@c This is part of the Emacs manual. @c Copyright (C) 1985--1987, 1993--1995, 1997, 2000--2020 Free Software @c Foundation, Inc. @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions. @node Help @chapter Help @cindex help @cindex self-documentation @findex help-command @kindex C-h @kindex F1 @kindex C-h C-h @findex help-for-help Emacs provides a wide variety of help commands, all accessible through the prefix key @kbd{C-h} (or, equivalently, the function key @key{F1}). These help commands are described in the following sections. You can also type @kbd{C-h C-h} to view a list of help commands (@code{help-for-help}). You can scroll the list with @key{SPC} and @key{DEL}, then type the help command you want. To cancel, type @kbd{C-g}. Many help commands display their information in a special @dfn{help buffer}. In this buffer, you can type @key{SPC} and @key{DEL} to scroll and type @key{RET} to follow hyperlinks. @xref{Help Mode}. @cindex searching documentation efficiently @cindex looking for a subject in documentation If you are looking for a certain feature, but don't know what it is called or where to look, we recommend three methods. First, try an apropos command, then try searching the manual index, then look in the FAQ and the package keywords. @table @kbd @item C-h a @var{topics} @key{RET} This searches for commands whose names match the argument @var{topics}. The argument can be a keyword, a list of keywords, or a regular expression (@pxref{Regexps}). @xref{Apropos}. @item C-h i d m emacs @key{RET} i @var{topic} @key{RET} This searches for @var{topic} in the indices of the Emacs Info manual, displaying the first match found. Press @kbd{,} to see subsequent matches. You can use a regular expression as @var{topic}. @item C-h i d m emacs @key{RET} s @var{topic} @key{RET} Similar, but searches the @emph{text} of the manual rather than the indices. @item C-h C-f This displays the Emacs FAQ, using Info. @item C-h p This displays the available Emacs packages based on keywords. @xref{Package Keywords}. @end table @kbd{C-h} or @key{F1} mean ``help'' in various other contexts as well. For instance, you can type them after a prefix key to view a list of the keys that can follow the prefix key. (You can also use @kbd{?} in this context. A few prefix keys don't support @kbd{C-h} or @kbd{?} in this way, because they define other meanings for those inputs, but they all support @key{F1}.) @menu * Help Summary:: Brief list of all Help commands. * Key Help:: Asking what a key does in Emacs. * Name Help:: Asking about a command, variable or function name. * Apropos:: Asking what pertains to a given topic. * Help Mode:: Special features of Help mode and Help buffers. * Package Keywords:: Finding Lisp libraries by keywords (topics). * Language Help:: Help relating to international language support. * Misc Help:: Other help commands. * Help Files:: Commands to display auxiliary help files. * Help Echo:: Help on active text and tooltips (``balloon help''). @end menu @iftex @node Help Summary @end iftex @ifnottex @node Help Summary @section Help Summary @end ifnottex Here is a summary of help commands for accessing the built-in documentation. Most of these are described in more detail in the following sections. @table @kbd @item C-h a @var{topics} @key{RET} Display a list of commands whose names match @var{topics} (@code{apropos-command}). @item C-h b Display all active key bindings; minor mode bindings first, then those of the major mode, then global bindings (@code{describe-bindings}). @item C-h c @var{key} Show the name of the command that the key sequence @var{key} is bound to (@code{describe-key-briefly}). Here @kbd{c} stands for ``character''. For more extensive information on @var{key}, use @kbd{C-h k}. @item C-h d @var{topics} @key{RET} Display the commands and variables whose documentation matches @var{topics} (@code{apropos-documentation}). @item C-h e Display the @file{*Messages*} buffer (@code{view-echo-area-messages}). @item C-h f @var{function} @key{RET} Display documentation on the Lisp function named @var{function} (@code{describe-function}). Since commands are Lisp functions, this works for commands too. @item C-h h Display the @file{HELLO} file, which shows examples of various character sets. @item C-h i Run Info, the GNU documentation browser (@code{info}). The Emacs manual is available in Info. @item C-h k @var{key} Display the name and documentation of the command that @var{key} runs (@code{describe-key}). @item C-h l Display a description of your last 300 keystrokes (@code{view-lossage}). @item C-h m Display documentation of the current major mode and minor modes (@code{describe-mode}). @item C-h n Display news of recent Emacs changes (@code{view-emacs-news}). @item C-h o @var{symbol} Display documentation of the Lisp symbol named @var{symbol} (@code{describe-symbol}). This will show the documentation of all kinds of symbols: functions, variables, and faces. @item C-h p Find packages by topic keyword (@code{finder-by-keyword}). This lists packages using a package menu buffer. @xref{Packages}. @item C-h P @var{package} @key{RET} Display documentation about the specified package (@code{describe-package}). @item C-h r Display the Emacs manual in Info (@code{info-emacs-manual}). @item C-h s Display the contents of the current @dfn{syntax table} (@code{describe-syntax}). The syntax table says which characters are opening delimiters, which are parts of words, and so on. @xref{Syntax Tables,, Syntax Tables, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}, for details. @item C-h t Enter the Emacs interactive tutorial (@code{help-with-tutorial}). @item C-h v @var{var} @key{RET} Display the documentation of the Lisp variable @var{var} (@code{describe-variable}). @item C-h w @var{command} @key{RET} Show which keys run the command named @var{command} (@code{where-is}). @item C-h C @var{coding} @key{RET} Describe the coding system @var{coding} (@code{describe-coding-system}). @item C-h C @key{RET} Describe the coding systems currently in use. @item C-h F @var{command} @key{RET} Enter Info and go to the node that documents the Emacs command @var{command} (@code{Info-goto-emacs-command-node}). @item C-h I @var{method} @key{RET} Describe the input method @var{method} (@code{describe-input-method}). @item C-h K @var{key} Enter Info and go to the node that documents the key sequence @var{key} (@code{Info-goto-emacs-key-command-node}). @item C-h L @var{language-env} @key{RET} Display information on the character sets, coding systems, and input methods used in language environment @var{language-env} (@code{describe-language-environment}). @item C-h S @var{symbol} @key{RET} Display the Info documentation on symbol @var{symbol} according to the programming language you are editing (@code{info-lookup-symbol}). @item C-h . Display the help message for a special text area, if point is in one (@code{display-local-help}). (These include, for example, links in @file{*Help*} buffers.) @end table @node Key Help @section Documentation for a Key @findex describe-key-briefly @findex describe-key The help commands to get information about a key sequence are @kbd{C-h c} (@code{describe-key-briefly}) and @kbd{C-h k} (@code{describe-key}). @kindex C-h c @kbd{C-h c @var{key}} displays in the echo area the name of the command that @var{key} is bound to. For example, @kbd{C-h c C-f} displays @samp{forward-char}. @cindex documentation string @kindex C-h k @kbd{C-h k @var{key}} is similar but gives more information: it displays a help buffer containing the command's @dfn{documentation string}, which describes exactly what the command does. @kindex C-h K @findex Info-goto-emacs-key-command-node @kbd{C-h K @var{key}} displays the section of the Emacs manual that describes the command corresponding to @var{key}. @kbd{C-h c}, @kbd{C-h k} and @kbd{C-h K} work for any sort of key sequences, including function keys, menus, and mouse events (except that @kbd{C-h c} ignores mouse movement events). For instance, after @kbd{C-h k} you can select a menu item from the menu bar, to view the documentation string of the command it runs. @kindex C-h w @findex where-is @kbd{C-h w @var{command} @key{RET}} lists the keys that are bound to @var{command}. It displays the list in the echo area. If it says the command is not on any key, that means you must use @kbd{M-x} to run it. @kbd{C-h w} runs the command @code{where-is}. @node Name Help @section Help by Command or Variable Name @kindex C-h f @findex describe-function @kbd{C-h f @var{function} @key{RET}} (@code{describe-function}) displays the documentation of Lisp function @var{function}, in a window. Since commands are Lisp functions, you can use this method to view the documentation of any command whose name you know. For example, @example C-h f auto-fill-mode @key{RET} @end example @noindent displays the documentation of @code{auto-fill-mode}. This is the only way to get the documentation of a command that is not bound to any key (one which you would normally run using @kbd{M-x}). @kbd{C-h f} is also useful for Lisp functions that