Key Bindings

2012-05-11T04:00:07Z

Cmpitg: /* Change key bindings */

In Emacs, almost any keystroke, optionally combined with one or more modifier keys, or any sequence of such keystrokes, can be "bound" to any [[command]].

== Modifier keys naming convention ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Modifier key
! Abbr.
! Remarks
! Example
! Action
|-
| Alt
| A
| Relatively seldom used in Emacs, because Meta is often "logically" mapped to the "physical" <tt>Alt</tt> key.
| A-x
| Type "x" while holding down the (non-Meta) Alt key
|-
| Control
| C
|
| C-x C-f
| While holding down Ctrl, type first "x" then "f". (This runs the command <tt>find-file</tt>).
|-
| Hyper
| h
| Often not mapped to any key (by default).
| h-x
| Type "x" while holding down hyper
|-
| Meta
| M
| Often mapped to <tt>Alt</tt> on your keyboard
| M-x find-file RET
| Either:
* type "x" while holding down Meta, or
* type "Esc" then "x"
(M-x activates the [[minibuffer]])

Then type "find-file" in the minibuffer, then Return.
|-
| Shift
| S
|
| S-x
| Type "x" while holding down Shift
|-
| Super
| s
| On OS X this is the Command ⌘ key.
On other systems often not mapped to any key by default, or to <tt>Window</tt> or <tt>Menu</tt> if present
| s-x
| Type "x" while holding down super
|-
|}

By convention, when multiple modifiers are specified, they go in alphabetical order: {{Keys|C-M-x}} not {{Keys|M-C-x}}.

== Printable cheat sheet for popular modes ==
Emacs ships with cheat sheets of common and useful key bindings.
The {{File|pdf}} files are located in the {{Directory|refcards}} subdirectory of {{Variable|data-directory}}.

== Change key bindings ==

You can add, remove and change key bindings for any command by using the Emacs Lisp function <code>global-set-key</code> or <code>local-set-key</code>.

; {{Command|global-set-key}} or {{Command|local-set-key}}
: Hit the key sequence you want to bind
: Type the command to bind to that key sequence
: Invoke {{Keys|C-x ESC ESC|repeat-complex-command}}. The output you see is the full lisp command which does the binding. You can copy this to your {{EmacsConfigFile}}.

'''Notes:'''

* <code>global-set-key</code> bind keys globally (i.e. <code>global-mode-map</code>), which means other modes would override key bindings set by <code>global-set-key</code>.

* <code>local-set-key</code> bind keys in the current buffer [[major mode]], which affects all buffers sharing the mode.

== External Links ==

* [http://www.masteringemacs.org/articles/2011/02/08/mastering-key-bindings-emacs/ Mastering Keybindings in Emacs]

[[Category:Customization]]
[[Category:Key Concepts]]

WikEmacs - User contributions [en]

Key Bindings