# HG changeset patch # User Glenn Morris # Date 1189053413 0 # Node ID 0ef2acf60d43fd9cc4714c340c0c244aedef5689 # Parent e560eb704610bb727aa99e2ace6f89f8a3ca7ade Move to ../doc/emacs/, misc/ diff -r e560eb704610 -r 0ef2acf60d43 man/glossary.texi --- a/man/glossary.texi Thu Sep 06 04:36:47 2007 +0000 +++ /dev/null Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000 @@ -1,1323 +0,0 @@ -@c This is part of the Emacs manual. -@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002, -@c 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. -@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions. -@node Glossary, Key Index, Intro, Top -@unnumbered Glossary - -@table @asis -@item Abbrev -An abbrev is a text string which expands into a different text string -when present in the buffer. For example, you might define a few letters -as an abbrev for a long phrase that you want to insert frequently. -@xref{Abbrevs}. - -@item Aborting -Aborting means getting out of a recursive edit (q.v.@:). The -commands @kbd{C-]} and @kbd{M-x top-level} are used for this. -@xref{Quitting}. - -@item Alt -Alt is the name of a modifier bit which a keyboard input character may -have. To make a character Alt, type it while holding down the @key{ALT} -key. Such characters are given names that start with @kbd{Alt-} -(usually written @kbd{A-} for short). (Note that many terminals have a -key labeled @key{ALT} which is really a @key{META} key.) @xref{User -Input, Alt}. - -@item Argument -See `numeric argument.' - -@item @acronym{ASCII} character -An @acronym{ASCII} character is either an @acronym{ASCII} control character or an @acronym{ASCII} -printing character. @xref{User Input}. - -@item @acronym{ASCII} control character -An @acronym{ASCII} control character is the Control version of an upper-case -letter, or the Control version of one of the characters @samp{@@[\]^_?}. - -@item @acronym{ASCII} printing character -@acronym{ASCII} printing characters include letters, digits, space, and these -punctuation characters: @samp{!@@#$%^& *()_-+=|\~` @{@}[]:;"' <>,.?/}. - -@item Auto Fill Mode -Auto Fill mode is a minor mode in which text that you insert is -automatically broken into lines of a given maximum width. -@xref{Filling}. - -@item Auto Saving -Auto saving is the practice of saving the contents of an Emacs buffer in -a specially-named file, so that the information will not be lost if the -buffer is lost due to a system error or user error. @xref{Auto Save}. - -@item Autoloading -Emacs automatically loads Lisp libraries when a Lisp program requests a -function or a variable from those libraries. This is called -`autoloading'. @xref{Lisp Libraries}. - -@item Backtrace -A backtrace is a trace of a series of function calls showing how a -program arrived to a certain point. It is used mainly for finding and -correcting bugs (q.v.@:). Emacs can display a backtrace when it signals -an error or when you type @kbd{C-g} (see `quitting'). @xref{Checklist}. - -@item Backup File -A backup file records the contents that a file had before the current -editing session. Emacs makes backup files automatically to help you -track down or cancel changes you later regret making. @xref{Backup}. - -@item Balancing Parentheses -Emacs can balance parentheses (or other matching delimiters) either -manually or automatically. You do manual balancing with the commands -to move over parenthetical groupings (@pxref{Moving by Parens}). -Automatic balancing works by blinking or highlighting the delimiter -that matches the one you just inserted (@pxref{Matching,,Matching -Parens}). - -@item Balanced Expressions -A balanced expression is a syntactically recognizable expression, such -as a symbol, number, string constant, block, or parenthesized expression -in C. @xref{Expressions,Balanced Expressions}. - -@item Balloon Help -See `tooltips.' - -@item Base Buffer -A base buffer is a buffer whose text is shared by an indirect buffer -(q.v.@:). - -@item Bind -To bind a key sequence means to give it a binding (q.v.@:). -@xref{Rebinding}. - -@item Binding -A key sequence gets its meaning in Emacs by having a binding, which is a -command (q.v.@:), a Lisp function that is run when the user types that -sequence. @xref{Commands,Binding}. Customization often involves -rebinding a character to a different command function. The bindings of -all key sequences are recorded in the keymaps (q.v.@:). @xref{Keymaps}. - -@item Blank Lines -Blank lines are lines that contain only whitespace. Emacs has several -commands for operating on the blank lines in the buffer. - -@item Bookmark -Bookmarks are akin to registers (q.v.@:) in that they record positions -in buffers to which you can return later. Unlike registers, bookmarks -persist between Emacs sessions. - -@item Border -A border is a thin space along the edge of the frame, used just for -spacing, not for displaying anything. An Emacs frame has an ordinary -external border, outside of everything including the menu bar, plus an -internal border that surrounds the text windows and their scroll bars -and separates them from the menu bar and tool bar. You can customize -both borders with options and resources (@pxref{Borders X}). Borders -are not the same as fringes (q.v.@:). - -@item Buffer -The buffer is the basic editing unit; one buffer corresponds to one text -being edited. You can have several buffers, but at any time you are -editing only one, the `current buffer,' though several can be visible -when you are using multiple windows (q.v.@:). Most buffers are visiting -(q.v.@:) some file. @xref{Buffers}. - -@item Buffer Selection History -Emacs keeps a buffer selection history which records how recently each -Emacs buffer has been selected. This is used for choosing a buffer to -select. @xref{Buffers}. - -@item Bug -A bug is an incorrect or unreasonable behavior of a program, or -inaccurate or confusing documentation. Emacs developers treat bug -reports, both in Emacs code and its documentation, very seriously and -ask you to report any bugs you find. @xref{Bugs}. - -@item Button Down Event -A button down event is the kind of input event generated right away when -you press down on a mouse button. @xref{Mouse Buttons}. - -@item By Default -See `default.' - -@item Byte Compilation -See `compilation.' - -@item @kbd{C-} -@kbd{C-} in the name of a character is an abbreviation for Control. -@xref{User Input,C-}. - -@item @kbd{C-M-} -@kbd{C-M-} in the name of a character is an abbreviation for -Control-Meta. @xref{User Input,C-M-}. - -@item Case Conversion -Case conversion means changing text from upper case to lower case or -vice versa. @xref{Case}, for the commands for case conversion. - -@item Character -Characters form the contents of an Emacs buffer; see @ref{Text -Characters}. Also, key sequences (q.v.