you use in a Lisp program. For example, if you have just written the expression @code{(make-vector len)} and want to check that you are using @code{make-vector} properly, type @kbd{C-h f make-vector @key{RET}}. Because @kbd{C-h f} allows all function names, not just command names, you may find that some of your favorite completion abbreviations that work in @kbd{M-x} don't work in @kbd{C-h f}. An abbreviation that is unique among command names may not be unique among all function names. If you type @kbd{C-h f @key{RET}}, it describes the function called by the innermost Lisp expression in the buffer around point, @emph{provided} that function name is a valid, defined Lisp function. (That name appears as the default while you enter the argument.) For example, if point is located following the text @samp{(make-vector (car x)}, the innermost list containing point is the one that starts with @samp{(make-vector}, so @kbd{C-h f @key{RET}} describes the function @code{make-vector}. @kbd{C-h f} is also useful just to verify that you spelled a function name correctly. If the minibuffer prompt for @kbd{C-h f} shows the function name from the buffer as the default, it means that name is defined as a Lisp function. Type @kbd{C-g} to cancel the @kbd{C-h f} command if you don't really want to view the documentation. @kindex C-h v @findex describe-variable @kbd{C-h v} (@code{describe-variable}) is like @kbd{C-h f} but describes Lisp variables instead of Lisp functions. Its default is the Lisp symbol around or before point, if that is the name of a defined Lisp variable. @xref{Variables}. Help buffers that describe Emacs variables and functions normally have hyperlinks to the corresponding source code, if you have the source files installed (@pxref{Hyperlinking}). @kindex C-h F @findex Info-goto-emacs-command-node To find a command's documentation in a manual, use @kbd{C-h F} (@code{Info-goto-emacs-command-node}). This knows about various manuals, not just the Emacs manual, and finds the right one. @kindex C-h o @findex describe-symbol @kbd{C-h o} (@code{describe-symbol}) is like @kbd{C-h f} and @kbd{C-h v}, but it describes any symbol, be it a function, a variable, or a face. If the symbol has more than one definition, like it has both definition as a function and as a variable, this command will show the documentation of all of them, one after the other. @node Apropos @section Apropos @cindex apropos The @dfn{apropos} commands answer questions like, ``What are the commands for working with files?'' More precisely, you specify an @dfn{apropos pattern}, which means either a word, a list of words, or a regular expression. Each of the following apropos commands reads an apropos pattern in the minibuffer, searches for items that match the pattern, and displays the results in a different window. @table @kbd @item C-h a @kindex C-h a @findex apropos-command Search for commands (@code{apropos-command}). With a prefix argument, search for noninteractive functions too. @item M-x apropos @findex apropos Search for functions and variables. Both interactive functions (commands) and noninteractive functions can be found by this. @item M-x apropos-user-option @findex apropos-user-option Search for user-customizable variables. With a prefix argument, search for non-customizable variables too. @item M-x apropos-variable @findex apropos-variable Search for variables. With a prefix argument, search for customizable variables only. @item M-x apropos-local-variable @findex apropos-local-variable Search for buffer-local variables. @item M-x apropos-value @findex apropos-value Search for variables whose values match the specified pattern. With a prefix argument, search also for functions with definitions matching the pattern, and Lisp symbols with properties matching the pattern. @item M-x apropos-local-value @findex apropos-local-value Search for buffer-local variables whose values match the specified pattern. @item C-h d @kindex C-h d @findex apropos-documentation Search for functions and variables whose documentation strings match the specified pattern (@code{apropos-documentation}). @end table The simplest kind of apropos pattern is one word. Anything containing that word matches the pattern. Thus, to find commands that work on files, type @kbd{C-h a file @key{RET}}. This displays a list of all command names that contain @samp{file}, including @code{copy-file}, @code{find-file}, and so on. Each command name comes with a brief description and a list of keys you can currently invoke it with. In our