Emacs: Word vs Symbol

By Xah Lee. Date: .

What is the Difference Between Word vs Symbol

Emacs WORD usually means alphanumeric and hyphen.

SYMBOL means programing language's identifier. e.g. variable names, function names.

Usually, symbol characters includes the char lowline _.

In programing language modes, if the programing language allow hyphen in names, symbol also includes hypen.

The exact set of characters for word or symbol, defined in the current buffer's Syntax Table, and that is usually set by a Major Mode.