Case ce-0004-ime-backspace-removes-whole-syllable · Scenario scenario-ime-interaction-patterns

Backspace removes a whole composed syllable instead of a single jamo

OS: Windows 11 Device: Desktop or Laptop Any Browser: Chrome 120.0 Keyboard: Korean (IME) Status: draft
composition ime backspace

Phenomenon

When editing Korean text in a contenteditable element, pressing Backspace removes the entire composed syllable instead of a single jamo. This makes fine-grained correction difficult and differs from native input fields on the same platform.

Reproduction example

  1. Focus the editable area.
  2. Activate a Korean IME.
  3. Type one composed syllable (for example, three jamo characters that form a syllable).
  4. Press Backspace once.

Observed behavior

  • The entire syllable is removed by a single Backspace press.
  • The event log shows only one beforeinput / input pair for the deletion.

Expected behavior

  • Each Backspace press removes a single jamo, matching how native inputs behave in the same OS, browser, and IME configuration.

Notes

  • Compare behavior with a plain <input> element in the same environment to confirm the difference.
  • This behavior can affect cursor movement, undo granularity, and diff calculation for text editors built on top of contenteditable.
Before
Hello 한글
Korean text input completed
→
After Backspace (Bug)
Hello
Entire syllable '한글' deleted (single Backspace)
vs
✅ Expected
Hello 한
Expected: Delete one character at a time (first Backspace deletes only '글')

Browser compatibility matrix

This matrix shows which browser and OS combinations have documented cases for this scenario. The current case is highlighted. Click on a cell to view other cases.

Current case
Confirmed
Draft
— No case documented

All variants (detailed table)

Complete list of all cases for this scenario with full environment details.

Case OS Device Browser Keyboard Status
ce-0002-ime-enter-breaks Windows 11 Desktop or Laptop Any Chrome 120.0 Korean (IME) draft
ce-0004-ime-backspace-removes-whole-syllable Windows 11 Desktop or Laptop Any Chrome 120.0 Korean (IME) draft
ce-0022-ime-enter-breaks-firefox Windows 11 Desktop or Laptop Any Firefox 120.0 Korean IME draft
ce-0030-backspace-composition-chrome macOS Ubuntu 22.04 Desktop or Laptop Any Chrome 120.0 Japanese IME draft
ce-0035-backspace-deletes-whole-word macOS Ubuntu 22.04 Desktop or Laptop Any Safari 120.0 US draft
ce-0042-input-events-duplicate Windows 11 Desktop or Laptop Any Edge 120.0 US draft
ce-0058-contenteditable-with-autocomplete macOS Ubuntu 22.04 Desktop or Laptop Any Chrome 120.0 US draft
ce-0070-contenteditable-with-autocapitalize iOS 17.0 iPhone Any Safari 17.0 US draft
ce-0071-contenteditable-with-autocorrect iOS 17.0 iPhone Any Safari 17.0 US draft
ce-0181-japanese-ime-enter-breaks-chrome Windows 11 Desktop or Laptop Any Chrome 120.0 Japanese (IME) draft
ce-0182-chinese-ime-enter-breaks-safari macOS 14.0 Desktop or Laptop Any Safari 17.0 Chinese (IME - Pinyin) draft
ce-0185-japanese-ime-backspace-granularity-chrome Windows 11 Desktop or Laptop Any Chrome 120.0 Japanese (IME) draft
ce-0186-chinese-ime-backspace-granularity-safari macOS 14.0 Desktop or Laptop Any Safari 17.0 Chinese (IME - Pinyin) draft
ce-0196-vietnamese-ime-enter-breaks-edge Windows 11 Desktop or Laptop Any Edge 120.0 Vietnamese (IME) draft
ce-0195-thai-ime-enter-breaks-chrome Windows 11 Desktop or Laptop Any Chrome 120.0 Thai (IME) draft
ce-0199-thai-ime-backspace-granularity-chrome Windows 11 Desktop or Laptop Any Chrome 120.0 Thai (IME) draft
ce-0200-vietnamese-ime-backspace-granularity-edge Windows 11 Desktop or Laptop Any Edge 120.0 Vietnamese (IME) draft
ce-0217-keyboard-handlers-iscomposing-false-ios-safari-korean iOS 17.0+ iPhone or iPad Any Safari 17.0+ Korean (IME) draft
ce-0565-chrome-121-oninput-offset-0 Windows 11 Desktop Any Chrome 121.0.6167.86 US QWERTY confirmed
ce-0579 macOS 15.0 (Sequoia) Desktop Any All Browsers (ProseMirror context) Latest (Nov 2025) Apple Magic Keyboard (US) confirmed
ce-0581 Android 14.0 / 15.0 Smartphone Any Chrome 131.0+ Gboard (Emoji) confirmed

Playground for this case

Use the reported environment as a reference and record what happens in your environment while interacting with the editable area.

Reported environment
OS: Windows 11
Device: Desktop or Laptop Any
Browser: Chrome 120.0
Keyboard: Korean (IME)
Your environment
Sample HTML:
Event log
Use this log together with the case description when filing or updating an issue.
0 events
Interact with the editable area to see events here.

Comments & Discussion

Have questions, suggestions, or want to share your experience? Join the discussion below.