Emacs Keys: Set Key to Insert Unicode Emoji

Set a key to insert unicode char

Here's the best way to set a key to insert Unicode: Emoji 😄 or Unicode: Math Symbols π² ∞ ∫ .

put this in your Emacs Init File:

;; F8 insert bullet char
(define-key key-translation-map (kbd "<f8>") "•")

Here's how to set a key sequence to insert different Unicode characters.

;; set keys to insert math symbol
(define-key key-translation-map (kbd "<f5> p") "φ")
(define-key key-translation-map (kbd "<f5> x") "ξ")
(define-key key-translation-map (kbd "<f5> i") "∞")
(define-key key-translation-map (kbd "<f5> <right>") "→")

;; set keys to insert emoji
(define-key key-translation-map (kbd "<f5> 1") "😅")
(define-key key-translation-map (kbd "<f5> 2") "❤")

🛑 WARNING: Problem Using global-set-key

You could also use global-set-key, but it has problems.

;; this won't work when in isearch
(global-set-key (kbd "<f8>") (lambda () (interactive) (insert "→")))

When you do interactive search Ctrl+s, then when you type your key, it'll exit the search instead of inserting the char.

Reference

• Translation Keymaps (ELISP Manual)