annotate lispref/objects.texi @ 25493:28588533d342

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author Gerd Moellmann <gerd@gnu.org>
date Thu, 02 Sep 1999 20:35:56 +0000
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1 @c -*-texinfo-*-
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2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
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3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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4 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
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5 @setfilename ../info/objects
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6 @node Lisp Data Types, Numbers, Introduction, Top
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7 @chapter Lisp Data Types
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8 @cindex object
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9 @cindex Lisp object
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10 @cindex type
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11 @cindex data type
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12
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13 A Lisp @dfn{object} is a piece of data used and manipulated by Lisp
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14 programs. For our purposes, a @dfn{type} or @dfn{data type} is a set of
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15 possible objects.
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16
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17 Every object belongs to at least one type. Objects of the same type
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18 have similar structures and may usually be used in the same contexts.
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19 Types can overlap, and objects can belong to two or more types.
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20 Consequently, we can ask whether an object belongs to a particular type,
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21 but not for ``the'' type of an object.
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22
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23 @cindex primitive type
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24 A few fundamental object types are built into Emacs. These, from
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25 which all other types are constructed, are called @dfn{primitive
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26 types}. Each object belongs to one and only one primitive type. These
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27 types include @dfn{integer}, @dfn{float}, @dfn{cons}, @dfn{symbol},
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28 @dfn{string}, @dfn{vector}, @dfn{subr}, @dfn{byte-code function}, plus
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29 several special types, such as @dfn{buffer}, that are related to
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30 editing. (@xref{Editing Types}.)
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31
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32 Each primitive type has a corresponding Lisp function that checks
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33 whether an object is a member of that type.
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34
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35 Note that Lisp is unlike many other languages in that Lisp objects are
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36 @dfn{self-typing}: the primitive type of the object is implicit in the
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37 object itself. For example, if an object is a vector, nothing can treat
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38 it as a number; Lisp knows it is a vector, not a number.
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39
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40 In most languages, the programmer must declare the data type of each
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41 variable, and the type is known by the compiler but not represented in
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42 the data. Such type declarations do not exist in Emacs Lisp. A Lisp
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43 variable can have any type of value, and it remembers whatever value
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44 you store in it, type and all.
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45
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46 This chapter describes the purpose, printed representation, and read
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47 syntax of each of the standard types in GNU Emacs Lisp. Details on how
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48 to use these types can be found in later chapters.
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49
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50 @menu
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51 * Printed Representation:: How Lisp objects are represented as text.
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52 * Comments:: Comments and their formatting conventions.
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53 * Programming Types:: Types found in all Lisp systems.
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54 * Editing Types:: Types specific to Emacs.
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55 * Type Predicates:: Tests related to types.
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56 * Equality Predicates:: Tests of equality between any two objects.
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57 @end menu
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58
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59 @node Printed Representation
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60 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
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61 @section Printed Representation and Read Syntax
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62 @cindex printed representation
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63 @cindex read syntax
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64
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65 The @dfn{printed representation} of an object is the format of the
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66 output generated by the Lisp printer (the function @code{prin1}) for
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67 that object. The @dfn{read syntax} of an object is the format of the
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68 input accepted by the Lisp reader (the function @code{read}) for that
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69 object. @xref{Read and Print}.
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70
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71 Most objects have more than one possible read syntax. Some types of
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72 object have no read syntax, since it may not make sense to enter objects
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73 of these types directly in a Lisp program. Except for these cases, the
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74 printed representation of an object is also a read syntax for it.
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75
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76 In other languages, an expression is text; it has no other form. In
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77 Lisp, an expression is primarily a Lisp object and only secondarily the
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78 text that is the object's read syntax. Often there is no need to
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79 emphasize this distinction, but you must keep it in the back of your
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80 mind, or you will occasionally be very confused.
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81
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82 @cindex hash notation
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83 Every type has a printed representation. Some types have no read
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84 syntax---for example, the buffer type has none. Objects of these types
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85 are printed in @dfn{hash notation}: the characters @samp{#<} followed by
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86 a descriptive string (typically the type name followed by the name of
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87 the object), and closed with a matching @samp{>}. Hash notation cannot
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88 be read at all, so the Lisp reader signals the error
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89 @code{invalid-read-syntax} whenever it encounters @samp{#<}.
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90 @kindex invalid-read-syntax
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91
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92 @example
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93 (current-buffer)
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94 @result{} #<buffer objects.texi>
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95 @end example
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96
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97 When you evaluate an expression interactively, the Lisp interpreter
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98 first reads the textual representation of it, producing a Lisp object,
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99 and then evaluates that object (@pxref{Evaluation}). However,
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100 evaluation and reading are separate activities. Reading returns the
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101 Lisp object represented by the text that is read; the object may or may
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102 not be evaluated later. @xref{Input Functions}, for a description of
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103 @code{read}, the basic function for reading objects.
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104
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105 @node Comments
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106 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
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107 @section Comments
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108 @cindex comments
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109 @cindex @samp{;} in comment
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110
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111 A @dfn{comment} is text that is written in a program only for the sake
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112 of humans that read the program, and that has no effect on the meaning
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113 of the program. In Lisp, a semicolon (@samp{;}) starts a comment if it
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114 is not within a string or character constant. The comment continues to
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115 the end of line. The Lisp reader discards comments; they do not become
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116 part of the Lisp objects which represent the program within the Lisp
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117 system.
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118
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119 The @samp{#@@@var{count}} construct, which skips the next @var{count}
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120 characters, is useful for program-generated comments containing binary
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121 data. The Emacs Lisp byte compiler uses this in its output files
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122 (@pxref{Byte Compilation}). It isn't meant for source files, however.
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123
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124 @xref{Comment Tips}, for conventions for formatting comments.
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125
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126 @node Programming Types
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127 @section Programming Types
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128 @cindex programming types
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129
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130 There are two general categories of types in Emacs Lisp: those having
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131 to do with Lisp programming, and those having to do with editing. The
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132 former exist in many Lisp implementations, in one form or another. The
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133 latter are unique to Emacs Lisp.
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134
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135 @menu
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136 * Integer Type:: Numbers without fractional parts.
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137 * Floating Point Type:: Numbers with fractional parts and with a large range.
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138 * Character Type:: The representation of letters, numbers and
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139 control characters.
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140 * Symbol Type:: A multi-use object that refers to a function,
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141 variable, or property list, and has a unique identity.
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142 * Sequence Type:: Both lists and arrays are classified as sequences.
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143 * Cons Cell Type:: Cons cells, and lists (which are made from cons cells).
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144 * Array Type:: Arrays include strings and vectors.
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145 * String Type:: An (efficient) array of characters.
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146 * Vector Type:: One-dimensional arrays.
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147 * Char-Table Type:: One-dimensional sparse arrays indexed by characters.
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148 * Bool-Vector Type:: One-dimensional arrays of @code{t} or @code{nil}.
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149 * Function Type:: A piece of executable code you can call from elsewhere.
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150 * Macro Type:: A method of expanding an expression into another
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151 expression, more fundamental but less pretty.
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152 * Primitive Function Type:: A function written in C, callable from Lisp.
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153 * Byte-Code Type:: A function written in Lisp, then compiled.
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154 * Autoload Type:: A type used for automatically loading seldom-used
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155 functions.
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156 @end menu
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157
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158 @node Integer Type
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159 @subsection Integer Type
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160
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161 The range of values for integers in Emacs Lisp is @minus{}134217728 to
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162 134217727 (28 bits; i.e.,
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163 @ifinfo
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164 -2**27
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165 @end ifinfo
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166 @tex
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167 $-2^{27}$
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168 @end tex
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169 to
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170 @ifinfo
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171 2**27 - 1)
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172 @end ifinfo
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173 @tex
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174 $2^{28}-1$)
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175 @end tex
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176 on most machines. (Some machines may provide a wider range.) It is
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177 important to note that the Emacs Lisp arithmetic functions do not check
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178 for overflow. Thus @code{(1+ 134217727)} is @minus{}134217728 on most
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179 machines.
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180
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181 The read syntax for integers is a sequence of (base ten) digits with an
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182 optional sign at the beginning and an optional period at the end. The
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183 printed representation produced by the Lisp interpreter never has a
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184 leading @samp{+} or a final @samp{.}.
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185
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186 @example
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187 @group
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188 -1 ; @r{The integer -1.}
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189 1 ; @r{The integer 1.}
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190 1. ; @r{Also The integer 1.}
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191 +1 ; @r{Also the integer 1.}
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192 268435457 ; @r{Also the integer 1 on a 28-bit implementation.}
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193 @end group
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194 @end example
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195
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196 @xref{Numbers}, for more information.
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197
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198 @node Floating Point Type
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199 @subsection Floating Point Type
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200
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201 Emacs supports floating point numbers (though there is a compilation
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202 option to disable them). The precise range of floating point numbers is
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203 machine-specific.
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204
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205 The printed representation for floating point numbers requires either
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206 a decimal point (with at least one digit following), an exponent, or
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207 both. For example, @samp{1500.0}, @samp{15e2}, @samp{15.0e2},
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208 @samp{1.5e3}, and @samp{.15e4} are five ways of writing a floating point
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209 number whose value is 1500. They are all equivalent.
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210
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211 @xref{Numbers}, for more information.
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212
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213 @node Character Type
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214 @subsection Character Type
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215 @cindex @sc{ASCII} character codes
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216
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217 A @dfn{character} in Emacs Lisp is nothing more than an integer. In
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218 other words, characters are represented by their character codes. For
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219 example, the character @kbd{A} is represented as the @w{integer 65}.
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220
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221 Individual characters are not often used in programs. It is far more
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222 common to work with @emph{strings}, which are sequences composed of
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223 characters. @xref{String Type}.
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224
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225 Characters in strings, buffers, and files are currently limited to the
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226 range of 0 to 524287---nineteen bits. But not all values in that range
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227 are valid character codes. Codes 0 through 127 are ASCII codes; the
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228 rest are non-ASCII (@pxref{Non-ASCII Characters}). Characters that represent
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229 keyboard input have a much wider range, to encode modifier keys such as
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230 Control, Meta and Shift.
