
     ((looking-back "\\s)" 1)
      (if current-prefix-arg
          (xah-delete-backward-bracket-pair)
        (xah-delete-backward-bracket-text)))
     ((looking-back "\\s(" 1)
      (progn
        (backward-char)
        (forward-sexp)
        (if current-prefix-arg
            (xah-delete-backward-bracket-pair)
          (xah-delete-backward-bracket-text))))
     ((looking-back "\\s\"" 1)
      (if (nth 3 (syntax-ppss))
          (progn
            (backward-char )
            (xah-delete-forward-bracket-pairs (not current-prefix-arg)))
        (if current-prefix-arg
            (xah-delete-backward-bracket-pair)
          (xah-delete-backward-bracket-text))))
     (t
      (delete-char -1)))))

(defun xah-delete-backward-bracket-text ()
  "Delete the matching brackets/quotes to the left of cursor, including the inner text.

This command assumes the left of point is a right bracket, and there's a matching one before it.

What char is considered bracket or quote is determined by current syntax table.

URL `http://xahlee.info/emacs/emacs/emacs_delete_backward_char_or_bracket_text.html'
Version 2017-07-02"
  (interactive)
  (progn
    (forward-sexp -1)
    (mark-sexp)
    (kill-region (region-beginning) (region-end))))

(defun xah-delete-backward-bracket-pair ()
  "Delete the matching brackets/quotes to the left of cursor.

After the command, mark is set at the left matching bracket position, so you can `exchange-point-and-mark' to select it.

This command assumes the left of point is a right bracket, and there's a matching one before it.

What char is considered bracket or quote is determined by current syntax table.

URL `http://xahlee.info/emacs/emacs/emacs_delete_backward_char_or_bracket_text.html'
Version 2017-07-02"
  (interactive)
  (let (( $p0 (point)) $p1)
    (forward-sexp -1)
    (setq $p1 (point))
    (goto-char $p0)
    (delete-char -1)
    (goto-char $p1)
    (delete-char 1)
    (push-mark (point) t)
    (goto-char (- $p0 2))))

(defun xah-delete-forward-bracket-pairs ( &optional @delete-inner-text-p)
  "Delete the matching brackets/quotes to the right of cursor.
If *delete-inner-text-p is true, also delete the inner text.

After the command, mark is set at the left matching bracket position, so you can `exchange-point-and-mark' to select it.

This command assumes the char to the right of point is a left bracket or quote, and have a matching one after.

What char is considered bracket or quote is determined by current syntax table.

URL `http://xahlee.info/emacs/emacs/emacs_delete_backward_char_or_bracket_text.html'
Version 2017-07-02"
  (interactive)
  (if @delete-inner-text-p
      (progn
        (mark-sexp)
        (kill-region (region-beginning) (region-end)))
    (let (($pt (point)))
      (forward-sexp)
      (delete-char -1)
      (push-mark (point) t)
      (goto-char $pt)
      (delete-char 1))))

You can set the Backspace ⌫ key for it, like this:

(global-set-key (kbd "DEL") 'xah-delete-backward-char-or-bracket-text)

[see Emacs: How to Define Keybinding]

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