emacs jargons
if you are new to emacs, here's some emacs jargons, terminology explained:
- mark
- A cursor position, that begin text selection.
- point
- Cursor or cursor position (beginning of file is 1)
- region
- Text selection
- kill
- cut text. Or, force quit processes and other.
- kill ring
- a history of copied text. [see Emacs: Copy/Paste, kill-ring]
- yank
- paste
- fill
- reformat lines so each line is no longer than 70 chars. (aka. hard-wrap lines.) [see Emacs: Hard Wrap Lines, fill]
- transient mark mode
- A preference setting, to have text selection highlighted
- cua-mode
- A preference setting, to have standard copy/cut/paste/undo keys
- major mode
- a specialized setting for a buffer for a particular task, such as programing languages, managing files, view image, etc. Each has a dedicated “major mode”. [see Emacs: What is Major Mode]
- minor mode
- a specialized setting, usually for all buffers. Think of this as a preference setting. [see Emacs: What is Minor Mode]
- meta key
- a key that exist on lisp keyboards. by default, it's the Alt key on Microsoft Windows or Linux. ⌥ option key on the Mac. [see Emacs: What is Meta Key]
- hyper key
- a key that exist on lisp keyboards. [see Emacs: How to Bind Super Hyper Keys]
- super key
- a key that exist on lisp keyboards. [see Emacs: How to Bind Super Hyper Keys]
- hook
- a variable that stores a list of functions, to be called when some event happens. [see Emacs: What is Hook]
- rectangle
- a vertical rectangle area of text. [see Emacs: Edit Column Text, Rectangle Commands]
Graphical User Interface Elements
- buffer
- A opened file, or unsaved new file, or a working area where emacs displays text. Similar to browser's “tab”.
- frame
- Window
- window
- A pane/frame, as in a pane in a split window
- mini buffer
- a special buffer that pops up at bottom to displays prompts and user input. e.g. when you press Alt + x
- echo area
- the bottom line of the screen that displays messages temporarily. the messages are stored in [see Emacs: Messages Buffer]
- mode line
- the bar at the bottom of a emacs window, indicating file name and major mode it's in. [see Emacs Mode Line Problem]
- 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.