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231
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232 @cindex read syntax for characters
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233 @cindex printed representation for characters
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234 @cindex syntax for characters
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235 @cindex @samp{?} in character constant
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236 @cindex question mark in character constant
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237 Since characters are really integers, the printed representation of a
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238 character is a decimal number. This is also a possible read syntax for
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239 a character, but writing characters that way in Lisp programs is a very
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240 bad idea. You should @emph{always} use the special read syntax formats
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241 that Emacs Lisp provides for characters. These syntax formats start
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242 with a question mark.
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243
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244 The usual read syntax for alphanumeric characters is a question mark
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245 followed by the character; thus, @samp{?A} for the character
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246 @kbd{A}, @samp{?B} for the character @kbd{B}, and @samp{?a} for the
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247 character @kbd{a}.
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248
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249 For example:
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250
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251 @example
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252 ?Q @result{} 81 ?q @result{} 113
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253 @end example
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254
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255 You can use the same syntax for punctuation characters, but it is
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256 often a good idea to add a @samp{\} so that the Emacs commands for
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257 editing Lisp code don't get confused. For example, @samp{?\ } is the
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258 way to write the space character. If the character is @samp{\}, you
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259 @emph{must} use a second @samp{\} to quote it: @samp{?\\}.
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260
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261 @cindex whitespace
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262 @cindex bell character
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263 @cindex @samp{\a}
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264 @cindex backspace
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265 @cindex @samp{\b}
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266 @cindex tab
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267 @cindex @samp{\t}
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268 @cindex vertical tab
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269 @cindex @samp{\v}
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270 @cindex formfeed
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271 @cindex @samp{\f}
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272 @cindex newline
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273 @cindex @samp{\n}
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274 @cindex return
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275 @cindex @samp{\r}
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276 @cindex escape
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277 @cindex @samp{\e}
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278 You can express the characters Control-g, backspace, tab, newline,
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279 vertical tab, formfeed, return, and escape as @samp{?\a}, @samp{?\b},
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280 @samp{?\t}, @samp{?\n}, @samp{?\v}, @samp{?\f}, @samp{?\r}, @samp{?\e},
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281 respectively. Thus,
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282
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283 @example
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284 ?\a @result{} 7 ; @r{@kbd{C-g}}
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285 ?\b @result{} 8 ; @r{backspace, @key{BS}, @kbd{C-h}}
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286 ?\t @result{} 9 ; @r{tab, @key{TAB}, @kbd{C-i}}
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287 ?\n @result{} 10 ; @r{newline, @kbd{C-j}}
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288 ?\v @result{} 11 ; @r{vertical tab, @kbd{C-k}}
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289 ?\f @result{} 12 ; @r{formfeed character, @kbd{C-l}}
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290 ?\r @result{} 13 ; @r{carriage return, @key{RET}, @kbd{C-m}}
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291 ?\e @result{} 27 ; @r{escape character, @key{ESC}, @kbd{C-[}}
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292 ?\\ @result{} 92 ; @r{backslash character, @kbd{\}}
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293 @end example
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294
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295 @cindex escape sequence
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296 These sequences which start with backslash are also known as
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297 @dfn{escape sequences}, because backslash plays the role of an escape
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298 character; this usage has nothing to do with the character @key{ESC}.
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299
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300 @cindex control characters
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301 Control characters may be represented using yet another read syntax.
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302 This consists of a question mark followed by a backslash, caret, and the
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303 corresponding non-control character, in either upper or lower case. For
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304 example, both @samp{?\^I} and @samp{?\^i} are valid read syntax for the
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305 character @kbd{C-i}, the character whose value is 9.
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306
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307 Instead of the @samp{^}, you can use @samp{C-}; thus, @samp{?\C-i} is
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308 equivalent to @samp{?\^I} and to @samp{?\^i}:
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309
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310 @example
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311 ?\^I @result{} 9 ?\C-I @result{} 9
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312 @end example
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313
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314 In strings and buffers, the only control characters allowed are those
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315 that exist in @sc{ASCII}; but for keyboard input purposes, you can turn
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316 any character into a control character with @samp{C-}. The character
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317 codes for these non-@sc{ASCII} control characters include the
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318 @tex
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319 $2^{26}$
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320 @end tex
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321 @ifinfo
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322 2**26
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323 @end ifinfo
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324 bit as well as the code for the corresponding non-control
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325 character. Ordinary terminals have no way of generating non-@sc{ASCII}
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326 control characters, but you can generate them straightforwardly using X
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327 and other window systems.
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328
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329 For historical reasons, Emacs treats the @key{DEL} character as
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330 the control equivalent of @kbd{?}:
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331
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332 @example
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333 ?\^? @result{} 127 ?\C-? @result{} 127
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334 @end example
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335
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336 @noindent
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337 As a result, it is currently not possible to represent the character
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338 @kbd{Control-?}, which is a meaningful input character under X, using
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339 @samp{\C-}. It is not easy to change this, as various Lisp files refer
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340 to @key{DEL} in this way.
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341
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342 For representing control characters to be found in files or strings,
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343 we recommend the @samp{^} syntax; for control characters in keyboard
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344 input, we prefer the @samp{C-} syntax. Which one you use does not
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345 affect the meaning of the program, but may guide the understanding of
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346 people who read it.
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347
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348 @cindex meta characters
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349 A @dfn{meta character} is a character typed with the @key{META}
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350 modifier key. The integer that represents such a character has the
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351 @tex
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352 $2^{27}$
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353 @end tex
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354 @ifinfo
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355 2**27
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356 @end ifinfo
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357 bit set (which on most machines makes it a negative number). We
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358 use high bits for this and other modifiers to make possible a wide range
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359 of basic character codes.
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360
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361 In a string, the
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362 @tex
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363 $2^{7}$
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364 @end tex
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365 @ifinfo
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366 2**7
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367 @end ifinfo
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368 bit attached to an ASCII character indicates a meta character; thus, the
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369 meta characters that can fit in a string have codes in the range from
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370 128 to 255, and are the meta versions of the ordinary @sc{ASCII}
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371 characters. (In Emacs versions 18 and older, this convention was used
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372 for characters outside of strings as well.)
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373
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374 The read syntax for meta characters uses @samp{\M-}. For example,
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375 @samp{?\M-A} stands for @kbd{M-A}. You can use @samp{\M-} together with
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376 octal character codes (see below), with @samp{\C-}, or with any other
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377 syntax for a character. Thus, you can write @kbd{M-A} as @samp{?\M-A},
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378 or as @samp{?\M-\101}. Likewise, you can write @kbd{C-M-b} as
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379 @samp{?\M-\C-b}, @samp{?\C-\M-b}, or @samp{?\M-\002}.
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380
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381 The case of a graphic character is indicated by its character code;
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382 for example, @sc{ASCII} distinguishes between the characters @samp{a}
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383 and @samp{A}. But @sc{ASCII} has no way to represent whether a control
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384 character is upper case or lower case. Emacs uses the
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385 @tex
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386 $2^{25}$
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387 @end tex
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388 @ifinfo
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389 2**25
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390 @end ifinfo
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391 bit to indicate that the shift key was used in typing a control
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392 character. This distinction is possible only when you use X terminals
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393 or other special terminals; ordinary terminals do not report the
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394 distinction to the computer in any way. The Lisp syntax for
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395 the shift bit is @samp{\S-}; thus, @samp{?\C-\S-o} or @samp{?\C-\S-O}
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396 represents the shifted-control-o character.
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397
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398 @cindex hyper characters
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399 @cindex super characters
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400 @cindex alt characters
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401 The X Window System defines three other modifier bits that can be set
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402 in a character: @dfn{hyper}, @dfn{super} and @dfn{alt}. The syntaxes
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403 for these bits are @samp{\H-}, @samp{\s-} and @samp{\A-}. (Case is
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404 significant in these prefixes.) Thus, @samp{?\H-\M-\A-x} represents
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405 @kbd{Alt-Hyper-Meta-x}.
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406 @tex
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407 Numerically, the
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408 bit values are $2^{22}$ for alt, $2^{23}$ for super and $2^{24}$ for hyper.
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409 @end tex
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410 @ifinfo
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411 Numerically, the
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412 bit values are 2**22 for alt, 2**23 for super and 2**24 for hyper.
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413 @end ifinfo
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414
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415 @cindex @samp{\} in character constant
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416 @cindex backslash in character constant
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417 @cindex octal character code
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418 Finally, the most general read syntax for a character represents the
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419 character code in either octal or hex. To use octal, write a question
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420 mark followed by a backslash and the octal character code (up to three
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421 octal digits); thus, @samp{?\101} for the character @kbd{A},
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422 @samp{?\001} for the character @kbd{C-a}, and @code{?\002} for the
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423 character @kbd{C-b}. Although this syntax can represent any @sc{ASCII}
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424 character, it is preferred only when the precise octal value is more
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425 important than the @sc{ASCII} representation.
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426
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427 @example
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428 @group
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429 ?\012 @result{} 10 ?\n @result{} 10 ?\C-j @result{} 10
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430 ?\101 @result{} 65 ?A @result{} 65
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431 @end group
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432 @end example
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433
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434 To use hex, write a question mark followed by a backslash, @samp{x},
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435 and the hexadecimal character code. You can use any number of hex
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436 digits, so you can represent any character code in this way.
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437 Thus, @samp{?\x41} for the character @kbd{A}, @samp{?\x1} for the
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438 character @kbd{C-a}, and @code{?\x8e0} for the character
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439 @iftex
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440 @samp{@`a}.
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441 @end iftex
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442 @ifinfo
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443 @samp{a} with grave accent.
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444 @end ifinfo
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445
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446 A backslash is allowed, and harmless, preceding any character without
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447 a special escape meaning; thus, @samp{?\+} is equivalent to @samp{?+}.
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448 There is no reason to add a backslash before most characters. However,
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449 you should add a backslash before any of the characters
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450 @samp{()\|;'`"#.,} to avoid confusing the Emacs commands for editing
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451 Lisp code. Also add a backslash before whitespace characters such as
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452 space, tab, newline and formfeed. However, it is cleaner to use one of
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453 the easily readable escape sequences, such as @samp{\t}, instead of an
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454 actual whitespace character such as a tab.