@:) are usually made up of -characters (though they may include other input events as well). -@xref{User Input}. - -@item Character Set -Emacs supports a number of character sets, each of which represents a -particular alphabet or script. @xref{International}. - -@item Character Terminal -See `text-only terminal.' - -@item Click Event -A click event is the kind of input event generated when you press a -mouse button and release it without moving the mouse. @xref{Mouse Buttons}. - -@item Clipboard -A clipboard is a buffer provided by the window system for transferring -text between applications. On the X Window system, the clipboard is -provided in addition to the primary selection (q.v.@:); on MS-Windows and Mac, -the clipboard is used @emph{instead} of the primary selection. -@xref{Clipboard}. - -@item Coding System -A coding system is an encoding for representing text characters in a -file or in a stream of information. Emacs has the ability to convert -text to or from a variety of coding systems when reading or writing it. -@xref{Coding Systems}. - -@item Command -A command is a Lisp function specially defined to be able to serve as a -key binding in Emacs. When you type a key sequence (q.v.@:), its -binding (q.v.@:) is looked up in the relevant keymaps (q.v.@:) to find -the command to run. @xref{Commands}. - -@item Command History -See `minibuffer history.' - -@item Command Name -A command name is the name of a Lisp symbol which is a command -(@pxref{Commands}). You can invoke any command by its name using -@kbd{M-x} (@pxref{M-x,M-x,Running Commands by Name}). - -@item Comment -A comment is text in a program which is intended only for humans reading -the program, and which is marked specially so that it will be ignored -when the program is loaded or compiled. Emacs offers special commands -for creating, aligning and killing comments. @xref{Comments}. - -@item Common Lisp -Common Lisp is a dialect of Lisp (q.v.@:) much larger and more powerful -than Emacs Lisp. Emacs provides a subset of Common Lisp in the CL -package. @xref{Top, Common Lisp, Overview, cl, Common Lisp Extensions}. - -@item Compilation -Compilation is the process of creating an executable program from source -code. Emacs has commands for compiling files of Emacs Lisp code -(@pxref{Byte Compilation,,, elisp, the Emacs Lisp -Reference Manual}) and programs in C and other languages -(@pxref{Compilation}). - -@item Complete Key -A complete key is a key sequence which fully specifies one action to be -performed by Emacs. For example, @kbd{X} and @kbd{C-f} and @kbd{C-x m} -are complete keys. Complete keys derive their meanings from being bound -(q.v.@:) to commands (q.v.@:). Thus, @kbd{X} is conventionally bound to -a command to insert @samp{X} in the buffer; @kbd{C-x m} is -conventionally bound to a command to begin composing a mail message. -@xref{Keys}. - -@item Completion -Completion is what Emacs does when it automatically fills out an -abbreviation for a name into the entire name. Completion is done for -minibuffer (q.v.@:) arguments when the set of possible valid inputs -is known; for example, on command names, buffer names, and -file names. Completion occurs when @key{TAB}, @key{SPC} or @key{RET} -is typed. @xref{Completion}.@refill - -@item Continuation Line -When a line of text is longer than the width of the window, it -takes up more than one screen line when displayed. We say that the -text line is continued, and all screen lines used for it after the -first are called continuation lines. @xref{Continuation Lines}. -A related Emacs feature is `filling' (q.v.@:). - -@item Control Character -A control character is a character that you type by holding down the -@key{CTRL} key. Some control characters also have their own keys, so -that you can type them without using @key{CTRL}. For example, -@key{RET}, @key{TAB}, @key{ESC} and @key{DEL} are all control -characters. @xref{User Input}. - -@item Copyleft -A copyleft is a notice giving the public legal permission to -redistribute and modify a program or other work of art, but requiring -modified versions to carry similar permission. Copyright is normally -used to keep users divided and helpless; with copyleft we turn that -around to empower users and encourage them to cooperate. - -The particular form of copyleft used by the GNU project is called the -GNU General Public License. @xref{Copying}. - -@item @key{CTRL} -The @key{CTRL} or ``control'' key is what you hold down -in order to enter a control character (q.v.). - -@item Current Buffer -The current buffer in Emacs is the Emacs buffer on which most editing -commands operate. You can select any Emacs buffer as the current one. -@xref{Buffers}. - -@item Current Line -The current line is the line that point is on (@pxref{Point}). - -@item Current Paragraph -The current paragraph is the paragraph that point is in. If point is -between two paragraphs, the current paragraph is the one that follows -point. @xref{Paragraphs}. - -@item Current Defun -The current defun is the defun (q.v.@:) that point is in. If point is -between defuns, the current defun is the one that follows point. -@xref{Defuns}. - -@item Cursor -The cursor is the rectangle on the screen which indicates the position -called point (q.v.@:) at which insertion and deletion takes place. -The cursor is on or under the character that follows point. Often -people speak of `the cursor' when, strictly speaking, they mean -`point.' @xref{Point,Cursor}. - -@item Customization -Customization is making minor changes in the way Emacs works. It is -often done by setting variables (@pxref{Variables}) or faces -(@pxref{Face Customization}), or by rebinding key sequences -(@pxref{Keymaps}). - -@cindex cut and paste -@item Cut and Paste -See `killing' and `yanking.' - -@item Default Argument -The default for an argument is the value that will be assumed if you -do not specify one. When the minibuffer is used to read an argument, -the default argument is used if you just type @key{RET}. -@xref{Minibuffer}. - -@item Default -A default is the value that is used for a certain purpose if and when -you do not specify a value to use. - -@item Default Directory -When you specify a file name that does not start with @samp{/} or @samp{~}, -it is interpreted relative to the current buffer's default directory. -(On MS-Windows and MS-DOS, file names which start with a drive letter -@samp{@var{x}:} are treated as absolute, not relative.) -@xref{Minibuffer File,Default Directory}. - -@item Defun -A defun is a major definition at the top level in a program. The name -`defun' comes from Lisp, where most such definitions use the construct -@code{defun}. @xref{Defuns}. - -@item @key{DEL} -@key{DEL} is a character that runs the command to delete one character -of text before the cursor. It is typically either the @key{DELETE} -key or the @key{BACKSPACE} key, whichever one is easy to type. -@xref{Erasing,DEL}. - -@item Deletion -Deletion means erasing text without copying it into the kill ring -(q.v.