Emacs Jargons (Glossary)
If you are new to emacs, here's some emacs jargons, terminology explained:
Editing
- point
- current cursor position (beginning of file is 1)
- mark
- A cursor position, that starts text selection.
- region
- Text selection
- kill
- cut text.
- kill ring
- a history of copied text.
- yank
- paste
- transient mark mode
- A preference setting, to have text selection highlighted
- cua-mode
- A preference setting, to have standard undo cut copy paste keys (z x c v)
- rectangle
- a vertical rectangle area of text.
- fill-region
- reformat lines so each line is no longer than 70 chars. (aka. hard-wrap lines.)
- Universal Argument, prefix arg, digit argument
- give argument to command.
Buffer and File
- buffer
- A opened file, or unsaved new file, or a working area where emacs displays text. Similar to browser's “tab”.
- visiting file
- Basically means a opened file. when a buffer's content is from a file, it's said the buffer is visiting the file.
- find file
- open a file.
Mode
- major mode
- a setting for a buffer for a specialized task, e.g. edit programing language, view files in a dir, view image, shell, etc.
- minor mode
- a specialized setting, usually for all buffers. Think of this as a preference setting.
- hook
- a variable that stores a list of functions, to be called when some event happens.
Keyboard Keys
- keybinding
- a keyboard shortcut for a command. or, the process of defining one.
- meta key
-
a key that exist on lisp keyboards.
by default, it's the Alt key on Microsoft Windows and Linux. ⌥ option key on the Mac.
- super key, hyper key
- a key that exist on lisp keyboards.
Graphical User Interface Elements
- frame
- Window
- window
- A frame in a split window
- minibuffer
- a special buffer that pops up at bottom to displays prompts and user input.
- echo area
- the bottom line of the screen that displays messages temporarily. The messages are stored in
- mode line
- the bar at the bottom of a emacs window, indicating file name and major mode it's in.
- face
- text style. e.g. font, size, coloring, underline, etc.
- font lock
- syntax coloring.
- Fringe area
-
little vertical strip area on left and right sides of a window.
sometimes used to display line number or line return symbol to indicate line continuation.
emacs 29 fringe 2023-09-01