Emacs: Next/Previous User Buffer 📜

emacs has commands to switch to prev/next buffer.

next-buffer 【Ctrl+x Ctrl+→】

switch to next buffer.

previous-buffer 【Ctrl+x Ctrl+←】

switch to previous buffer.

one problem is that they will go thru many buffers user are not interested in cycling thru.

Examples of emacs generated buffers:

• *scratch*
• *Messages*
• *shell*
• *Shell Command Output*
• *Occur*
• *Completions*
• *Apropos*
• *info*

Prev / Next User Buffers

here's commands that just cycle thru user buffers, or emacs buffers.

(defun xah-user-buffer-p ()
  "Return t if current buffer is a user buffer, else nil.
A user buffer has buffer name NOT starts with * or space, and is not dired mode, help mode, etc.
This function is used by buffer switching command and close buffer command, so that next buffer shown is a user buffer.
You can override this function to get your idea of “user buffer”.
URL `http://xahlee.info/emacs/emacs/elisp_next_prev_user_buffer.html'
Created: 2016-06-18
Version: 2025-09-05"
  (interactive)
  (cond
   ((string-match "^\*" (buffer-name)) nil)
   ;; ((eq major-mode 'dired-mode) nil)
   ;; ((eq major-mode 'eww-mode) nil)
   ;; ((eq major-mode 'help-mode) nil)
   (t t)))

(defun xah-next-user-buffer ()
  "Switch to the next user buffer.
User Buffer here is determined by `xah-user-buffer-p'.
URL `http://xahlee.info/emacs/emacs/elisp_next_prev_user_buffer.html'
Created: 2016-06-19
Version: 2025-09-08"
  (interactive)
  (seq-some
   (lambda (_)
     (next-buffer)
     (xah-user-buffer-p))
   (make-list 50 0)))

(defun xah-previous-user-buffer ()
  "Switch to the previous user buffer.
User Buffer here is determined by `xah-user-buffer-p'.
URL `http://xahlee.info/emacs/emacs/elisp_next_prev_user_buffer.html'
Created: 2016-06-19
Version: 2025-09-08"
  (interactive)
  (seq-some
   (lambda (_)
     (previous-buffer)
     (xah-user-buffer-p))
   (make-list 50 0)))

Latest code in Emacs: Xah Fly Keys 📦

Be sure to set a easy key for them, such as F11 F12 〔see Emacs Keys: Define Key〕