@:). The alternative is killing (q.v.@:). @xref{Killing,Deletion}. - -@item Deletion of Files -Deleting a file means erasing it from the file system. -@xref{Misc File Ops,Misc File Ops,Miscellaneous File Operations}. - -@item Deletion of Messages -Deleting a message means flagging it to be eliminated from your mail -file. Until you expunge (q.v.@:) the Rmail file, you can still undelete -the messages you have deleted. @xref{Rmail Deletion}. - -@item Deletion of Windows -Deleting a window means eliminating it from the screen. Other windows -expand to use up the space. The deleted window can never come back, -but no actual text is thereby lost. @xref{Windows}. - -@item Directory -File directories are named collections in the file system, within which -you can place individual files or subdirectories. @xref{Directories}. - -@item Dired -Dired is the Emacs facility that displays the contents of a file -directory and allows you to ``edit the directory,'' performing -operations on the files in the directory. @xref{Dired}. - -@item Disabled Command -A disabled command is one that you may not run without special -confirmation. The usual reason for disabling a command is that it is -confusing for beginning users. @xref{Disabling}. - -@item Down Event -Short for `button down event' (q.v.@:). - -@item Drag Event -A drag event is the kind of input event generated when you press a mouse -button, move the mouse, and then release the button. @xref{Mouse -Buttons}. - -@item Dribble File -A dribble file is a file into which Emacs writes all the characters that -you type on the keyboard. Dribble files are used to make a record -for debugging Emacs bugs. Emacs does not make a dribble file unless you -tell it to. @xref{Bugs}. - -@item Echo Area -The echo area is the bottom line of the screen, used for echoing the -arguments to commands, for asking questions, and showing brief messages -(including error messages). The messages are stored in the buffer -@samp{*Messages*} so you can review them later. @xref{Echo Area}. - -@item Echoing -Echoing is acknowledging the receipt of input events by displaying -them (in the echo area). Emacs never echoes single-character key -sequences; longer key sequences echo only if you pause while typing -them. - -@item Electric -We say that a character is electric if it is normally self-inserting -(q.v.@:), but the current major mode (q.v.@:) redefines it to do something -else as well. For example, some programming language major modes define -particular delimiter characters to reindent the line or insert one or -more newlines in addition to self-insertion. - -@item End Of Line -End of line is a character or a sequence of characters that indicate -the end of a text line. On GNU and Unix systems, this is a newline -(q.v.@:), but other systems have other conventions. @xref{Coding -Systems,end-of-line}. Emacs can recognize several end-of-line -conventions in files and convert between them. - -@item Environment Variable -An environment variable is one of a collection of variables stored by -the operating system, each one having a name and a value. Emacs can -access environment variables set by its parent shell, and it can set -variables in the environment it passes to programs it invokes. -@xref{Environment}. - -@item EOL -See `end of line.' - -@item Error -An error occurs when an Emacs command cannot execute in the current -circumstances. When an error occurs, execution of the command stops -(unless the command has been programmed to do otherwise) and Emacs -reports the error by displaying an error message (q.v.@:). Type-ahead -is discarded. Then Emacs is ready to read another editing command. - -@item Error Message -An error message is a single line of output displayed by Emacs when the -user asks for something impossible to do (such as, killing text -forward when point is at the end of the buffer). They appear in the -echo area, accompanied by a beep. - -@item @key{ESC} -@key{ESC} is a character used as a prefix for typing Meta characters on -keyboards lacking a @key{META} key. Unlike the @key{META} key (which, -like the @key{SHIFT} key, is held down while another character is -typed), you press the @key{ESC} key as you would press a letter key, and -it applies to the next character you type. - -@item Expression -See `balanced expression.' - -@item Expunging -Expunging an Rmail file or Dired buffer or a Gnus newsgroup buffer is an -operation that truly discards the messages or files you have previously -flagged for deletion. - -@item Face -A face is a style of displaying characters. It specifies attributes -such as font family and size, foreground and background colors, -underline and strike-through, background stipple, etc. Emacs provides -features to associate specific faces with portions of buffer text, in -order to display that text as specified by the face attributes. -@xref{Faces}. - -@item File Locking -Emacs uses file locking to notice when two different users -start to edit one file at the same time. @xref{Interlocking}. - -@item File Name -A file name is a name that refers to a file. File names may be relative -or absolute; the meaning of a relative file name depends on the current -directory, but an absolute file name refers to the same file regardless -of which directory is current. On GNU and Unix systems, an absolute -file name starts with a slash (the root directory) or with @samp{~/} or -@samp{~@var{user}/} (a home directory). On MS-Windows/MS-DOS, an -absolute file name can also start with a drive letter and a colon -@samp{@var{d}:}. - -Some people use the term ``pathname'' for file names, but we do not; -we use the word ``path'' only in the term ``search path'' (q.v.