my erase tool is not working

[Soly E.S]

I just got Adobe illustrator, and whenever I try to erase it doesn't erase pixel by pixel like a typical eraser would it erases nothing really unless you go way into it and then it erases each line that you've drawn or just a small section of that I'm trying to erase.  In the file I attached I erased that big section but when I let the mouse go for it to erase is only erased that little v shaped indent and I don't know how to get it ti erase like a standard eraser.  

[Monika Gause]

Looks like those are object that have fat strokes applied.

[tromboniator]

Most of the fundamental functionality of Illustrator is not about pixels at all, but paths. As Monika points out, you have "fat strokes", which are actually a 15pt round brush in conjunction with a 15pt stroke. The Eraser Tool will only affect the path itself, not the appearance (brush and stroke), so you only see a result when the eraser reaches the path in the middle of the shape. The indent you see is caused by the rounded ends of the now-two paths where the eraser crossed and severed the original path.

You can get closer to "pixel-by-pixel"-like behavior by going to Object menu > Expand Appearance or Object > Path > Outline Stroke, which will give you a path to interact with on the outside of the shape.

If this isn't clear, please feel free to ask more questions. The functioning of this tool is not complicated, but understanding it can be difficult if you are used to working in a pixel-based environment.

Peter

[Doug A Roberts]

Have a read of this to get a better idea of what the eraser does and what it isn't capable of and why:

https://happyrainbow.art/2021/11/26/what-to-do-with-the-eraser-tool/