Emacs Lisp: Find Syntax of a Char

Find Char Syntax by By Emacs Command

How to find Emacs Syntax Table classification of a character?

• Emacs: describe-char, Char Name, Cursor Position

Syntax Class Table (ELISP Manual)

Find Char Syntax by By Emacs Lisp Code

The function char-syntax returns a character's syntax class.

(char-syntax (string-to-char "-")) ; returns 95
;; 95 (#o137, #x5f, ?_)
;; _ means it's in syntax class of symbol

Show Current Syntax Table

• Alt+x describe-syntax 【Ctrl+h s】 to see the value of current buffer's syntax table.
• In lisp code, the function syntax-table returns current buffer's syntax table.

Syntax Table is Local to Buffer

Remember, each buffer has its own syntax table, typically set by a major mode.

Emacs has a standard-syntax-table, which is the syntax table used by fundamental-mode.

So, to find a character's syntax class in standard syntax table, first Alt+x fundamental-mode to switch to fundamental mode.