@:). - -@item File-Name Component -A file-name component names a file directly within a particular -directory. On GNU and Unix systems, a file name is a sequence of -file-name components, separated by slashes. For example, @file{foo/bar} -is a file name containing two components, @samp{foo} and @samp{bar}; it -refers to the file named @samp{bar} in the directory named @samp{foo} in -the current directory. MS-DOS/MS-Windows file names can also use -backslashes to separate components, as in @file{foo\bar}. - -@item Fill Prefix -The fill prefix is a string that should be expected at the beginning -of each line when filling is done. It is not regarded as part of the -text to be filled. @xref{Filling}. - -@item Filling -Filling text means shifting text between consecutive lines so that all -the lines are approximately the same length. @xref{Filling}. Some -other editors call this feature `line wrapping.' - -@item Font Lock -Font Lock is a mode that highlights parts of buffer text according to -its syntax. @xref{Font Lock}. - -@item Fontset -A fontset is a named collection of fonts. A fontset specification lists -character sets and which font to use to display each of them. Fontsets -make it easy to change several fonts at once by specifying the name of a -fontset, rather than changing each font separately. @xref{Fontsets}. - -@item Formatted Text -Formatted text is text that displays with formatting information while -you edit. Formatting information includes fonts, colors, and specified -margins. @xref{Formatted Text}. - -@item Formfeed Character -See `page.' - -@item Frame -A frame is a rectangular cluster of Emacs windows. Emacs starts out -with one frame, but you can create more. You can subdivide each frame -into Emacs windows (q.v.@:). When you are using a window system -(q.v.@:), all the frames can be visible at the same time. -@xref{Frames}. Some other editors use the term ``window'' for this, -but in Emacs a window means something else. - -@item Fringe -On a graphical display (q.v.@:), there's a narrow portion of the -frame (q.v.@:) between the text area and the window's border. Emacs -displays the fringe using a special face (q.v.@:) called -@code{fringe}. @xref{Faces,fringe}. - -@item FTP -FTP is an acronym for File Transfer Protocol. Emacs uses an FTP client -program to provide access to remote files (q.v.@:). - -@item Function Key -A function key is a key on the keyboard that sends input but does not -correspond to any character. @xref{Function Keys}. - -@item Global -Global means ``independent of the current environment; in effect -throughout Emacs.'' It is the opposite of local (q.v.@:). Particular -examples of the use of `global' appear below. - -@item Global Abbrev -A global definition of an abbrev (q.v.@:) is effective in all major -modes that do not have local (q.v.@:) definitions for the same abbrev. -@xref{Abbrevs}. - -@item Global Keymap -The global keymap (q.v.@:) contains key bindings that are in effect -except when overridden by local key bindings in a major mode's local -keymap (q.v.@:). @xref{Keymaps}. - -@item Global Mark Ring -The global mark ring records the series of buffers you have recently -set a mark (q.v.@:) in. In many cases you can use this to backtrack -through buffers you have been editing in, or in which you have found -tags (see `tags table'). @xref{Global Mark Ring}. - -@item Global Substitution -Global substitution means replacing each occurrence of one string by -another string throughout a large amount of text. @xref{Replace}. - -@item Global Variable -The global value of a variable (q.v.@:) takes effect in all buffers -that do not have their own local (q.v.@:) values for the variable. -@xref{Variables}. - -@item Graphic Character -Graphic characters are those assigned pictorial images rather than -just names. All the non-Meta (q.v.@:) characters except for the -Control (q.v.@:) characters are graphic characters. These include -letters, digits, punctuation, and spaces; they do not include -@key{RET} or @key{ESC}. In Emacs, typing a graphic character inserts -that character (in ordinary editing modes). @xref{Inserting Text}. - -@item Graphical Display -A graphical display is one that can display images and multiple fonts. -Usually it also has a window system (q.v.@:). - -@item Highlighting -Highlighting text means displaying it with a different foreground and/or -background color to make it stand out from the rest of the text in the -buffer. - -Emacs uses highlighting in several ways. When you mark a region with -the mouse, the region is always highlighted. Optionally Emacs can -also highlight the region whenever it is active (@pxref{Transient -Mark}). Incremental search also highlights matches (@pxref{Incremental -Search}). See also `font lock'. - -@item Hardcopy -Hardcopy means printed output. Emacs has commands for making printed -listings of text in Emacs buffers. @xref{Printing}. - -@item @key{HELP} -@key{HELP} is the Emacs name for @kbd{C-h} or @key{F1}. You can type -@key{HELP} at any time to ask what options you have, or to ask what any -command does. @xref{Help}. - -@item Help Echo -Help echo is a short message displayed in the echo area when the mouse -pointer is located on portions of display that require some -explanations. Emacs displays help echo for menu items, parts of the -mode line, tool-bar buttons, etc. On graphics displays, the messages -can be displayed as tooltips (q.v.@:). @xref{Tooltips}. - -@item Hook -A hook is a list of functions to be called on specific occasions, such -as saving a buffer in a file, major mode activation, etc. By -customizing the various hooks, you can modify Emacs's behavior without -changing any of its code. @xref{Hooks}. - -@item Hyper -Hyper is the name of a modifier bit which a keyboard input character may -have. To make a character Hyper, type it while holding down the -@key{HYPER} key. Such characters are given names that start with -@kbd{Hyper-} (usually written @kbd{H-} for short). @xref{User Input, -Hyper}. - -@item Iff -``Iff'' means ``if and only if.'' This terminology comes from -mathematics. Try to avoid using this term in documentation, since -many are unfamiliar with it and mistake it for a typo. - -@item Inbox -An inbox is a file in which mail is delivered by the operating system. -Rmail transfers mail from inboxes to Rmail files (q.v.@:) in which the -mail is then stored permanently or until explicitly deleted. -@xref{Rmail Inbox}. - -@item Incremental Search -Emacs provides an incremental search facility, whereby Emacs searches -for the string as you type it. @xref{Incremental Search}. - -@item Indentation -Indentation means blank space at the beginning of a line. Most -programming languages have conventions for using indentation to -illuminate the structure of the program, and Emacs has special -commands to adjust indentation. -@xref{Indentation}. - -@item Indirect Buffer -An indirect buffer is a buffer that shares the text of another buffer, -called its base buffer (q.v.@:). @xref{Indirect Buffers}. - -@item Info -Info is the hypertext format used by the GNU project for writing -documentation. - -@item Input Event -An input event represents, within Emacs, one action taken by the user on -the terminal. Input events include typing characters, typing function -keys, pressing or releasing mouse buttons, and switching between Emacs -frames. @xref{User Input}. - -@item Input Method -An input method is a system for entering non-@acronym{ASCII} text characters by -typing sequences of @acronym{ASCII} characters (q.v.