example, it would say that you can invoke @code{find-file} by typing @kbd{C-x C-f}. For more information about a function definition, variable or symbol property listed in an apropos buffer, you can click on it with @kbd{mouse-1} or @kbd{mouse-2}, or move there and type @key{RET}. When you specify more than one word in the apropos pattern, a name must contain at least two of the words in order to match. Thus, if you are looking for commands to kill a chunk of text before point, you could try @kbd{C-h a kill back backward behind before @key{RET}}. The real command name @code{kill-backward} will match that; if there were a command @code{kill-text-before}, it would also match, since it contains two of the specified words. For even greater flexibility, you can specify a regular expression (@pxref{Regexps}). An apropos pattern is interpreted as a regular expression if it contains any of the regular expression special characters, @samp{^$*+?.\[}. Following the conventions for naming Emacs commands, here are some words that you'll find useful in apropos patterns. By using them in @kbd{C-h a}, you will also get a feel for the naming conventions. @quotation char, line, word, sentence, paragraph, region, page, sexp, list, defun, rect, buffer, frame, window, face, file, dir, register, mode, beginning, end, forward, backward, next, previous, up, down, search, goto, kill, delete, mark, insert, yank, fill, indent, case, change, set, what, list, find, view, describe, default. @end quotation @vindex apropos-do-all If the variable @code{apropos-do-all} is non-@code{nil}, most apropos commands behave as if they had been given a prefix argument. There is one exception: @code{apropos-variable} without a prefix argument will always search for all variables, no matter what the value of @code{apropos-do-all} is. @vindex apropos-sort-by-scores @cindex apropos search results, order by score @vindex apropos-documentation-sort-by-scores By default, all apropos commands except @code{apropos-documentation} list their results in alphabetical order. If the variable @code{apropos-sort-by-scores} is non-@code{nil}, these commands instead try to guess the relevance of each result, and display the most relevant ones first. The @code{apropos-documentation} command lists its results in order of relevance by default; to list them in alphabetical order, change the variable @code{apropos-documentation-sort-by-scores} to @code{nil}. @node Help Mode @section Help Mode Commands Help buffers provide the same commands as View mode (@pxref{View Mode}); for instance, @key{SPC} scrolls forward, and @key{DEL} or @kbd{S-@key{SPC}} scrolls backward. A few special commands are also provided: @table @kbd @item @key{RET} Follow a cross reference at point (@code{help-follow}). @item @key{TAB} Move point forward to the next hyperlink (@code{forward-button}). @item S-@key{TAB} Move point back to the previous hyperlink (@code{backward-button}). @item mouse-1 @itemx mouse-2 Follow a hyperlink that you click on. @item C-c C-c Show all documentation about the symbol at point (@code{help-follow-symbol}). @item C-c C-f @itemx r Go forward to the next help topic (@code{help-go-forward}). @item C-c C-b @itemx l Go back to the previous help topic (@code{help-go-back}). @end table @cindex hyperlink @findex help-follow @findex help-go-back @findex help-go-forward @kindex RET @r{(Help mode)} @kindex C-c C-b @r{(Help mode)} @kindex l @r{(Help mode)} @kindex C-c C-f @r{(Help mode)} @kindex r @r{(Help mode)} When a function name, variable name, or face name (@pxref{Faces}) appears in the documentation in the help buffer, it is normally an underlined @dfn{hyperlink}. To view the associated documentation, move point there and type @key{RET} (@code{help-follow}), or click on the hyperlink with @kbd{mouse-1} or @kbd{mouse-2}. Doing so replaces the contents of the help buffer; to retrace your steps, type @kbd{C-c C-b} or @kbd{l} (@code{help-go-back}). While retracing your steps, you can go forward by using @kbd{C-c C-f} or @kbd{r} (@code{help-go-forward}). @cindex URL, viewing in help @cindex help, viewing web pages @cindex viewing web pages in help @cindex web pages, viewing in help A help buffer can also contain hyperlinks to Info manuals, source code definitions, and URLs (web pages). The first two are opened in Emacs, and the third using a web browser via the @code{browse-url} command (@pxref{Browse-URL}). @kindex TAB @r{(Help mode)} @findex forward-button @kindex S-TAB @r{(Help mode)} @findex backward-button In a help buffer, @key{TAB} (@code{forward-button}) moves