Emacs Reference - getting on-line help

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Getting on-line help from Emacs

This reference guide lists the on-line help and documentation facilities provided by GNU Emacs. This should provide useful help to anyone learning the facilities offered by the editor. We also have a recommended book, which will be helpful for those looking for an in-depth understanding of the editor.

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C-h or F1 N/A Used after a prefix key, displays a list of commands starting with that prefix. Note: There are a few prefix characters for which C-h will not work - however, F1 should work in all cases.

C-h C-h help-for-help Provides description of help facilities.

C-h a regex RET apropos-command List commands with names that match regex.

C-h b describe-bindings List all key bindings.

C-h c describe-key-briefly Followed by any other key. displays the name of the command that would be run by pressing the key. See also 'C-h k'.

C-h f describe-function Followed by a function name, displays documentation on the named function.

C-h h N/A Display the 'hello' file.

C-h i info Browse documentation files using the 'info' program.

C-h k describe-key Followed by any other key, gives online help for that key.

C-h l view-lossage Describe last 100 characters typed.

C-h m describe-mode Display documentation for the current major mode.

C-h n view-emacs-news List changes to emacs.

C-h p finder-by-keyword Search for packages by topic keyword.

C-h s describe-syntax Describe the contents of the syntax table.

C-h t help-with-tutorial Start the Emacs tutorial.

C-h v variable RET describe-variable Describe the lisp variable specified.

C-h w command RET where-is Display the key which runs the specified command.

C-h C coding RET describe-coding-system Describe the specified coding system.

C-h C RET N/A Describe the coding systems currently in use.

C-h I method RET describe-input-method Describe an input method.

C-h L language-environment describe-language-support Describe the specified language environment.

C-h C-c N/A Describe copying conditions for GNU Emacs.

C-h C-d N/A Describe how to get new versions of GNU Emacs.

C-h C-f function RET Info-goto-emacs-command-node Display documentation for the specified function.

C-h C-k key Info-goto-emacs-key-command-node Display documentation for the specified key.

C-h C-p N/A Describe the GNU project.

C-h TAB symbol RET info-lookup-symbol Describe the specified symbol, according to the programming language that is being edited.

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C-h or F1	N/A	Used after a prefix key, displays a list of commands starting with that prefix. Note: There are a few prefix characters for which C-h will not work - however, F1 should work in all cases.
C-h C-h	help-for-help	Provides description of help facilities.
C-h a regex RET	apropos-command	List commands with names that match regex.
C-h b	describe-bindings	List all key bindings.
C-h c	describe-key-briefly	Followed by any other key. displays the name of the command that would be run by pressing the key. See also 'C-h k'.
C-h f	describe-function	Followed by a function name, displays documentation on the named function.
C-h h	N/A	Display the 'hello' file.
C-h i	info	Browse documentation files using the 'info' program.
C-h k	describe-key	Followed by any other key, gives online help for that key.
C-h l	view-lossage	Describe last 100 characters typed.
C-h m	describe-mode	Display documentation for the current major mode.
C-h n	view-emacs-news	List changes to emacs.
C-h p	finder-by-keyword	Search for packages by topic keyword.
C-h s	describe-syntax	Describe the contents of the syntax table.
C-h t	help-with-tutorial	Start the Emacs tutorial.
C-h v variable RET	describe-variable	Describe the lisp variable specified.
C-h w command RET	where-is	Display the key which runs the specified command.
C-h C coding RET	describe-coding-system	Describe the specified coding system.
C-h C RET	N/A	Describe the coding systems currently in use.
C-h I method RET	describe-input-method	Describe an input method.
C-h L language-environment	describe-language-support	Describe the specified language environment.
C-h C-c	N/A	Describe copying conditions for GNU Emacs.
C-h C-d	N/A	Describe how to get new versions of GNU Emacs.
C-h C-f function RET	Info-goto-emacs-command-node	Display documentation for the specified function.
C-h C-k key	Info-goto-emacs-key-command-node	Display documentation for the specified key.
C-h C-p	N/A	Describe the GNU project.
C-h TAB symbol RET	info-lookup-symbol	Describe the specified symbol, according to the programming language that is being edited.