Grades K–2 · Computing
How can Undo bring back an earlier drawing?
A drawing app can make a new line disappear when Undo is pressed. It has not rubbed real paper. It has remembered enough about earlier changes to bring an earlier drawing back.
In the diagramThe app remembers earlier drawingsEmpty pageCircle addedShown nowLine addedUndoOne Undo goes back before the line.
Our toy app remembers three pages: an empty page, a circle, then a circle with a line. One Undo brings back the circle without the line. Another brings back the empty page.
Undo follows the changes backward, starting with the latest one. Apps do not remember everything forever. Their rules decide which earlier changes can still be brought back.
About this explanation
Starting knowledge: Understand before, after and most recent.
Sources
- GIMP — Undoing