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455
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456 @node Symbol Type
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457 @subsection Symbol Type
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458
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459 A @dfn{symbol} in GNU Emacs Lisp is an object with a name. The symbol
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460 name serves as the printed representation of the symbol. In ordinary
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461 use, the name is unique---no two symbols have the same name.
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462
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463 A symbol can serve as a variable, as a function name, or to hold a
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464 property list. Or it may serve only to be distinct from all other Lisp
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465 objects, so that its presence in a data structure may be recognized
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466 reliably. In a given context, usually only one of these uses is
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467 intended. But you can use one symbol in all of these ways,
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468 independently.
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469
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470 @cindex @samp{\} in symbols
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471 @cindex backslash in symbols
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472 A symbol name can contain any characters whatever. Most symbol names
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473 are written with letters, digits, and the punctuation characters
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474 @samp{-+=*/}. Such names require no special punctuation; the characters
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475 of the name suffice as long as the name does not look like a number.
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476 (If it does, write a @samp{\} at the beginning of the name to force
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477 interpretation as a symbol.) The characters @samp{_~!@@$%^&:<>@{@}} are
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478 less often used but also require no special punctuation. Any other
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479 characters may be included in a symbol's name by escaping them with a
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480 backslash. In contrast to its use in strings, however, a backslash in
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481 the name of a symbol simply quotes the single character that follows the
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482 backslash. For example, in a string, @samp{\t} represents a tab
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483 character; in the name of a symbol, however, @samp{\t} merely quotes the
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484 letter @samp{t}. To have a symbol with a tab character in its name, you
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485 must actually use a tab (preceded with a backslash). But it's rare to
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486 do such a thing.
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487
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488 @cindex CL note---case of letters
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489 @quotation
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490 @b{Common Lisp note:} In Common Lisp, lower case letters are always
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491 ``folded'' to upper case, unless they are explicitly escaped. In Emacs
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492 Lisp, upper case and lower case letters are distinct.
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493 @end quotation
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494
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495 Here are several examples of symbol names. Note that the @samp{+} in
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496 the fifth example is escaped to prevent it from being read as a number.
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497 This is not necessary in the sixth example because the rest of the name
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498 makes it invalid as a number.
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499
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500 @example
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501 @group
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502 foo ; @r{A symbol named @samp{foo}.}
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503 FOO ; @r{A symbol named @samp{FOO}, different from @samp{foo}.}
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504 char-to-string ; @r{A symbol named @samp{char-to-string}.}
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505 @end group
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506 @group
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507 1+ ; @r{A symbol named @samp{1+}}
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508 ; @r{(not @samp{+1}, which is an integer).}
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509 @end group
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510 @group
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511 \+1 ; @r{A symbol named @samp{+1}}
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512 ; @r{(not a very readable name).}
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513 @end group
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514 @group
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515 \(*\ 1\ 2\) ; @r{A symbol named @samp{(* 1 2)} (a worse name).}
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516 @c the @'s in this next line use up three characters, hence the
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517 @c apparent misalignment of the comment.
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518 +-*/_~!@@$%^&=:<>@{@} ; @r{A symbol named @samp{+-*/_~!@@$%^&=:<>@{@}}.}
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519 ; @r{These characters need not be escaped.}
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520 @end group
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521 @end example
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522
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523 @node Sequence Type
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524 @subsection Sequence Types
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525
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526 A @dfn{sequence} is a Lisp object that represents an ordered set of
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527 elements. There are two kinds of sequence in Emacs Lisp, lists and
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528 arrays. Thus, an object of type list or of type array is also
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529 considered a sequence.
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530
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531 Arrays are further subdivided into strings, vectors, char-tables and
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532 bool-vectors. Vectors can hold elements of any type, but string
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533 elements must be characters, and bool-vector elements must be @code{t}
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534 or @code{nil}. The characters in a string can have text properties like
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535 characters in a buffer (@pxref{Text Properties}); vectors and
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536 bool-vectors do not support text properties even when their elements
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537 happen to be characters. Char-tables are like vectors except that they
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538 are indexed by any valid character code.
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539
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540 Lists, strings and the other array types are different, but they have
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541 important similarities. For example, all have a length @var{l}, and all
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542 have elements which can be indexed from zero to @var{l} minus one.
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543 Several functions, called sequence functions, accept any kind of
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544 sequence. For example, the function @code{elt} can be used to extract
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545 an element of a sequence, given its index. @xref{Sequences Arrays
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546 Vectors}.
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547
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548 It is generally impossible to read the same sequence twice, since
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549 sequences are always created anew upon reading. If you read the read
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550 syntax for a sequence twice, you get two sequences with equal contents.
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551 There is one exception: the empty list @code{()} always stands for the
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552 same object, @code{nil}.
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553
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554 @node Cons Cell Type
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555 @subsection Cons Cell and List Types
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556 @cindex address field of register
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557 @cindex decrement field of register
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558 @cindex pointers
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559
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560 A @dfn{cons cell} is an object that consists of two slots, called the
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561 @sc{car} slot and the @sc{cdr} slot. Each slot can @dfn{hold} or
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562 @dfn{refer to} any Lisp object. We also say that the ``the @sc{car} of
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563 this cons cell is'' whatever object its @sc{car} slot currently holds,
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564 and likewise for the @sc{cdr}.
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565
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566 @quotation
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567 A note to C programmers: in Lisp, we do not distinguish between
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568 ``holding'' a value and ``pointing to'' the value, because pointers in
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569 Lisp are implicit.
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570 @end quotation
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571
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572 A @dfn{list} is a series of cons cells, linked together so that the
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573 @sc{cdr} slot of each cons cell holds either the next cons cell or the
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574 empty list. @xref{Lists}, for functions that work on lists. Because
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575 most cons cells are used as part of lists, the phrase @dfn{list
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576 structure} has come to refer to any structure made out of cons cells.
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577
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578 The names @sc{car} and @sc{cdr} derive from the history of Lisp. The
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579 original Lisp implementation ran on an @w{IBM 704} computer which
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580 divided words into two parts, called the ``address'' part and the
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581 ``decrement''; @sc{car} was an instruction to extract the contents of
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582 the address part of a register, and @sc{cdr} an instruction to extract
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583 the contents of the decrement. By contrast, ``cons cells'' are named
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584 for the function @code{cons} that creates them, which in turn was named
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585 for its purpose, the construction of cells.
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586
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587 @cindex atom
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588 Because cons cells are so central to Lisp, we also have a word for
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589 ``an object which is not a cons cell''. These objects are called
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590 @dfn{atoms}.
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591
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592 @cindex parenthesis
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593 The read syntax and printed representation for lists are identical, and
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594 consist of a left parenthesis, an arbitrary number of elements, and a
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595 right parenthesis.
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596
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597 Upon reading, each object inside the parentheses becomes an element
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598 of the list. That is, a cons cell is made for each element. The
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599 @sc{car} slot of the cons cell holds the element, and its @sc{cdr}
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600 slot refers to the next cons cell of the list, which holds the next
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601 element in the list. The @sc{cdr} slot of the last cons cell is set to
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602 hold @code{nil}.
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603
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604 @cindex box diagrams, for lists
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605 @cindex diagrams, boxed, for lists
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606 A list can be illustrated by a diagram in which the cons cells are
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607 shown as pairs of boxes, like dominoes. (The Lisp reader cannot read
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608 such an illustration; unlike the textual notation, which can be
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609 understood by both humans and computers, the box illustrations can be
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610 understood only by humans.) This picture represents the three-element
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611 list @code{(rose violet buttercup)}:
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612
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613 @example
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614 @group
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615 --- --- --- --- --- ---
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616 | | |--> | | |--> | | |--> nil
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617 --- --- --- --- --- ---
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618 | | |
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619 | | |
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620 --> rose --> violet --> buttercup
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621 @end group
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622 @end example
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623
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624 In this diagram, each box represents a slot that can hold or refer to
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625 any Lisp object. Each pair of boxes represents a cons cell. Each arrow
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626 represents a reference to a Lisp object, either an atom or another cons
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627 cell.
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628
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629 In this example, the first box, which holds the @sc{car} of the first
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630 cons cell, refers to or ``holds'' @code{rose} (a symbol). The second
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631 box, holding the @sc{cdr} of the first cons cell, refers to the next
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632 pair of boxes, the second cons cell. The @sc{car} of the second cons
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633 cell is @code{violet}, and its @sc{cdr} is the third cons cell. The
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634 @sc{cdr} of the third (and last) cons cell is @code{nil}.
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635
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636 Here is another diagram of the same list, @code{(rose violet
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637 buttercup)}, sketched in a different manner:
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638
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639 @smallexample
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640 @group
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641 --------------- ---------------- -------------------
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642 | car | cdr | | car | cdr | | car | cdr |
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643 | rose | o-------->| violet | o-------->| buttercup | nil |
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644 | | | | | | | | |
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645 --------------- ---------------- -------------------
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646 @end group
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647 @end smallexample
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648
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649 @cindex @samp{(@dots{})} in lists
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650 @cindex @code{nil} in lists
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651 @cindex empty list
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652 A list with no elements in it is the @dfn{empty list}; it is identical
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653 to the symbol @code{nil}. In other words, @code{nil} is both a symbol
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654 and a list.
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655
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656 Here are examples of lists written in Lisp syntax:
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657
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658 @example
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659 (A 2 "A") ; @r{A list of three elements.}
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660 () ; @r{A list of no elements (the empty list).}
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661 nil ; @r{A list of no elements (the empty list).}
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662 ("A ()") ; @r{A list of one element: the string @code{"A ()"}.}
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663 (A ()) ; @r{A list of two elements: @code{A} and the empty list.}
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664 (A nil) ; @r{Equivalent to the previous.}
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665 ((A B C)) ; @r{A list of one element}
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666 ; @r{(which is a list of three elements).}
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667 @end example
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668
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669 Here is the list @code{(A ())}, or equivalently @code{(A nil)},
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670 depicted with boxes and arrows:
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671
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672 @example
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673 @group
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674 --- --- --- ---
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675 | | |--> | | |--> nil
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676 --- --- --- ---
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677 | |
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678 | |
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679 --> A --> nil
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680 @end group
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681 @end example
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682
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683 @menu
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684 * Dotted Pair Notation:: An alternative syntax for lists.
