comparison lispref/syntax.texi @ 25751:467b88fab665

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25750:f1968a807f56

A syntax table can inherit the data for some characters from the
standard syntax table, while specifying other characters itself.  The
``inherit'' syntax class means ``inherit this character's syntax from
the standard syntax table.''  Just changing the standard syntax for a
characters affects all syntax tables which inherit from it.

@defun syntax-table-p object
This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a syntax table.
@end defun

is no necessary relationship between the class of a character in one
syntax table and its class in any other table.

  Each class is designated by a mnemonic character, which serves as the
name of the class when you need to specify a class.  Usually the
designator character is one that is frequently in that class; however,
its meaning as a designator is unvarying and independent of what syntax
that character currently has.

@cindex syntax descriptor
  A syntax descriptor is a Lisp string that specifies a syntax class, a
matching character (used only for the parenthesis classes) and flags.
The first character is the designator for a syntax class.  The second

Then come the characters for any desired flags.  If no matching
character or flags are needed, one character is sufficient.

  For example, the syntax descriptor for the character @samp{*} in C
mode is @samp{@w{. 23}} (i.e., punctuation, matching character slot
unused, second character of a comment-starter, first character of an
comment-ender), and the entry for @samp{/} is @samp{@w{. 14}} (i.e.,
punctuation, matching character slot unused, first character of a
comment-starter, second character of a comment-ender).

@menu

@defun skip-syntax-forward syntaxes &optional limit
This function moves point forward across characters having syntax classes
mentioned in @var{syntaxes}.  It stops when it encounters the end of
the buffer, or position @var{limit} (if specified), or a character it is
not supposed to skip.
The return value is the distance traveled, which is a nonnegative
integer.
@end defun

@defun skip-syntax-backward syntaxes &optional limit
This function moves point backward across characters whose syntax
classes are mentioned in @var{syntaxes}.  It stops when it encounters
the beginning of the buffer, or position @var{limit} (if specified), or a
character it is not supposed to skip.

The return value indicates the distance traveled.  It is an integer that
is zero or less.
@end defun

are defined and also which characters belong to each category.  Each
category table defines its own categories, but normally these are
initialized by copying from the standard categories table, so that the
standard categories are available in all modes.

  Each category has a name, which is an @sc{ASCII} printing character in
the range @w{@samp{ }} to @samp{~}.  You specify the name of a category
when you define it with @code{define-category}.

  The category table is actually a char-table (@pxref{Char-Tables}).
The element of the category table at index @var{c} is a @dfn{category

25751:467b88fab665

A syntax table can inherit the data for some characters from the
standard syntax table, while specifying other characters itself.  The
``inherit'' syntax class means ``inherit this character's syntax from
the standard syntax table.''  Just changing the standard syntax for a
character affects all syntax tables that inherit from it.

@defun syntax-table-p object
This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a syntax table.
@end defun

is no necessary relationship between the class of a character in one
syntax table and its class in any other table.

  Each class is designated by a mnemonic character, which serves as the
name of the class when you need to specify a class.  Usually the
designator character is one that is often assigned that class; however,
its meaning as a designator is unvarying and independent of what syntax
that character currently has.  Thus, @samp{\} as a designator character
always gives ``escape character'' syntax, regardless of what syntax
@samp{\} currently has.

@cindex syntax descriptor
  A syntax descriptor is a Lisp string that specifies a syntax class, a
matching character (used only for the parenthesis classes) and flags.
The first character is the designator for a syntax class.  The second

Then come the characters for any desired flags.  If no matching
character or flags are needed, one character is sufficient.

  For example, the syntax descriptor for the character @samp{*} in C
mode is @samp{@w{. 23}} (i.e., punctuation, matching character slot
unused, second character of a comment-starter, first character of a
comment-ender), and the entry for @samp{/} is @samp{@w{. 14}} (i.e.,
punctuation, matching character slot unused, first character of a
comment-starter, second character of a comment-ender).

@menu

@defun skip-syntax-forward syntaxes &optional limit
This function moves point forward across characters having syntax classes
mentioned in @var{syntaxes}.  It stops when it encounters the end of
the buffer, or position @var{limit} (if specified), or a character it is
not supposed to skip.

If @var{syntaxes} starts with @samp{^}, then the function skips
characters whose syntax is @emph{not} in @var{syntaxes}.

The return value is the distance traveled, which is a nonnegative
integer.
@end defun

@defun skip-syntax-backward syntaxes &optional limit
This function moves point backward across characters whose syntax
classes are mentioned in @var{syntaxes}.  It stops when it encounters
the beginning of the buffer, or position @var{limit} (if specified), or
a character it is not supposed to skip.

If @var{syntaxes} starts with @samp{^}, then the function skips
characters whose syntax is @emph{not} in @var{syntaxes}.

The return value indicates the distance traveled.  It is an integer that
is zero or less.
@end defun

are defined and also which characters belong to each category.  Each
category table defines its own categories, but normally these are
initialized by copying from the standard categories table, so that the
standard categories are available in all modes.

  Each category has a name, which is an @sc{ascii} printing character in
the range @w{@samp{ }} to @samp{~}.  You specify the name of a category
when you define it with @code{define-category}.

  The category table is actually a char-table (@pxref{Char-Tables}).
The element of the category table at index @var{c} is a @dfn{category