ELisp: Quick Start

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

Quick Start: Eval, Lookup Documentation

you can start to code emacs lisp in any buffer, or in a new empty file.

in any buffer, type

(+ 3 4)

To evaluate elisp code, move your cursor to after the closing parenthesis, then Alt+x eval-last-sexp

Or, select the lisp code, then Alt+x eval-region.

emacs lisp eval 2022-07-25
eval emacs lisp code

To find the doc string of a function, Alt+x describe-function then type the function name. [see Documentation Lookup]

To turn on syntax highlight, Alt+x emacs-lisp-mode.

Working with Lisp in Emacs

After you read this chapter, check out the following to learn how to efficiently work with lisp in emacs.