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685 * Association List Type:: A specially constructed list.
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686 @end menu
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687
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688 @node Dotted Pair Notation
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689 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
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690 @subsubsection Dotted Pair Notation
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691 @cindex dotted pair notation
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692 @cindex @samp{.} in lists
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693
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694 @dfn{Dotted pair notation} is an alternative syntax for cons cells
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695 that represents the @sc{car} and @sc{cdr} explicitly. In this syntax,
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696 @code{(@var{a} .@: @var{b})} stands for a cons cell whose @sc{car} is
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697 the object @var{a}, and whose @sc{cdr} is the object @var{b}. Dotted
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698 pair notation is therefore more general than list syntax. In the dotted
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699 pair notation, the list @samp{(1 2 3)} is written as @samp{(1 . (2 . (3
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700 . nil)))}. For @code{nil}-terminated lists, you can use either
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701 notation, but list notation is usually clearer and more convenient.
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702 When printing a list, the dotted pair notation is only used if the
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703 @sc{cdr} of a cons cell is not a list.
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704
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705 Here's an example using boxes to illustrate dotted pair notation.
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706 This example shows the pair @code{(rose . violet)}:
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707
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708 @example
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709 @group
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710 --- ---
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711 | | |--> violet
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712 --- ---
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713 |
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714 |
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715 --> rose
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716 @end group
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717 @end example
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718
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719 You can combine dotted pair notation with list notation to represent
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720 conveniently a chain of cons cells with a non-@code{nil} final @sc{cdr}.
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721 You write a dot after the last element of the list, followed by the
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722 @sc{cdr} of the final cons cell. For example, @code{(rose violet
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723 . buttercup)} is equivalent to @code{(rose . (violet . buttercup))}.
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diff changeset
724 The object looks like this:
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725
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726 @example
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727 @group
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728 --- --- --- ---
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729 | | |--> | | |--> buttercup
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730 --- --- --- ---
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731 | |
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732 | |
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733 --> rose --> violet
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734 @end group
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735 @end example
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736
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737 The syntax @code{(rose .@: violet .@: buttercup)} is invalid because
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738 there is nothing that it could mean. If anything, it would say to put
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739 @code{buttercup} in the @sc{cdr} of a cons cell whose @sc{cdr} is already
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740 used for @code{violet}.
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741
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742 The list @code{(rose violet)} is equivalent to @code{(rose . (violet))},
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743 and looks like this:
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744
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745 @example
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746 @group
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747 --- --- --- ---
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748 | | |--> | | |--> nil
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749 --- --- --- ---
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750 | |
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751 | |
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752 --> rose --> violet
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753 @end group
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754 @end example
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755
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756 Similarly, the three-element list @code{(rose violet buttercup)}
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757 is equivalent to @code{(rose . (violet . (buttercup)))}.
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758 @ifinfo
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759 It looks like this:
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760
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761 @example
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762 @group
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763 --- --- --- --- --- ---
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764 | | |--> | | |--> | | |--> nil
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765 --- --- --- --- --- ---
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766 | | |
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767 | | |
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768 --> rose --> violet --> buttercup
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769 @end group
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770 @end example
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771 @end ifinfo
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772
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773 @node Association List Type
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774 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
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775 @subsubsection Association List Type
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776
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777 An @dfn{association list} or @dfn{alist} is a specially-constructed
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778 list whose elements are cons cells. In each element, the @sc{car} is
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779 considered a @dfn{key}, and the @sc{cdr} is considered an
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780 @dfn{associated value}. (In some cases, the associated value is stored
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781 in the @sc{car} of the @sc{cdr}.) Association lists are often used as
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782 stacks, since it is easy to add or remove associations at the front of
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783 the list.
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784
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785 For example,
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786
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787 @example
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788 (setq alist-of-colors
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789 '((rose . red) (lily . white) (buttercup . yellow)))
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790 @end example
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791
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792 @noindent
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793 sets the variable @code{alist-of-colors} to an alist of three elements. In the
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794 first element, @code{rose} is the key and @code{red} is the value.
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795
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796 @xref{Association Lists}, for a further explanation of alists and for
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797 functions that work on alists.
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798
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799 @node Array Type
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800 @subsection Array Type
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801
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802 An @dfn{array} is composed of an arbitrary number of slots for
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803 holding or referring to other Lisp objects, arranged in a contiguous block of
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804 memory. Accessing any element of an array takes approximately the same
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805 amount of time. In contrast, accessing an element of a list requires
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806 time proportional to the position of the element in the list. (Elements
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807 at the end of a list take longer to access than elements at the
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808 beginning of a list.)
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809
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810 Emacs defines four types of array: strings, vectors, bool-vectors, and
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811 char-tables.
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812
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813 A string is an array of characters and a vector is an array of
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814 arbitrary objects. A bool-vector can hold only @code{t} or @code{nil}.
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815 These kinds of array may have any length up to the largest integer.
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816 Char-tables are sparse arrays indexed by any valid character code; they
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817 can hold arbitrary objects.
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818
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819 The first element of an array has index zero, the second element has
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820 index 1, and so on. This is called @dfn{zero-origin} indexing. For
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821 example, an array of four elements has indices 0, 1, 2, @w{and 3}. The
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822 largest possible index value is one less than the length of the array.
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823 Once an array is created, its length is fixed.
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824
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825 All Emacs Lisp arrays are one-dimensional. (Most other programming
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826 languages support multidimensional arrays, but they are not essential;
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827 you can get the same effect with an array of arrays.) Each type of
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828 array has its own read syntax; see the following sections for details.
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829
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830 The array type is contained in the sequence type and
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831 contains the string type, the vector type, the bool-vector type, and the
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832 char-table type.
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833
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834 @node String Type
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835 @subsection String Type
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836
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837 A @dfn{string} is an array of characters. Strings are used for many
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838 purposes in Emacs, as can be expected in a text editor; for example, as
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839 the names of Lisp symbols, as messages for the user, and to represent
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840 text extracted from buffers. Strings in Lisp are constants: evaluation
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841 of a string returns the same string.
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842
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843 @xref{Strings and Characters}, for functions that operate on strings.
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844
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845 @menu
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846 * Syntax for Strings::
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847 * Non-ASCII in Strings::
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848 * Nonprinting Characters::
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849 * Text Props and Strings::
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850 @end menu
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851
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852 @node Syntax for Strings
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853 @subsubsection Syntax for Strings
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854
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855 @cindex @samp{"} in strings
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856 @cindex double-quote in strings
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857 @cindex @samp{\} in strings
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858 @cindex backslash in strings
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859 The read syntax for strings is a double-quote, an arbitrary number of
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860 characters, and another double-quote, @code{"like this"}. To include a
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861 double-quote in a string, precede it with a backslash; thus, @code{"\""}
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862 is a string containing just a single double-quote character. Likewise,
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863 you can include a backslash by preceding it with another backslash, like
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864 this: @code{"this \\ is a single embedded backslash"}.
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865
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866 @cindex newline in strings
7118
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867 The newline character is not special in the read syntax for strings;
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868 if you write a new line between the double-quotes, it becomes a
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869 character in the string. But an escaped newline---one that is preceded
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870 by @samp{\}---does not become part of the string; i.e., the Lisp reader
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871 ignores an escaped newline while reading a string. An escaped space
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872 @w{@samp{\ }} is likewise ignored.
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873
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874 @example
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875 "It is useful to include newlines
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876 in documentation strings,
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diff changeset
877 but the newline is \
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diff changeset
878 ignored if escaped."
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879 @result{} "It is useful to include newlines
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880 in documentation strings,
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881 but the newline is ignored if escaped."
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882 @end example
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883
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884 @node Non-ASCII in Strings
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885 @subsubsection Non-ASCII Characters in Strings
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886
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887 You can include a non-@sc{ASCII} international character in a string
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888 constant by writing it literally. There are two text representations
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889 for non-@sc{ASCII} characters in Emacs strings (and in buffers): unibyte
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890 and multibyte. If the string constant is read from a multibyte source,
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891 such as a multibyte buffer or string, or a file that would be visited as
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892 multibyte, then the character is read as a multibyte character, and that
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diff changeset
893 makes the string multibyte. If the string constant is read from a
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894 unibyte source, then the character is read as unibyte and that makes the
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895 string unibyte.
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896
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897 You can also represent a multibyte non-@sc{ASCII} character with its
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898 character code, using a hex escape, @samp{\x@var{nnnnnnn}}, with as many
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899 digits as necessary. (Multibyte non-@sc{ASCII} character codes are all
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900 greater than 256.) Any character which is not a valid hex digit
24951
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901 terminates this construct. If the next character in the string could be
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902 interpreted as a hex digit, write @w{@samp{\ }} (backslash and space) to
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903 terminate the hex escape---for example, @w{@samp{\x8e0\ }} represents
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904 one character, @samp{a} with grave accent. @w{@samp{\ }} in a string
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905 constant is just like backslash-newline; it does not contribute any
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906 character to the string, but it does terminate the preceding hex escape.
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907
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908 Using a multibyte hex escape forces the string to multibyte. You can
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909 represent a unibyte non-@sc{ASCII} character with its character code,
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910 which must be in the range from 128 (0200 octal) to 255 (0377 octal).
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911 This forces a unibyte string.
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912
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913 @xref{Text Representations}, for more information about the two
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914 text representations.
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915
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916 @node Nonprinting Characters
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917 @subsubsection Nonprinting Characters in Strings
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918
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919 You can use the same backslash escape-sequences in a string constant
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920 as in character literals (but do not use the question mark that begins a
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921 character constant). For example, you can write a string containing the
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922 nonprinting characters tab and @kbd{C-a}, with commas and spaces between
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923 them, like this: @code{"\t, \C-a"}. @xref{Character Type}, for a
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924 description of the read syntax for characters.
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925
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926 However, not all of the characters you can write with backslash
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927 escape-sequences are valid in strings. The only control characters that
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928 a string can hold are the @sc{ASCII} control characters. Strings do not
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929 distinguish case in @sc{ASCII} control characters.