point forward to the next hyperlink, while @kbd{S-@key{TAB}} (@code{backward-button}) moves point back to the previous hyperlink. These commands act cyclically; for instance, typing @key{TAB} at the last hyperlink moves back to the first hyperlink. To view all documentation about any symbol in the text, move point to the symbol and type @kbd{C-c C-c} (@code{help-follow-symbol}). This shows the documentation for all the meanings of the symbol---as a variable, as a function, and/or as a face. @node Package Keywords @section Keyword Search for Packages @cindex finder Most optional features in Emacs are grouped into @dfn{packages}. Emacs contains several hundred built-in packages, and more can be installed over the network (@pxref{Packages}). @kindex C-h p @findex finder-by-keyword To make it easier to find packages related to a topic, most packages are associated with one or more @dfn{keywords} based on what they do. Type @kbd{C-h p} (@code{finder-by-keyword}) to bring up a list of package keywords, together with a description of what the keywords mean. To view a list of packages for a given keyword, type @key{RET} on that line; this displays the list of packages in a Package Menu buffer (@pxref{Package Menu}). @findex describe-package @kindex C-h P @kbd{C-h P} (@code{describe-package}) prompts for the name of a package (@pxref{Packages}), and displays a help buffer describing the attributes of the package and the features that it implements. The buffer lists the keywords that relate to the package in the form of buttons. Click on a button with @kbd{mouse-1} or @kbd{mouse-2} to see the list of other packages related to that keyword. @node Language Help @section Help for International Language Support For information on a specific language environment (@pxref{Language Environments}), type @kbd{C-h L} (@code{describe-language-environment}). This displays a help buffer describing the languages supported by the language environment, and listing the associated character sets, coding systems, and input methods, as well as some sample text for that language environment. The command @kbd{C-h h} (@code{view-hello-file}) displays the file @file{etc/HELLO}, which demonstrates various character sets by showing how to say ``hello'' in many languages. The command @kbd{C-h I} (@code{describe-input-method}) describes an input method---either a specified input method, or by default the input method currently in use. @xref{Input Methods}. The command @kbd{C-h C} (@code{describe-coding-system}) describes coding systems---either a specified coding system, or the ones currently in use. @xref{Coding Systems}. @node Misc Help @section Other Help Commands @kindex C-h i @kindex C-h 4 i @findex info @findex info-other-window @cindex Info @cindex manuals, included @kbd{C-h i} (@code{info}) runs the Info program, which browses structured documentation files. @kbd{C-h 4 i} (@code{info-other-window}) does the same, but shows the Info buffer in another window. The entire Emacs manual is available within Info, along with many other manuals for the GNU system. Type @kbd{h} after entering Info to run a tutorial on using Info. @cindex find Info manual by its file name With a numeric argument @var{n}, @kbd{C-h i} selects the Info buffer @samp{*info*<@var{n}>}. This is useful if you want to browse multiple Info manuals simultaneously. If you specify just @kbd{C-u} as the prefix argument, @kbd{C-h i} prompts for the name of a documentation file, so you can browse a file which doesn't have an entry in the top-level Info menu. The help commands @kbd{C-h F @var{function} @key{RET}} and @kbd{C-h K @var{key}}, described above, enter Info and go straight to the documentation of @var{function} or @var{key}. @kindex C-h S @findex info-lookup-symbol When editing a program, if you have an Info version of the manual for the programming language, you can use @kbd{C-h S} (@code{info-lookup-symbol}) to find an entry for a symbol (keyword, function or variable) in the proper manual. The details of how this command works depend on the major mode. @kindex C-h l @findex view-lossage If something surprising happens, and you are not sure what you typed, use @kbd{C-h l} (@code{view-lossage}). @kbd{C-h l} displays your last 300 input keystrokes and the commands they invoked. If you see commands that you are not familiar with, you can use @kbd{C-h k} or @kbd{C-h f} to find out what they do. @kindex C-h e @findex view-echo-area-messages To review recent echo area messages, use @kbd{C-h e} (@code{view-echo-area-messages}). This