backspace in insert mode not erasing characters I am new to **vi** , actually I have started learning vi from today and I have got stuck at the behavior of the **backspace** key. Actually when I fired up vi on my Ubuntu 12.04 for the first time my backspace key was working normally but after that it has started behaving strangely. Whenever I press the backspace in the insert mode it just moves one place to the left instead of erasing the character. How can I get back the default backspace functionality? Please note that I don't want to install vim or set nocompatibilty.

Sometimes the `vi` command is an alias for `vim` and when called as `vi` enables its vi-mode.

Even in traditional mode backspace is deleting the character, but does not display it as deleted immediately. (After pressing ESC the characters are gone.)

Guess you have to choose between using `vi` which comes with the described behavior or using `vim` which is able to do it the way you expect it.