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930
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931 Properly speaking, strings cannot hold meta characters; but when a
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932 string is to be used as a key sequence, there is a special convention
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933 that provides a way to represent meta versions of @sc{ASCII} characters in a
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934 string. If you use the @samp{\M-} syntax to indicate a meta character
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935 in a string constant, this sets the
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936 @tex
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937 $2^{7}$
21682
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938 @end tex
21007
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939 @ifinfo
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940 2**7
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941 @end ifinfo
22138
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942 bit of the character in the string. If the string is used in
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diff changeset
943 @code{define-key} or @code{lookup-key}, this numeric code is translated
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diff changeset
944 into the equivalent meta character. @xref{Character Type}.
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diff changeset
945
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946 Strings cannot hold characters that have the hyper, super, or alt
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947 modifiers.
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948
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949 @node Text Props and Strings
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950 @subsubsection Text Properties in Strings
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951
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952 A string can hold properties for the characters it contains, in
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953 addition to the characters themselves. This enables programs that copy
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954 text between strings and buffers to copy the text's properties with no
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955 special effort. @xref{Text Properties}, for an explanation of what text
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956 properties mean. Strings with text properties use a special read and
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957 print syntax:
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958
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959 @example
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960 #("@var{characters}" @var{property-data}...)
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961 @end example
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962
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963 @noindent
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964 where @var{property-data} consists of zero or more elements, in groups
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965 of three as follows:
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966
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967 @example
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968 @var{beg} @var{end} @var{plist}
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969 @end example
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970
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971 @noindent
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972 The elements @var{beg} and @var{end} are integers, and together specify
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973 a range of indices in the string; @var{plist} is the property list for
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974 that range. For example,
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975
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976 @example
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977 #("foo bar" 0 3 (face bold) 3 4 nil 4 7 (face italic))
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978 @end example
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979
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980 @noindent
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981 represents a string whose textual contents are @samp{foo bar}, in which
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982 the first three characters have a @code{face} property with value
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983 @code{bold}, and the last three have a @code{face} property with value
22267
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984 @code{italic}. (The fourth character has no text properties, so its
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985 property list is @code{nil}. It is not actually necessary to mention
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diff changeset
986 ranges with @code{nil} as the property list, since any characters not
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987 mentioned in any range will default to having no properties.)
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988
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989 @node Vector Type
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990 @subsection Vector Type
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991
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992 A @dfn{vector} is a one-dimensional array of elements of any type. It
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993 takes a constant amount of time to access any element of a vector. (In
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994 a list, the access time of an element is proportional to the distance of
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diff changeset
995 the element from the beginning of the list.)
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996
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997 The printed representation of a vector consists of a left square
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998 bracket, the elements, and a right square bracket. This is also the
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999 read syntax. Like numbers and strings, vectors are considered constants
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1000 for evaluation.
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1001
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1002 @example
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1003 [1 "two" (three)] ; @r{A vector of three elements.}
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1004 @result{} [1 "two" (three)]
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1005 @end example
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1006
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1007 @xref{Vectors}, for functions that work with vectors.
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1008
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1009 @node Char-Table Type
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1010 @subsection Char-Table Type
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1011
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1012 A @dfn{char-table} is a one-dimensional array of elements of any type,
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1013 indexed by character codes. Char-tables have certain extra features to
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1014 make them more useful for many jobs that involve assigning information
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1015 to character codes---for example, a char-table can have a parent to
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1016 inherit from, a default value, and a small number of extra slots to use for
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1017 special purposes. A char-table can also specify a single value for
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1018 a whole character set.
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1019
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1020 The printed representation of a char-table is like a vector
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1021 except that there is an extra @samp{#^} at the beginning.
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1022
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1023 @xref{Char-Tables}, for special functions to operate on char-tables.
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1024 Uses of char-tables include:
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1025
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1026 @itemize @bullet
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1027 @item
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1028 Case tables (@pxref{Case Tables}).
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1029
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1030 @item
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1031 Character category tables (@pxref{Categories}).
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1032
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1033 @item
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1034 Display Tables (@pxref{Display Tables}).
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1035
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1036 @item
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1037 Syntax tables (@pxref{Syntax Tables}).
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diff changeset
1038 @end itemize
21007
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1039
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1040 @node Bool-Vector Type
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1041 @subsection Bool-Vector Type
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1042
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1043 A @dfn{bool-vector} is a one-dimensional array of elements that
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diff changeset
1044 must be @code{t} or @code{nil}.
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1045
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1046 The printed representation of a Bool-vector is like a string, except
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diff changeset
1047 that it begins with @samp{#&} followed by the length. The string
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diff changeset
1048 constant that follows actually specifies the contents of the bool-vector
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1049 as a bitmap---each ``character'' in the string contains 8 bits, which
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diff changeset
1050 specify the next 8 elements of the bool-vector (1 stands for @code{t},
22267
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diff changeset
1051 and 0 for @code{nil}). The least significant bits of the character
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diff changeset
1052 correspond to the lowest indices in the bool-vector. If the length is not a
22138
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diff changeset
1053 multiple of 8, the printed representation shows extra elements, but
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diff changeset
1054 these extras really make no difference.
21007
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1055
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diff changeset
1056 @example
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1057 (make-bool-vector 3 t)
22138
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1058 @result{} #&3"\007"
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1059 (make-bool-vector 3 nil)
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1060 @result{} #&3"\0"
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1061 ;; @r{These are equal since only the first 3 bits are used.}
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1062 (equal #&3"\377" #&3"\007")
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1063 @result{} t
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1064 @end example
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1065
7118
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1066 @node Function Type
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diff changeset
1067 @subsection Function Type
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1068
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diff changeset
1069 Just as functions in other programming languages are executable,
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diff changeset
1070 @dfn{Lisp function} objects are pieces of executable code. However,
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diff changeset
1071 functions in Lisp are primarily Lisp objects, and only secondarily the
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diff changeset
1072 text which represents them. These Lisp objects are lambda expressions:
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diff changeset
1073 lists whose first element is the symbol @code{lambda} (@pxref{Lambda
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diff changeset
1074 Expressions}).
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diff changeset
1075
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diff changeset
1076 In most programming languages, it is impossible to have a function
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parents:
diff changeset
1077 without a name. In Lisp, a function has no intrinsic name. A lambda
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parents:
diff changeset
1078 expression is also called an @dfn{anonymous function} (@pxref{Anonymous
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diff changeset
1079 Functions}). A named function in Lisp is actually a symbol with a valid
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diff changeset
1080 function in its function cell (@pxref{Defining Functions}).
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diff changeset
1081
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diff changeset
1082 Most of the time, functions are called when their names are written in
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diff changeset
1083 Lisp expressions in Lisp programs. However, you can construct or obtain
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parents:
diff changeset
1084 a function object at run time and then call it with the primitive
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diff changeset
1085 functions @code{funcall} and @code{apply}. @xref{Calling Functions}.
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diff changeset
1086
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1087 @node Macro Type
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1088 @subsection Macro Type
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1089
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diff changeset
1090 A @dfn{Lisp macro} is a user-defined construct that extends the Lisp
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1091 language. It is represented as an object much like a function, but with
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1092 different argument-passing semantics. A Lisp macro has the form of a
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diff changeset
1093 list whose first element is the symbol @code{macro} and whose @sc{cdr}
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parents:
diff changeset
1094 is a Lisp function object, including the @code{lambda} symbol.
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parents:
diff changeset
1095
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diff changeset
1096 Lisp macro objects are usually defined with the built-in
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parents:
diff changeset
1097 @code{defmacro} function, but any list that begins with @code{macro} is
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parents:
diff changeset
1098 a macro as far as Emacs is concerned. @xref{Macros}, for an explanation
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parents:
diff changeset
1099 of how to write a macro.
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parents:
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1100
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1101 @strong{Warning}: Lisp macros and keyboard macros (@pxref{Keyboard
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parents: 16736
diff changeset
1102 Macros}) are entirely different things. When we use the word ``macro''
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parents: 16736
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1103 without qualification, we mean a Lisp macro, not a keyboard macro.
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parents: 16736
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1104
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1105 @node Primitive Function Type
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parents:
diff changeset
1106 @subsection Primitive Function Type
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parents:
diff changeset
1107 @cindex special forms
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parents:
diff changeset
1108
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diff changeset
1109 A @dfn{primitive function} is a function callable from Lisp but
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diff changeset
1110 written in the C programming language. Primitive functions are also
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1111 called @dfn{subrs} or @dfn{built-in functions}. (The word ``subr'' is
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diff changeset
1112 derived from ``subroutine''.) Most primitive functions evaluate all
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parents:
diff changeset
1113 their arguments when they are called. A primitive function that does
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parents:
diff changeset
1114 not evaluate all its arguments is called a @dfn{special form}
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parents:
diff changeset
1115 (@pxref{Special Forms}).@refill
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parents:
diff changeset
1116
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1117 It does not matter to the caller of a function whether the function is
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diff changeset
1118 primitive. However, this does matter if you try to redefine a primitive
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1119 with a function written in Lisp. The reason is that the primitive
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diff changeset
1120 function may be called directly from C code. Calls to the redefined
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1121 function from Lisp will use the new definition, but calls from C code
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1122 may still use the built-in definition. Therefore, @strong{we discourage
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diff changeset
1123 redefinition of primitive functions}.
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1124
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1125 The term @dfn{function} refers to all Emacs functions, whether written
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1126 in Lisp or C. @xref{Function Type}, for information about the
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1127 functions written in Lisp.
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1128
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1129 Primitive functions have no read syntax and print in hash notation
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1130 with the name of the subroutine.
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1131
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1132 @example
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1133 @group
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1134 (symbol-function 'car) ; @r{Access the function cell}
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parents:
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1135 ; @r{of the symbol.}
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diff changeset
1136 @result{} #<subr car>
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diff changeset
1137 (subrp (symbol-function 'car)) ; @r{Is this a primitive function?}
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parents:
diff changeset
1138 @result{} t ; @r{Yes.}
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diff changeset
1139 @end group
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parents:
diff changeset
1140 @end example
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diff changeset
1141
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1142 @node Byte-Code Type
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parents:
diff changeset
1143 @subsection Byte-Code Function Type
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parents:
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1144
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1145 The byte compiler produces @dfn{byte-code function objects}.