displays the buffer @file{*Messages*}, where those messages are kept. @kindex C-h m @findex describe-mode Each Emacs major mode typically redefines a few keys and makes other changes in how editing works. @kbd{C-h m} (@code{describe-mode}) displays documentation on the current major mode, which normally describes the commands and features that are changed in this mode, and also its key bindings. @kindex C-h b @findex describe-bindings @kindex C-h s @findex describe-syntax @kbd{C-h b} (@code{describe-bindings}) and @kbd{C-h s} (@code{describe-syntax}) show other information about the current environment within Emacs. @kbd{C-h b} displays a list of all the key bindings now in effect: first the local bindings of the current minor modes, then the local bindings defined by the current major mode, and finally the global bindings (@pxref{Key Bindings}). @kbd{C-h s} displays the contents of the syntax table, with explanations of each character's syntax (@pxref{Syntax Tables,, Syntax Tables, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}). @findex describe-prefix-bindings You can get a list of subcommands for a particular prefix key by typing @kbd{C-h}, @kbd{?}, or @key{F1} (@code{describe-prefix-bindings}) after the prefix key. (There are a few prefix keys for which not all of these keys work---those that provide their own bindings for that key. One of these prefix keys is @key{ESC}, because @kbd{@key{ESC} C-h} is actually @kbd{C-M-h}, which marks a defun. However, @w{@kbd{@key{ESC} @key{F1}}} and @w{@kbd{@key{ESC} ?}} work fine.) @node Help Files @section Help Files Apart from the built-in documentation and manuals, Emacs contains several other files describing topics like copying conditions, release notes, instructions for debugging and reporting bugs, and so forth. You can use the following commands to view these files. Apart from @kbd{C-h g}, they all have the form @kbd{C-h C-@var{char}}. @kindex C-h C-c @findex describe-copying @kindex C-h C-d @findex view-emacs-debugging @kindex C-h C-e @findex view-external-packages @kindex C-h C-f @findex view-emacs-FAQ @kindex C-h g @findex describe-gnu-project @kindex C-h C-m @findex view-order-manuals @kindex C-h C-n @findex view-emacs-news @kindex C-h C-o @findex describe-distribution @kindex C-h C-p @findex view-emacs-problems @kindex C-h C-t @findex view-emacs-todo @kindex C-h C-w @findex describe-no-warranty @table @kbd @item C-h C-c Display the rules under which you can copy and redistribute Emacs (@code{describe-copying}). @item C-h C-d Display help for debugging Emacs (@code{view-emacs-debugging}). @item C-h C-e Display information about where to get external packages (@code{view-external-packages}). @item C-h C-f Display the Emacs frequently-answered-questions list (@code{view-emacs-FAQ}). @item C-h g Visit the @uref{https://www.gnu.org, page} with information about the GNU Project (@code{describe-gnu-project}). @item C-h C-m Display information about ordering printed copies of Emacs manuals (@code{view-order-manuals}). @item C-h C-n Display the news, which lists the new features in this version of Emacs (@code{view-emacs-news}). @item C-h C-o Display how to order or download the latest version of Emacs and other GNU software (@code{describe-distribution}). @item C-h C-p Display the list of known Emacs problems, sometimes with suggested workarounds (@code{view-emacs-problems}). @item C-h C-t Display the Emacs to-do list (@code{view-emacs-todo}). @item C-h C-w Display the full details on the complete absence of warranty for GNU Emacs (@code{describe-no-warranty}). @end table @node Help Echo @section Help on Active Text and Tooltips @cindex tooltip help @cindex balloon help @cindex active text In Emacs, stretches of @dfn{active text} (text that does something special in response to mouse clicks or @key{RET}) often have associated help text. This includes hyperlinks in Emacs buffers, as well as parts of the mode line. On graphical displays, as well as some text terminals which support mouse tracking, moving the mouse over the active text displays the help text as a @dfn{tooltip}. @xref{Tooltips}. @kindex C-h . @findex display-local-help @vindex help-at-pt-display-when-idle On terminals that don't support mouse-tracking, you can display the help text for active buffer text at point by typing @kbd{C-h .} (@code{display-local-help}). This shows the help text in the echo area. To display help text automatically whenever it is available at point, set the variable @code{help-at-pt-display-when-idle} to @code{t}.