@:). @xref{Input Methods}. - -@item Insertion -Insertion means copying text into the buffer, either from the keyboard -or from some other place in Emacs. - -@item Interlocking -Interlocking is a feature for warning when you start to alter a file -that someone else is already editing. -@xref{Interlocking,Interlocking,Simultaneous Editing}. - -@item Isearch -See `incremental search.' - -@item Justification -Justification means adding extra spaces within lines of text to make -them extend exactly to a specified width. -@xref{Format Justification}. - -@item Keybinding -See `binding.' - -@item Keyboard Macro -Keyboard macros are a way of defining new Emacs commands from -sequences of existing ones, with no need to write a Lisp program. -@xref{Keyboard Macros}. - -@cindex keyboard shortcuts -@item Keyboard Shortcut -A keyboard shortcut is a key sequence (q.v.@:) which invokes a -command. What some programs call ``assigning a keyboard shortcut,'' -Emacs calls ``binding a key sequence.'' See `binding.' - -@item Key Sequence -A key sequence (key, for short) is a sequence of input events (q.v.@:) -that are meaningful as a single unit. If the key sequence is enough to -specify one action, it is a complete key (q.v.@:); if it is not enough, -it is a prefix key (q.v.@:). @xref{Keys}. - -@item Keymap -The keymap is the data structure that records the bindings (q.v.@:) of -key sequences to the commands that they run. For example, the global -keymap binds the character @kbd{C-n} to the command function -@code{next-line}. @xref{Keymaps}. - -@item Keyboard Translation Table -The keyboard translation table is an array that translates the character -codes that come from the terminal into the character codes that make up -key sequences. - -@item Kill Ring -The kill ring is where all text you have killed recently is saved. -You can reinsert any of the killed text still in the ring; this is -called yanking (q.v.@:). @xref{Yanking}. - -@item Killing -Killing means erasing text and saving it on the kill ring so it can be -yanked (q.v.@:) later. Some other systems call this ``cutting.'' -Most Emacs commands that erase text perform killing, as opposed to -deletion (q.v.@:). @xref{Killing}. - -@item Killing a Job -Killing a job (such as, an invocation of Emacs) means making it cease -to exist. Any data within it, if not saved in a file, is lost. -@xref{Exiting}. - -@item Language Environment -Your choice of language environment specifies defaults for the input -method (q.v.@:) and coding system (q.v.@:). @xref{Language -Environments}. These defaults are relevant if you edit non-@acronym{ASCII} text -(@pxref{International}). - -@item Line Wrapping -See `filling.' - -@item Lisp -Lisp is a programming language. Most of Emacs is written in a dialect -of Lisp, called Emacs Lisp, that is extended with special features which -make it especially suitable for text editing tasks. - -@item List -A list is, approximately, a text string beginning with an open -parenthesis and ending with the matching close parenthesis. In C mode -and other non-Lisp modes, groupings surrounded by other kinds of matched -delimiters appropriate to the language, such as braces, are also -considered lists. Emacs has special commands for many operations on -lists. @xref{Moving by Parens}. - -@item Local -Local means ``in effect only in a particular context''; the relevant -kind of context is a particular function execution, a particular -buffer, or a particular major mode. It is the opposite of `global' -(q.v.@:). Specific uses of `local' in Emacs terminology appear below. - -@item Local Abbrev -A local abbrev definition is effective only if a particular major mode -is selected. In that major mode, it overrides any global definition -for the same abbrev. @xref{Abbrevs}. - -@item Local Keymap -A local keymap is used in a particular major mode; the key bindings -(q.v.@:) in the current local keymap override global bindings of the -same key sequences. @xref{Keymaps}. - -@item Local Variable -A local value of a variable (q.v.@:) applies to only one buffer. -@xref{Locals}. - -@item @kbd{M-} -@kbd{M-} in the name of a character is an abbreviation for @key{META}, -one of the modifier keys that can accompany any character. -@xref{User Input,M-}. - -@item @kbd{M-C-} -@kbd{M-C-} in the name of a character is an abbreviation for -Control-Meta; it means the same thing as @kbd{C-M-}. If your -terminal lacks a real @key{META} key, you type a Control-Meta character by -typing @key{ESC} and then typing the corresponding Control character. -@xref{User Input,C-M-}. - -@item @kbd{M-x} -@kbd{M-x} is the key sequence which is used to call an Emacs command by -name. This is how you run commands that are not bound to key sequences. -@xref{M-x,M-x,Running Commands by Name}. - -@item Mail -Mail means messages sent from one user to another through the computer -system, to be read at the recipient's convenience. Emacs has commands for -composing and sending mail, and for reading and editing the mail you have -received. @xref{Sending Mail}. @xref{Rmail}, for how to read mail. - -@item Mail Composition Method -A mail composition method is a program runnable within Emacs for editing -and sending a mail message. Emacs lets you select from several -alternative mail composition methods. @xref{Mail Methods}. - -@item Major Mode -The Emacs major modes are a mutually exclusive set of options, each of -which configures Emacs for editing a certain sort of text. Ideally, -each programming language has its own major mode. @xref{Major Modes}. - -@item Margin -The space between the usable part of a window (including the -fringe) and the window edge. - -@item Mark -The mark points to a position in the text. It specifies one end of the -region (q.v.@:), point being the other end. Many commands operate on -all the text from point to the mark. Each buffer has its own mark. -@xref{Mark}. - -@item Mark Ring -The mark ring is used to hold several recent previous locations of the -mark, just in case you want to move back to them. Each buffer has its -own mark ring; in addition, there is a single global mark ring (q.v.@:). -@xref{Mark Ring}. - -@item Menu Bar -The menu bar is the line at the top of an Emacs frame. It contains -words you can click on with the mouse to bring up menus, or you can use -a keyboard interface to navigate it. @xref{Menu Bars}. - -@item Message -See `mail.' - -@item Meta -Meta is the name of a modifier bit which you can use in a command -character. To enter a meta character, you hold down the @key{META} -key while typing the character. We refer to such characters with -names that start with @kbd{Meta-} (usually written @kbd{M-} for -short). For example, @kbd{M-<} is typed by holding down @key{META} -and at the same time typing @kbd{<} (which itself is done, on most -terminals, by holding down @key{SHIFT} and typing @kbd{,}). -@xref{User Input,Meta}. - -On some terminals, the @key{META} key is actually labeled @key{ALT} -or @key{EDIT}. - -@item Meta Character -A Meta character is one whose character code includes the Meta bit. - -@item Minibuffer -The minibuffer is the window that appears when necessary inside the -echo area (q.v.