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diff changeset
1146 Internally, a byte-code function object is much like a vector; however,
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parents:
diff changeset
1147 the evaluator handles this data type specially when it appears as a
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parents:
diff changeset
1148 function to be called. @xref{Byte Compilation}, for information about
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1149 the byte compiler.
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1150
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1151 The printed representation and read syntax for a byte-code function
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1152 object is like that for a vector, with an additional @samp{#} before the
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parents: 12067
diff changeset
1153 opening @samp{[}.
6447
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diff changeset
1154
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1155 @node Autoload Type
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parents:
diff changeset
1156 @subsection Autoload Type
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parents:
diff changeset
1157
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diff changeset
1158 An @dfn{autoload object} is a list whose first element is the symbol
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parents:
diff changeset
1159 @code{autoload}. It is stored as the function definition of a symbol as
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1160 a placeholder for the real definition; it says that the real definition
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parents:
diff changeset
1161 is found in a file of Lisp code that should be loaded when necessary.
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diff changeset
1162 The autoload object contains the name of the file, plus some other
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parents:
diff changeset
1163 information about the real definition.
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parents:
diff changeset
1164
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diff changeset
1165 After the file has been loaded, the symbol should have a new function
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parents:
diff changeset
1166 definition that is not an autoload object. The new definition is then
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1167 called as if it had been there to begin with. From the user's point of
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parents:
diff changeset
1168 view, the function call works as expected, using the function definition
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parents:
diff changeset
1169 in the loaded file.
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parents:
diff changeset
1170
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diff changeset
1171 An autoload object is usually created with the function
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parents:
diff changeset
1172 @code{autoload}, which stores the object in the function cell of a
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parents:
diff changeset
1173 symbol. @xref{Autoload}, for more details.
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parents:
diff changeset
1174
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diff changeset
1175 @node Editing Types
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parents:
diff changeset
1176 @section Editing Types
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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diff changeset
1177 @cindex editing types
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diff changeset
1178
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diff changeset
1179 The types in the previous section are used for general programming
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diff changeset
1180 purposes, and most of them are common to most Lisp dialects. Emacs Lisp
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diff changeset
1181 provides several additional data types for purposes connected with
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diff changeset
1182 editing.
6447
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1183
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diff changeset
1184 @menu
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diff changeset
1185 * Buffer Type:: The basic object of editing.
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parents:
diff changeset
1186 * Marker Type:: A position in a buffer.
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parents:
diff changeset
1187 * Window Type:: Buffers are displayed in windows.
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diff changeset
1188 * Frame Type:: Windows subdivide frames.
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diff changeset
1189 * Window Configuration Type:: Recording the way a frame is subdivided.
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1190 * Frame Configuration Type:: Recording the status of all frames.
6447
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1191 * Process Type:: A process running on the underlying OS.
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diff changeset
1192 * Stream Type:: Receive or send characters.
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parents:
diff changeset
1193 * Keymap Type:: What function a keystroke invokes.
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parents:
diff changeset
1194 * Overlay Type:: How an overlay is represented.
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diff changeset
1195 @end menu
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parents:
diff changeset
1196
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diff changeset
1197 @node Buffer Type
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parents:
diff changeset
1198 @subsection Buffer Type
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parents:
diff changeset
1199
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diff changeset
1200 A @dfn{buffer} is an object that holds text that can be edited
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1201 (@pxref{Buffers}). Most buffers hold the contents of a disk file
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1202 (@pxref{Files}) so they can be edited, but some are used for other
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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diff changeset
1203 purposes. Most buffers are also meant to be seen by the user, and
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1204 therefore displayed, at some time, in a window (@pxref{Windows}). But a
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1205 buffer need not be displayed in any window.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1206
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diff changeset
1207 The contents of a buffer are much like a string, but buffers are not
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1208 used like strings in Emacs Lisp, and the available operations are
21682
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diff changeset
1209 different. For example, you can insert text efficiently into an
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
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diff changeset
1210 existing buffer, whereas ``inserting'' text into a string requires
6447
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diff changeset
1211 concatenating substrings, and the result is an entirely new string
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diff changeset
1212 object.
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parents:
diff changeset
1213
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diff changeset
1214 Each buffer has a designated position called @dfn{point}
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parents:
diff changeset
1215 (@pxref{Positions}). At any time, one buffer is the @dfn{current
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1216 buffer}. Most editing commands act on the contents of the current
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diff changeset
1217 buffer in the neighborhood of point. Many of the standard Emacs
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diff changeset
1218 functions manipulate or test the characters in the current buffer; a
08d61ef58d13 *** empty log message ***
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diff changeset
1219 whole chapter in this manual is devoted to describing these functions
08d61ef58d13 *** empty log message ***
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diff changeset
1220 (@pxref{Text}).
6447
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diff changeset
1221
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diff changeset
1222 Several other data structures are associated with each buffer:
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parents:
diff changeset
1223
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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diff changeset
1224 @itemize @bullet
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1225 @item
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1226 a local syntax table (@pxref{Syntax Tables});
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parents:
diff changeset
1227
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diff changeset
1228 @item
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parents:
diff changeset
1229 a local keymap (@pxref{Keymaps}); and,
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1230
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diff changeset
1231 @item
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diff changeset
1232 a list of buffer-local variable bindings (@pxref{Buffer-Local Variables}).
12098
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diff changeset
1233
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diff changeset
1234 @item
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diff changeset
1235 overlays (@pxref{Overlays}).
12098
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1236
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diff changeset
1237 @item
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diff changeset
1238 text properties for the text in the buffer (@pxref{Text Properties}).
6447
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diff changeset
1239 @end itemize
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parents:
diff changeset
1240
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diff changeset
1241 @noindent
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diff changeset
1242 The local keymap and variable list contain entries that individually
6447
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diff changeset
1243 override global bindings or values. These are used to customize the
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parents:
diff changeset
1244 behavior of programs in different buffers, without actually changing the
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diff changeset
1245 programs.
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diff changeset
1246
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diff changeset
1247 A buffer may be @dfn{indirect}, which means it shares the text
21682
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diff changeset
1248 of another buffer, but presents it differently. @xref{Indirect Buffers}.
12098
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diff changeset
1249
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diff changeset
1250 Buffers have no read syntax. They print in hash notation, showing the
6447
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diff changeset
1251 buffer name.
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parents:
diff changeset
1252
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parents:
diff changeset
1253 @example
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1254 @group
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1255 (current-buffer)
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1256 @result{} #<buffer objects.texi>
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1257 @end group
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1258 @end example
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parents:
diff changeset
1259
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1260 @node Marker Type
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parents:
diff changeset
1261 @subsection Marker Type
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1262
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parents:
diff changeset
1263 A @dfn{marker} denotes a position in a specific buffer. Markers
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1264 therefore have two components: one for the buffer, and one for the
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parents:
diff changeset
1265 position. Changes in the buffer's text automatically relocate the
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1266 position value as necessary to ensure that the marker always points
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1267 between the same two characters in the buffer.
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1268
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parents:
diff changeset
1269 Markers have no read syntax. They print in hash notation, giving the
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1270 current character position and the name of the buffer.
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parents:
diff changeset
1271
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parents:
diff changeset
1272 @example
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1273 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1274 (point-marker)
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1275 @result{} #<marker at 10779 in objects.texi>
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1276 @end group
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1277 @end example
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1278
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1279 @xref{Markers}, for information on how to test, create, copy, and move
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1280 markers.
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1281
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1282 @node Window Type
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1283 @subsection Window Type
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1284
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1285 A @dfn{window} describes the portion of the terminal screen that Emacs
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1286 uses to display a buffer. Every window has one associated buffer, whose
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1287 contents appear in the window. By contrast, a given buffer may appear
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1288 in one window, no window, or several windows.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1289
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1290 Though many windows may exist simultaneously, at any time one window
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1291 is designated the @dfn{selected window}. This is the window where the
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1292 cursor is (usually) displayed when Emacs is ready for a command. The
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1293 selected window usually displays the current buffer, but this is not
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1294 necessarily the case.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1295
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parents:
diff changeset
1296 Windows are grouped on the screen into frames; each window belongs to
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1297 one and only one frame. @xref{Frame Type}.
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1298
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1299 Windows have no read syntax. They print in hash notation, giving the
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1300 window number and the name of the buffer being displayed. The window
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1301 numbers exist to identify windows uniquely, since the buffer displayed
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1302 in any given window can change frequently.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1303
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1304 @example
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1305 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1306 (selected-window)
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1307 @result{} #<window 1 on objects.texi>
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1308 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1309 @end example
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1310
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1311 @xref{Windows}, for a description of the functions that work on windows.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1312
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1313 @node Frame Type
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1314 @subsection Frame Type
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1315
22138
d4ac295a98b3 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21682
diff changeset
1316 A @dfn{frame} is a rectangle on the screen that contains one or more
6447
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1317 Emacs windows. A frame initially contains a single main window (plus
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1318 perhaps a minibuffer window) which you can subdivide vertically or
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1319 horizontally into smaller windows.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1320
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1321 Frames have no read syntax. They print in hash notation, giving the
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1322 frame's title, plus its address in core (useful to identify the frame
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1323 uniquely).
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1324
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1325 @example
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1326 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1327 (selected-frame)
22138
d4ac295a98b3 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21682
diff changeset
1328 @result{} #<frame emacs@@psilocin.gnu.org 0xdac80>
6447
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1329 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1330 @end example
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1331
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1332 @xref{Frames}, for a description of the functions that work on frames.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1333
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1334 @node Window Configuration Type
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1335 @subsection Window Configuration Type
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1336 @cindex screen layout
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1337
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1338 A @dfn{window configuration} stores information about the positions,
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1339 sizes, and contents of the windows in a frame, so you can recreate the
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1340 same arrangement of windows later.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1341
16736
981e116b4ac6 Minor cleanups for overfull hboxes.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 12282
diff changeset
1342 Window configurations do not have a read syntax; their print syntax
981e116b4ac6 Minor cleanups for overfull hboxes.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 12282
diff changeset
1343 looks like @samp{#<window-configuration>}. @xref{Window
981e116b4ac6 Minor cleanups for overfull hboxes.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 12282
diff changeset
1344 Configurations}, for a description of several functions related to
981e116b4ac6 Minor cleanups for overfull hboxes.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 12282
diff changeset
1345 window configurations.
