@subsection Finding the keymap to use

The list below describes step by step how Emacs finds a keymap from a
given key sequence. As soon as a hit is found in any keymap (see
@ref{Key Lookup}) then if the keymap entry is a function the search is
over. However if the keymap entry is a variable symbol or a string
then Emacs restarts with the variable symbol value or the string from
FIRST-MAP.

The keymap entry could also be a keymap. In that case the next event
is looked up in that keymap. (But what happens if there is no hit
there, I can not find any documentation on this???)

@noindent
@emph{Note 1:} When Emacs finally find a function symbol through this
process it also checks for command remapping. This just replaces the
function symbol with another. It is not recursive.

@noindent
@emph{Note 2:} Characters that are bound to @code{self-insert-command}
are translated according to @code{translation-table-for-input} before
insertion.

@noindent
@emph{Note 3:} You may find the function @code{current-active-maps}
useful when looking into this.

@table @asis
@item START-HERE:
First apply @code{extra-keyboard-modifiers} mask to each keyboard
character read.
@end table

@itemize @bullet
@item
Each character read from the keyboard may be translated according to
@code{keyboard-translate-table}.

@item
Translate meta characters according to @code{meta-prefix-char} to a
two character sequence.

@example
For example, this normally maps M-x into ESC x.
@end example
@end itemize

@table @asis
@item FIRST-MAP:
The key sequence is first searched for in @code{key-translation-map}
which transforms it to a new key sequences if there is a hit.
@end table

@itemize @bullet
@item
Look in @code{special-event-map}.

@example
For example, this is where the @code{delete-frame} event is handled.
@end example

@item
If overriding-terminal-local-map look in this. Then go to GLOBAL.

@example
This is for example used by @code{Incremental Search}.
@end example

@item
If overriding-local-map look in this. Then go to GLOBAL.

@item
Is there a "keymap" property of the text or overlay at point?

@item
Look for minor mode keymaps in @code{emulation-mode-map-alists}.

@example
For example, this is used by @code{cua-mode} and @code{viper}.
@end example

@item
Look for minor mode keymaps in @code{minor-mode-overriding-map-alist}

@item
Look for minor mode keymaps in @code{minor-mode-map-alist}.

@item
Is there a @code{local-map} property of the text or overlay at point?
Otherwise is there a "local keymap" (those are for major modes)?  In
the minibuffer some special maps are used.  If using
@code{read-from-minibuffer} (directly or indirectly) then look in the
keymap given as parameter then look in this. Otherwise look in
@code{minibuffer-local-map}.  If using @code{read-no-blanks-input} to
read from minibuffer then look in @code{minibuffer-local-ns-map} first
and then @code{minibuffer-local-map}.
@end itemize

@table @asis
@item GLOBAL:
Look in the "current global keymap". (This is returned by
@code{current-global-map} and may be different from @code{global-map},
see @code{use-global-map}.)
@end table

@itemize @bullet
@item
Look in @code{function-key-map}. This map transforms to a new key
sequences.

@example
This is for example used when running Emacs on a VT-100 terminal.
Such terminal sends ASCII key sequences for function keys which are
translated into a more general format Emacs uses.  For example the
sequence @code{ESC O P} is translated to [f1].
@end example


@item
If any transformation was made by @code{function-key-map} then take
the new sequence and go back to FIRST-MAP.
@end itemize