@:), used for reading arguments to commands. -@xref{Minibuffer}. - -@item Minibuffer History -The minibuffer history records the text you have specified in the past -for minibuffer arguments, so you can conveniently use the same text -again. @xref{Minibuffer History}. - -@item Minor Mode -A minor mode is an optional feature of Emacs which can be switched on -or off independently of all other features. Each minor mode has a -command to turn it on or off. @xref{Minor Modes}. - -@item Minor Mode Keymap -A minor mode keymap is a keymap that belongs to a minor mode and is -active when that mode is enabled. Minor mode keymaps take precedence -over the buffer's local keymap, just as the local keymap takes -precedence over the global keymap. @xref{Keymaps}. - -@item Mode Line -The mode line is the line at the bottom of each window (q.v.@:), giving -status information on the buffer displayed in that window. @xref{Mode -Line}. - -@item Modified Buffer -A buffer (q.v.@:) is modified if its text has been changed since the -last time the buffer was saved (or since when it was created, if it -has never been saved). @xref{Saving}. - -@item Moving Text -Moving text means erasing it from one place and inserting it in -another. The usual way to move text is by killing (q.v.@:) it and then -yanking (q.v.@:) it. @xref{Killing}. - -@item MULE -MULE refers to the Emacs features for editing multilingual non-@acronym{ASCII} text -using multibyte characters (q.v.@:). @xref{International}. - -@item Multibyte Character -A multibyte character is a character that takes up several bytes in a -buffer. Emacs uses multibyte characters to represent non-@acronym{ASCII} text, -since the number of non-@acronym{ASCII} characters is much more than 256. -@xref{International Chars, International Characters}. - -@item Named Mark -A named mark is a register (q.v.@:) in its role of recording a -location in text so that you can move point to that location. -@xref{Registers}. - -@item Narrowing -Narrowing means creating a restriction (q.v.@:) that limits editing in -the current buffer to only a part of the text in the buffer. Text -outside that part is inaccessible for editing until the boundaries are -widened again, but it is still there, and saving the file saves it -all. @xref{Narrowing}. - -@item Newline -Control-J characters in the buffer terminate lines of text and are -therefore also called newlines. @xref{Text Characters,Newline}. - -@cindex nil -@cindex t -@item @code{nil} -@code{nil} is a value usually interpreted as a logical ``false.'' Its -opposite is @code{t}, interpreted as ``true.'' - -@item Numeric Argument -A numeric argument is a number, specified before a command, to change -the effect of the command. Often the numeric argument serves as a -repeat count. @xref{Arguments}. - -@item Overwrite Mode -Overwrite mode is a minor mode. When it is enabled, ordinary text -characters replace the existing text after point rather than pushing -it to the right. @xref{Minor Modes}. - -@item Page -A page is a unit of text, delimited by formfeed characters (@acronym{ASCII} -control-L, code 014) coming at the beginning of a line. Some Emacs -commands are provided for moving over and operating on pages. -@xref{Pages}. - -@item Paragraph -Paragraphs are the medium-size unit of human-language text. There are -special Emacs commands for moving over and operating on paragraphs. -@xref{Paragraphs}. - -@item Parsing -We say that certain Emacs commands parse words or expressions in the -text being edited. Really, all they know how to do is find the other -end of a word or expression. @xref{Syntax}. - -@item Point -Point is the place in the buffer at which insertion and deletion -occur. Point is considered to be between two characters, not at one -character. The terminal's cursor (q.v.@:) indicates the location of -point. @xref{Point}. - -@item Prefix Argument -See `numeric argument.' - -@item Prefix Key -A prefix key is a key sequence (q.v.@:) whose sole function is to -introduce a set of longer key sequences. @kbd{C-x} is an example of -prefix key; any two-character sequence starting with @kbd{C-x} is -therefore a legitimate key sequence. @xref{Keys}. - -@item Primary Rmail File -Your primary Rmail file is the file named @samp{RMAIL} in your home -directory. That's where Rmail stores your incoming mail, unless you -specify a different file name. @xref{Rmail}. - -@item Primary Selection -The primary selection is one particular X selection (q.v.@:); it is the -selection that most X applications use for transferring text to and from -other applications. - -The Emacs kill commands set the primary selection and the yank command -uses the primary selection when appropriate. @xref{Killing}. - -@item Prompt -A prompt is text used to ask the user for input. Displaying a prompt -is called prompting. Emacs prompts always appear in the echo area -(q.v.@:). One kind of prompting happens when the minibuffer is used to -read an argument (@pxref{Minibuffer}); the echoing which happens when -you pause in the middle of typing a multi-character key sequence is also -a kind of prompting (@pxref{Echo Area}). - -@item Query-Replace -Query-replace is an interactive string replacement feature provided by -Emacs. @xref{Query Replace}. - -@item Quitting -Quitting means canceling a partially typed command or a running -command, using @kbd{C-g} (or @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} on MS-DOS). @xref{Quitting}. - -@item Quoting -Quoting means depriving a character of its usual special significance. -The most common kind of quoting in Emacs is with @kbd{C-q}. What -constitutes special significance depends on the context and on -convention. For example, an ``ordinary'' character as an Emacs command -inserts itself; so in this context, a special character is any character -that does not normally insert itself (such as @key{DEL}, for example), -and quoting it makes it insert itself as if it were not special. Not -all contexts allow quoting. @xref{Inserting Text,Quoting}. - -@item Quoting File Names -Quoting a file name turns off the special significance of constructs -such as @samp{$}, @samp{~} and @samp{:}. @xref{Quoted File Names}. - -@item Read-Only Buffer -A read-only buffer is one whose text you are not allowed to change. -Normally Emacs makes buffers read-only when they contain text which -has a special significance to Emacs; for example, Dired buffers. -Visiting a file that is write-protected also makes a read-only buffer. -@xref{Buffers}. - -@item Rectangle -A rectangle consists of the text in a given range of columns on a given -range of lines. Normally you specify a rectangle by putting point at -one corner and putting the mark at the diagonally opposite corner. -@xref{Rectangles}. - -@item Recursive Editing Level -A recursive editing level is a state in which part of the execution of -a command involves asking you to edit some text. This text may -or may not be the same as the text to which the command was applied. -The mode line indicates recursive editing levels with square brackets -(@samp{[} and @samp{]}). @xref{Recursive Edit}. - -@item Redisplay -Redisplay is the process of correcting the image on the screen to -correspond to changes that have been made in the text being edited. -@xref{Screen,Redisplay}. - -@item Regexp -See `regular expression.' - -@item Region -The region is the text between point (q.v.