6447
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1346
21682
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1347 @node Frame Configuration Type
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1348 @subsection Frame Configuration Type
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1349 @cindex screen layout
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1350
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1351 A @dfn{frame configuration} stores information about the positions,
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1352 sizes, and contents of the windows in all frames. It is actually
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1353 a list whose @sc{car} is @code{frame-configuration} and whose
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1354 @sc{cdr} is an alist. Each alist element describes one frame,
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1355 which appears as the @sc{car} of that element.
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1356
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1357 @xref{Frame Configurations}, for a description of several functions
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1358 related to frame configurations.
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1359
6447
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1360 @node Process Type
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1361 @subsection Process Type
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1362
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1363 The word @dfn{process} usually means a running program. Emacs itself
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1364 runs in a process of this sort. However, in Emacs Lisp, a process is a
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1365 Lisp object that designates a subprocess created by the Emacs process.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1366 Programs such as shells, GDB, ftp, and compilers, running in
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1367 subprocesses of Emacs, extend the capabilities of Emacs.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1368
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1369 An Emacs subprocess takes textual input from Emacs and returns textual
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1370 output to Emacs for further manipulation. Emacs can also send signals
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1371 to the subprocess.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1372
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1373 Process objects have no read syntax. They print in hash notation,
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1374 giving the name of the process:
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1375
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1376 @example
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1377 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1378 (process-list)
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1379 @result{} (#<process shell>)
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1380 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1381 @end example
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1382
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1383 @xref{Processes}, for information about functions that create, delete,
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1384 return information about, send input or signals to, and receive output
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1385 from processes.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1386
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1387 @node Stream Type
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1388 @subsection Stream Type
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1389
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1390 A @dfn{stream} is an object that can be used as a source or sink for
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1391 characters---either to supply characters for input or to accept them as
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1392 output. Many different types can be used this way: markers, buffers,
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1393 strings, and functions. Most often, input streams (character sources)
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1394 obtain characters from the keyboard, a buffer, or a file, and output
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1395 streams (character sinks) send characters to a buffer, such as a
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1396 @file{*Help*} buffer, or to the echo area.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1397
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1398 The object @code{nil}, in addition to its other meanings, may be used
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1399 as a stream. It stands for the value of the variable
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1400 @code{standard-input} or @code{standard-output}. Also, the object
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1401 @code{t} as a stream specifies input using the minibuffer
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1402 (@pxref{Minibuffers}) or output in the echo area (@pxref{The Echo
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1403 Area}).
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1404
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1405 Streams have no special printed representation or read syntax, and
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1406 print as whatever primitive type they are.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1407
7337
cd57cd335fff *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 7118
diff changeset
1408 @xref{Read and Print}, for a description of functions
7118
08d61ef58d13 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 6447
diff changeset
1409 related to streams, including parsing and printing functions.
6447
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1410
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1411 @node Keymap Type
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1412 @subsection Keymap Type
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1413
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1414 A @dfn{keymap} maps keys typed by the user to commands. This mapping
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1415 controls how the user's command input is executed. A keymap is actually
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1416 a list whose @sc{car} is the symbol @code{keymap}.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1417
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1418 @xref{Keymaps}, for information about creating keymaps, handling prefix
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1419 keys, local as well as global keymaps, and changing key bindings.
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parents:
diff changeset
1420
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parents:
diff changeset
1421 @node Overlay Type
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parents:
diff changeset
1422 @subsection Overlay Type
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parents:
diff changeset
1423
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diff changeset
1424 An @dfn{overlay} specifies properties that apply to a part of a
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parents: 16736
diff changeset
1425 buffer. Each overlay applies to a specified range of the buffer, and
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parents: 16736
diff changeset
1426 contains a property list (a list whose elements are alternating property
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parents: 16736
diff changeset
1427 names and values). Overlay properties are used to present parts of the
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parents: 16736
diff changeset
1428 buffer temporarily in a different display style. Overlays have no read
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parents: 16736
diff changeset
1429 syntax, and print in hash notation, giving the buffer name and range of
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parents: 16736
diff changeset
1430 positions.
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diff changeset
1431
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parents: 12067
diff changeset
1432 @xref{Overlays}, for how to create and use overlays.
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diff changeset
1433
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diff changeset
1434 @node Type Predicates
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parents:
diff changeset
1435 @section Type Predicates
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parents:
diff changeset
1436 @cindex predicates
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parents:
diff changeset
1437 @cindex type checking
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parents:
diff changeset
1438 @kindex wrong-type-argument
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parents:
diff changeset
1439
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parents:
diff changeset
1440 The Emacs Lisp interpreter itself does not perform type checking on
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1441 the actual arguments passed to functions when they are called. It could
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parents:
diff changeset
1442 not do so, since function arguments in Lisp do not have declared data
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parents:
diff changeset
1443 types, as they do in other programming languages. It is therefore up to
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1444 the individual function to test whether each actual argument belongs to
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1445 a type that the function can use.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1446
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diff changeset
1447 All built-in functions do check the types of their actual arguments
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parents:
diff changeset
1448 when appropriate, and signal a @code{wrong-type-argument} error if an
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parents:
diff changeset
1449 argument is of the wrong type. For example, here is what happens if you
7118
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parents: 6447
diff changeset
1450 pass an argument to @code{+} that it cannot handle:
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diff changeset
1451
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parents:
diff changeset
1452 @example
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parents:
diff changeset
1453 @group
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parents:
diff changeset
1454 (+ 2 'a)
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parents: 16736
diff changeset
1455 @error{} Wrong type argument: number-or-marker-p, a
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diff changeset
1456 @end group
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parents:
diff changeset
1457 @end example
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parents:
diff changeset
1458
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parents:
diff changeset
1459 @cindex type predicates
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parents:
diff changeset
1460 @cindex testing types
12067
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1461 If you want your program to handle different types differently, you
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1462 must do explicit type checking. The most common way to check the type
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1463 of an object is to call a @dfn{type predicate} function. Emacs has a
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1464 type predicate for each type, as well as some predicates for
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1465 combinations of types.
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diff changeset
1466
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1467 A type predicate function takes one argument; it returns @code{t} if
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
Karl Heuer <kwzh@gnu.org>
parents: 10559
diff changeset
1468 the argument belongs to the appropriate type, and @code{nil} otherwise.
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1469 Following a general Lisp convention for predicate functions, most type
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1470 predicates' names end with @samp{p}.
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1471
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1472 Here is an example which uses the predicates @code{listp} to check for
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1473 a list and @code{symbolp} to check for a symbol.
6447
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diff changeset
1474
12067
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1475 @example
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1476 (defun add-on (x)
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1477 (cond ((symbolp x)
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1478 ;; If X is a symbol, put it on LIST.
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1479 (setq list (cons x list)))
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1480 ((listp x)
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1481 ;; If X is a list, add its elements to LIST.
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1482 (setq list (append x list)))
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1483 (t
21682
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parents: 21007
diff changeset
1484 ;; We handle only symbols and lists.
12067
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1485 (error "Invalid argument %s in add-on" x))))
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1486 @end example
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1487
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
Karl Heuer <kwzh@gnu.org>
parents: 10559
diff changeset
1488 Here is a table of predefined type predicates, in alphabetical order,
6447
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parents:
diff changeset
1489 with references to further information.
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parents:
diff changeset
1490
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1491 @table @code
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parents:
diff changeset
1492 @item atom
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parents:
diff changeset
1493 @xref{List-related Predicates, atom}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1494
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parents:
diff changeset
1495 @item arrayp
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parents:
diff changeset
1496 @xref{Array Functions, arrayp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1497
21682
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diff changeset
1498 @item bool-vector-p
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parents: 21007
diff changeset
1499 @xref{Bool-Vectors, bool-vector-p}.
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parents: 21007
diff changeset
1500
6447
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1501 @item bufferp
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parents:
diff changeset
1502 @xref{Buffer Basics, bufferp}.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1503
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1504 @item byte-code-function-p
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1505 @xref{Byte-Code Type, byte-code-function-p}.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1506
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parents:
diff changeset
1507 @item case-table-p
21682
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 21007
diff changeset
1508 @xref{Case Tables, case-table-p}.
6447
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diff changeset
1509
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parents:
diff changeset
1510 @item char-or-string-p
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parents:
diff changeset
1511 @xref{Predicates for Strings, char-or-string-p}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1512
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diff changeset
1513 @item char-table-p
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parents: 21007
diff changeset
1514 @xref{Char-Tables, char-table-p}.
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parents: 21007
diff changeset
1515
6447
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diff changeset
1516 @item commandp
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parents:
diff changeset
1517 @xref{Interactive Call, commandp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1518
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parents:
diff changeset
1519 @item consp
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parents:
diff changeset
1520 @xref{List-related Predicates, consp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1521
21682
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diff changeset
1522 @item display-table-p
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parents: 21007
diff changeset
1523 @xref{Display Tables, display-table-p}.
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parents: 21007
diff changeset
1524
6447
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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diff changeset
1525 @item floatp
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parents:
diff changeset
1526 @xref{Predicates on Numbers, floatp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1527
21682
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diff changeset
1528 @item frame-configuration-p
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parents: 21007
diff changeset
1529 @xref{Frame Configurations, frame-configuration-p}.
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parents: 21007
diff changeset
1530
6447
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diff changeset
1531 @item frame-live-p
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parents:
diff changeset
1532 @xref{Deleting Frames, frame-live-p}.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1533
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1534 @item framep
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1535 @xref{Frames, framep}.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1536
21007
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diff changeset
1537 @item functionp
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parents: 16736
diff changeset
1538 @xref{Functions, functionp}.
