Emacs: Show Variable Value, List Variables

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

Show Variable Doc, Show Variable Value

Alt+x describe-variable
Show a variable's documentation and its current value.

For example, here's some emacs builtin variables. Try to find their value:

Warning: some variable are Buffer Local Variable. When looking up a buffer local variable, be sure you are in the right buffer when calling describe-variable.

Tip: Another way to show the value of a variable is: type the variable in a buffer, then Alt+x eval-last-sexp. Result is shown in Messages Buffer

List Variables

Alt+x apropos-variable

List variables whose name match Regular Expression pattern.

Warning: this does not show arbitrary elisp variables such as (setq xx 3). Only those declared defvar, defconst, defcustom.

Emacs/Elisp Doc Lookup

Emacs Hook

Emacs Lisp Variable