@:) and the mark (q.v.@:). -Many commands operate on the text of the region. @xref{Mark,Region}. - -@item Register -Registers are named slots in which text or buffer positions or -rectangles can be saved for later use. @xref{Registers}. A related -Emacs feature is `bookmarks' (q.v.@:). - -@item Regular Expression -A regular expression is a pattern that can match various text strings; -for example, @samp{a[0-9]+} matches @samp{a} followed by one or more -digits. @xref{Regexps}. - -@item Remote File -A remote file is a file that is stored on a system other than your own. -Emacs can access files on other computers provided that they are -connected to the same network as your machine, and (obviously) that -you have a supported method to gain access to those files. -@xref{Remote Files}. - -@item Repeat Count -See `numeric argument.' - -@item Replacement -See `global substitution.' - -@item Restriction -A buffer's restriction is the amount of text, at the beginning or the -end of the buffer, that is temporarily inaccessible. Giving a buffer a -nonzero amount of restriction is called narrowing (q.v.@:); removing -a restriction is called widening (q.v.@:). @xref{Narrowing}. - -@item @key{RET} -@key{RET} is a character that in Emacs runs the command to insert a -newline into the text. It is also used to terminate most arguments -read in the minibuffer (q.v.@:). @xref{User Input,Return}. - -@item Reverting -Reverting means returning to the original state. Emacs lets you -revert a buffer by re-reading its file from disk. @xref{Reverting}. - -@item Rmail File -An Rmail file is a file containing text in a special format used by -Rmail for storing mail. @xref{Rmail}. - -@item Saving -Saving a buffer means copying its text into the file that was visited -(q.v.@:) in that buffer. This is the way text in files actually gets -changed by your Emacs editing. @xref{Saving}. - -@item Scroll Bar -A scroll bar is a tall thin hollow box that appears at the side of a -window. You can use mouse commands in the scroll bar to scroll the -window. The scroll bar feature is supported only under windowing -systems. @xref{Scroll Bars}. - -@item Scrolling -Scrolling means shifting the text in the Emacs window so as to see a -different part of the buffer. @xref{Scrolling}. - -@item Searching -Searching means moving point to the next occurrence of a specified -string or the next match for a specified regular expression. -@xref{Search}. - -@item Search Path -A search path is a list of directory names, to be used for searching for -files for certain purposes. For example, the variable @code{load-path} -holds a search path for finding Lisp library files. @xref{Lisp Libraries}. - -@item Secondary Selection -The secondary selection is one particular X selection; some X -applications can use it for transferring text to and from other -applications. Emacs has special mouse commands for transferring text -using the secondary selection. @xref{Secondary Selection}. - -@item Selected Frame -The selected frame is the one your input currently operates on. -@xref{Frames}. - -@item Selected Window -The selected frame is the one your input currently operates on. -@xref{Basic Window}. - -@item Selecting a Buffer -Selecting a buffer means making it the current (q.v.@:) buffer. -@xref{Select Buffer}. - -@item Selection -Windowing systems allow an application program to specify -selections whose values are text. A program can also read the -selections that other programs have set up. This is the principal way -of transferring text between window applications. Emacs has commands to -work with the primary (q.v.@:) selection and the secondary (q.v.@:) -selection, and also with the clipboard (q.v.@:). - -@item Self-Documentation -Self-documentation is the feature of Emacs which can tell you what any -command does, or give you a list of all commands related to a topic -you specify. You ask for self-documentation with the help character, -@kbd{C-h}. @xref{Help}. - -@item Self-Inserting Character -A character is self-inserting if typing that character inserts that -character in the buffer. Ordinary printing and whitespace characters -are self-inserting in Emacs, except in certain special major modes. - -@item Sentences -Emacs has commands for moving by or killing by sentences. -@xref{Sentences}. - -@item Sexp -A sexp (short for ``s-expression'') is the basic syntactic unit of -Lisp in its textual form: either a list, or Lisp atom. Sexps are also -the balanced expressions (q.v.@:) of the Lisp language; this is why -the commands for editing balanced expressions have `sexp' in their -name. @xref{Expressions,Sexps}. - -@item Simultaneous Editing -Simultaneous editing means two users modifying the same file at once. -Simultaneous editing, if not detected, can cause one user to lose his -or her work. Emacs detects all cases of simultaneous editing, and -warns one of the users to investigate. -@xref{Interlocking,Interlocking,Simultaneous Editing}. - -@item @key{SPC} -@key{SPC} is the space character, which you enter by pressing the -space bar. - -@item Speedbar -The speedbar is a special tall frame that provides fast access to Emacs -buffers, functions within those buffers, Info nodes, and other -interesting parts of text within Emacs. @xref{Speedbar}. - -@item Spell Checking -Spell checking means checking correctness of the written form of each -one of the words in a text. Emacs uses the Ispell spelling-checker -program to check the spelling of parts of a buffer via a convenient user -interface. @xref{Spelling}. - -@item String -A string is a kind of Lisp data object which contains a sequence of -characters. Many Emacs variables are intended to have strings as -values. The Lisp syntax for a string consists of the characters in the -string with a @samp{"} before and another @samp{"} after. A @samp{"} -that is part of the string must be written as @samp{\"} and a @samp{\} -that is part of the string must be written as @samp{\\}. All other -characters, including newline, can be included just by writing them -inside the string; however, backslash sequences as in C, such as -@samp{\n} for newline or @samp{\241} using an octal character code, are -allowed as well. - -@item String Substitution -See `global substitution'. - -@item Syntax Highlighting -See `font lock.' - -@item Syntax Table -The syntax table tells Emacs which characters are part of a word, -which characters balance each other like parentheses, etc. -@xref{Syntax}. - -@item Super -Super is the name of a modifier bit which a keyboard input character may -have. To make a character Super, type it while holding down the -@key{SUPER} key. Such characters are given names that start with -@kbd{Super-} (usually written @kbd{s-} for short). @xref{User Input, -Super}. - -@item Suspending -Suspending Emacs means stopping it temporarily and returning control -to its parent process, which is usually a shell. Unlike killing a job -(q.v.@:), you can later resume the suspended Emacs job without losing -your buffers, unsaved edits, undo history, etc. @xref{Exiting}. - -@item @key{TAB} -@key{TAB} is the tab character. In Emacs it is typically used for -indentation or completion. - -@item Tags Table -A tags table is a file that serves as an index to the function -definitions in one or more other files. @xref{Tags}. - -@item Termscript File -A termscript file contains a record of all characters sent by Emacs to -the terminal. It is used for tracking down bugs in Emacs redisplay. -Emacs does not make a termscript file unless you tell it to. -@xref{Bugs}. - -@item Text -`Text' has two meanings (@pxref{Text}): - -@itemize @bullet -@item -Data consisting of a sequence of characters, as opposed to binary -numbers, executable programs, and the like. The basic contents of an -Emacs buffer (aside from the text properties, q.v.@:) are always text -in this sense. -@item -Data consisting of written human language, as opposed to programs, -or following the stylistic conventions of human language. -@end itemize - -@item Text-only Terminal -A text-only terminal is a display that is limited to displaying text in -character units. Such a terminal cannot control individual pixels it -displays. Emacs supports a subset of display features on text-only -terminals. - -@item Text Properties -Text properties are annotations recorded for particular characters in -the buffer. Images in the buffer are recorded as text properties; -they also specify formatting information. @xref{Editing Format Info}. - -@item Tool Bar -The tool bar is a line (sometimes multiple lines) of icons at the top -of an Emacs frame. Clicking on one of these icons executes a command. -You can think of this as a graphical relative of the menu bar (q.v.@:). -@xref{Tool Bars}. - -@item Tooltips -Tooltips are small windows displaying a help echo (q.v.@:) text that -explains parts of the display, lists useful options available via mouse -clicks, etc. @xref{Tooltips}. - -@item Top Level -Top level is the normal state of Emacs, in which you are editing the -text of the file you have visited. You are at top level whenever you -are not in a recursive editing level (q.v.@:) or the minibuffer -(q.v.@:), and not in the middle of a command. You can get back to top -level by aborting (q.v.@:) and quitting (q.v.@:). @xref{Quitting}. - -@item Transposition -Transposing two units of text means putting each one into the place -formerly occupied by the other. There are Emacs commands to transpose -two adjacent characters, words, balanced expressions (q.v.@:) or lines -(@pxref{Transpose}). - -@item Truncation -Truncating text lines in the display means leaving out any text on a -line that does not fit within the right margin of the window -displaying it. See also `continuation line.' -@xref{Continuation Lines,Truncation}. - -@item TTY -See `text-only terminal.' - -@item Undoing -Undoing means making your previous editing go in reverse, bringing -back the text that existed earlier in the editing session. -@xref{Undo}. - -@item User Option -A user option is a face (q.v.@:) or a variable (q.v.@:) that exists so -that you can customize Emacs by setting it to a new value. -@xref{Easy Customization}. - -@item Variable -A variable is an object in Lisp that can store an arbitrary value. -Emacs uses some variables for internal purposes, and has others (known -as `user options' (q.v.@:)) just so that you can set their values to -control the behavior of Emacs. The variables used in Emacs that you -are likely to be interested in are listed in the Variables Index in -this manual (@pxref{Variable Index}). @xref{Variables}, for -information on variables. - -@item Version Control -Version control systems keep track of multiple versions of a source file. -They provide a more powerful alternative to keeping backup files (q.v.@:). -@xref{Version Control}. - -@item Visiting -Visiting a file means loading its contents into a buffer (q.v.@:) -where they can be edited. @xref{Visiting}. - -@item Whitespace -Whitespace is any run of consecutive formatting characters (space, -tab, newline, and backspace). - -@item Widening -Widening is removing any restriction (q.v.@:) on the current buffer; -it is the opposite of narrowing (q.v.@:). @xref{Narrowing}. - -@item Window -Emacs divides a frame (q.v.@:) into one or more windows, each of which -can display the contents of one buffer (q.v.@:) at any time. -@xref{Screen}, for basic information on how Emacs uses the screen. -@xref{Windows}, for commands to control the use of windows. Some -other editors use the term ``window'' for what we call a `frame' -(q.v.@:) in Emacs. - -@item Window System -A window system is software that operates on a graphical display -(q.v.@:), to subdivide the screen so that multiple applications can -have their] own windows at the same time. All modern operating systems -include a window system. - -@item Word Abbrev -See `abbrev.' - -@item Word Search -Word search is searching for a sequence of words, considering the -punctuation between them as insignificant. @xref{Word Search}. - -@item WYSIWYG -WYSIWYG stands for ``What you see is what you get.'' Emacs generally -provides WYSIWYG editing for files of characters; in Enriched mode -(@pxref{Formatted Text}), it provides WYSIWYG editing for files that -include text formatting information. - -@item Yanking -Yanking means reinserting text previously killed. It can be used to -undo a mistaken kill, or for copying or moving text. Some other -systems call this ``pasting.'' @xref{Yanking}. -@end table - -@ignore - arch-tag: 0dd53ce1-5f09-4ac2-b13b-cf22b0f28d23 -@end ignore