[#bsl-basic_string-0ce-erase-04]
= xref:bsl.adoc[bsl]::xref:bsl/basic_string-0ce.adoc[basic_string<char16_t>]::erase
:relfileprefix: ../../
:mrdocs:

Erase from this string the substring of length the optionally specified `numChars` or `original.length() ‐ position`, whichever is smaller, starting at the optionally specified `position`. If `position` is not specified, the first position is used (i.e., `position` is set to 0). Return a reference providing modifiable access to this string. If `numChars` equals `npos`, then the remaining length of the string is erased (i.e., `numChars` is set to `length() ‐ position`). Throw `out_of_range` if `position > length()`.

== Synopsis

Declared in `<bslstl_string.h>`

[source,cpp,subs="verbatim,replacements,macros,-callouts"]
----
xref:bsl/basic_string-0faf.adoc[basic_string<char16_t>]&
erase(
    xref:bsl/basic_string-0ce/size_type.adoc[size_type] position = 0,
    xref:bsl/basic_string-0ce/size_type.adoc[size_type] numChars = npos);
----


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