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diff changeset
1539
6447
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parents:
diff changeset
1540 @item integer-or-marker-p
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1541 @xref{Predicates on Markers, integer-or-marker-p}.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1542
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1543 @item integerp
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parents:
diff changeset
1544 @xref{Predicates on Numbers, integerp}.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1545
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1546 @item keymapp
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1547 @xref{Creating Keymaps, keymapp}.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1548
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1549 @item listp
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1550 @xref{List-related Predicates, listp}.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1551
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1552 @item markerp
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parents:
diff changeset
1553 @xref{Predicates on Markers, markerp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1554
7118
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diff changeset
1555 @item wholenump
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diff changeset
1556 @xref{Predicates on Numbers, wholenump}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1557
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1558 @item nlistp
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parents:
diff changeset
1559 @xref{List-related Predicates, nlistp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1560
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parents:
diff changeset
1561 @item numberp
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parents:
diff changeset
1562 @xref{Predicates on Numbers, numberp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1563
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parents:
diff changeset
1564 @item number-or-marker-p
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parents:
diff changeset
1565 @xref{Predicates on Markers, number-or-marker-p}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1566
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parents:
diff changeset
1567 @item overlayp
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parents:
diff changeset
1568 @xref{Overlays, overlayp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1569
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parents:
diff changeset
1570 @item processp
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parents:
diff changeset
1571 @xref{Processes, processp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1572
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parents:
diff changeset
1573 @item sequencep
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parents:
diff changeset
1574 @xref{Sequence Functions, sequencep}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1575
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parents:
diff changeset
1576 @item stringp
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parents:
diff changeset
1577 @xref{Predicates for Strings, stringp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1578
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parents:
diff changeset
1579 @item subrp
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1580 @xref{Function Cells, subrp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1581
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parents:
diff changeset
1582 @item symbolp
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parents:
diff changeset
1583 @xref{Symbols, symbolp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1584
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parents:
diff changeset
1585 @item syntax-table-p
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parents:
diff changeset
1586 @xref{Syntax Tables, syntax-table-p}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1587
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parents:
diff changeset
1588 @item user-variable-p
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parents:
diff changeset
1589 @xref{Defining Variables, user-variable-p}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1590
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parents:
diff changeset
1591 @item vectorp
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parents:
diff changeset
1592 @xref{Vectors, vectorp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1593
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parents:
diff changeset
1594 @item window-configuration-p
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parents:
diff changeset
1595 @xref{Window Configurations, window-configuration-p}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1596
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parents:
diff changeset
1597 @item window-live-p
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parents:
diff changeset
1598 @xref{Deleting Windows, window-live-p}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1599
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diff changeset
1600 @item windowp
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parents:
diff changeset
1601 @xref{Basic Windows, windowp}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1602 @end table
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parents:
diff changeset
1603
12067
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1604 The most general way to check the type of an object is to call the
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Karl Heuer <kwzh@gnu.org>
parents: 10559
diff changeset
1605 function @code{type-of}. Recall that each object belongs to one and
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1606 only one primitive type; @code{type-of} tells you which one (@pxref{Lisp
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1607 Data Types}). But @code{type-of} knows nothing about non-primitive
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1608 types. In most cases, it is more convenient to use type predicates than
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1609 @code{type-of}.
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1610
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1611 @defun type-of object
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1612 This function returns a symbol naming the primitive type of
16736
981e116b4ac6 Minor cleanups for overfull hboxes.
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parents: 12282
diff changeset
1613 @var{object}. The value is one of the symbols @code{symbol},
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parents: 12282
diff changeset
1614 @code{integer}, @code{float}, @code{string}, @code{cons}, @code{vector},
21682
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diff changeset
1615 @code{char-table}, @code{bool-vector}, @code{subr},
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parents: 21007
diff changeset
1616 @code{compiled-function}, @code{marker}, @code{overlay}, @code{window},
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parents: 21007
diff changeset
1617 @code{buffer}, @code{frame}, @code{process}, or
16736
981e116b4ac6 Minor cleanups for overfull hboxes.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 12282
diff changeset
1618 @code{window-configuration}.
12067
73dc8205d259 *** empty log message ***
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diff changeset
1619
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1620 @example
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1621 (type-of 1)
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1622 @result{} integer
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Karl Heuer <kwzh@gnu.org>
parents: 10559
diff changeset
1623 (type-of 'nil)
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Karl Heuer <kwzh@gnu.org>
parents: 10559
diff changeset
1624 @result{} symbol
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Karl Heuer <kwzh@gnu.org>
parents: 10559
diff changeset
1625 (type-of '()) ; @r{@code{()} is @code{nil}.}
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Karl Heuer <kwzh@gnu.org>
parents: 10559
diff changeset
1626 @result{} symbol
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Karl Heuer <kwzh@gnu.org>
parents: 10559
diff changeset
1627 (type-of '(x))
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1628 @result{} cons
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1629 @end example
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1630 @end defun
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parents: 10559
diff changeset
1631
6447
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parents:
diff changeset
1632 @node Equality Predicates
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parents:
diff changeset
1633 @section Equality Predicates
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1634 @cindex equality
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1635
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1636 Here we describe two functions that test for equality between any two
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parents:
diff changeset
1637 objects. Other functions test equality between objects of specific
7118
08d61ef58d13 *** empty log message ***
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parents: 6447
diff changeset
1638 types, e.g., strings. For these predicates, see the appropriate chapter
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 6447
diff changeset
1639 describing the data type.
6447
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1640
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1641 @defun eq object1 object2
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1642 This function returns @code{t} if @var{object1} and @var{object2} are
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1643 the same object, @code{nil} otherwise. The ``same object'' means that a
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1644 change in one will be reflected by the same change in the other.
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parents:
diff changeset
1645
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1646 @code{eq} returns @code{t} if @var{object1} and @var{object2} are
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1647 integers with the same value. Also, since symbol names are normally
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1648 unique, if the arguments are symbols with the same name, they are
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1649 @code{eq}. For other types (e.g., lists, vectors, strings), two
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1650 arguments with the same contents or elements are not necessarily
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1651 @code{eq} to each other: they are @code{eq} only if they are the same
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1652 object.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1653
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1654 @example
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1655 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1656 (eq 'foo 'foo)
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1657 @result{} t
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1658 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1659
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1660 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1661 (eq 456 456)
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1662 @result{} t
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1663 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1664
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
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parents:
diff changeset
1665 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1666 (eq "asdf" "asdf")
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1667 @result{} nil
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1668 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1669
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1670 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1671 (eq '(1 (2 (3))) '(1 (2 (3))))
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1672 @result{} nil
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1673 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1674
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1675 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1676 (setq foo '(1 (2 (3))))
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1677 @result{} (1 (2 (3)))
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1678 (eq foo foo)
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1679 @result{} t
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1680 (eq foo '(1 (2 (3))))
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1681 @result{} nil
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1682 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1683
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1684 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1685 (eq [(1 2) 3] [(1 2) 3])
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1686 @result{} nil
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1687 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1688
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1689 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1690 (eq (point-marker) (point-marker))
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1691 @result{} nil
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1692 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1693 @end example
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1694
22138
d4ac295a98b3 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21682
diff changeset
1695 The @code{make-symbol} function returns an uninterned symbol, distinct
d4ac295a98b3 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21682
diff changeset
1696 from the symbol that is used if you write the name in a Lisp expression.
d4ac295a98b3 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21682
diff changeset
1697 Distinct symbols with the same name are not @code{eq}. @xref{Creating
d4ac295a98b3 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21682
diff changeset
1698 Symbols}.
21682
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1699
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1700 @example
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1701 @group
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1702 (eq (make-symbol "foo") 'foo)
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1703 @result{} nil
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1704 @end group
90da2489c498 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 21007
diff changeset
1705 @end example
6447
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1706 @end defun
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1707
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1708 @defun equal object1 object2
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1709 This function returns @code{t} if @var{object1} and @var{object2} have
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1710 equal components, @code{nil} otherwise. Whereas @code{eq} tests if its
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1711 arguments are the same object, @code{equal} looks inside nonidentical
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1712 arguments to see if their elements are the same. So, if two objects are
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1713 @code{eq}, they are @code{equal}, but the converse is not always true.
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1714
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1715 @example
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1716 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1717 (equal 'foo 'foo)
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1718 @result{} t
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1719 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1720
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1721 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1722 (equal 456 456)
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1723 @result{} t
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1724 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1725
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1726 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1727 (equal "asdf" "asdf")
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1728 @result{} t
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1729 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1730 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1731 (eq "asdf" "asdf")
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1732 @result{} nil
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1733 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1734
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1735 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1736 (equal '(1 (2 (3))) '(1 (2 (3))))
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1737 @result{} t
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1738 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1739 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1740 (eq '(1 (2 (3))) '(1 (2 (3))))
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1741 @result{} nil
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1742 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1743
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1744 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1745 (equal [(1 2) 3] [(1 2) 3])
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1746 @result{} t
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1747 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1748 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1749 (eq [(1 2) 3] [(1 2) 3])
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1750 @result{} nil
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1751 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1752
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1753 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1754 (equal (point-marker) (point-marker))
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1755 @result{} t
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1756 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1757
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1758 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1759 (eq (point-marker) (point-marker))
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1760 @result{} nil
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1761 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1762 @end example
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1763
21007
66d807bdc5b4 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 16736
diff changeset
1764 Comparison of strings is case-sensitive, but does not take account of
66d807bdc5b4 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 16736
diff changeset
1765 text properties---it compares only the characters in the strings.
66d807bdc5b4 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 16736
diff changeset
1766 A unibyte string never equals a multibyte string unless the
66d807bdc5b4 *** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 16736
diff changeset
1767 contents are entirely @sc{ASCII} (@pxref{Text Representations}).
6447
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1768
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1769 @example
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1770 @group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1771 (equal "asdf" "ASDF")
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1772 @result{} nil
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1773 @end group
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1774 @end example
12098
a6eb5f12b0f3 *** empty log message ***
Karl Heuer <kwzh@gnu.org>
parents: 12067
diff changeset
1775
a6eb5f12b0f3 *** empty log message ***
Karl Heuer <kwzh@gnu.org>
parents: 12067
diff changeset
1776 Two distinct buffers are never @code{equal}, even if their contents
a6eb5f12b0f3 *** empty log message ***
Karl Heuer <kwzh@gnu.org>
parents: 12067
diff changeset
1777 are the same.
6447
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1778 @end defun
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1779
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1780 The test for equality is implemented recursively, and circular lists may
dcbbdafaf41e Initial revision
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1781 therefore cause infinite recursion (leading to an error).