Emacs Reference - minibuffer handling

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Minibuffer handling

This reference guide lists the commands available within GNU Emacs for handling the minibuffer.

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C-g N/A Exit mini-buffer - for example, to cancel any command which has displayed a prompt.

C-o N/A Enter a newline. Useful in a minibuffer where RET can't be used, as it exits the minibuffer.

M-x resize-minibuffer-mode resize-minibuffer-mode Toggle the minor mode that enables the minibuffer window to resize to contain the text that is entered within it.

C-M-v N/A Scroll help text in minibuffer. If used in selecting completions, scrolls a long list of completion options.

TAB [when used in minibuffer] minibuffer-complete Complete as much minibuffer as possible, or provide completion options.

SPC [when used in minibuffer] minibuffer-complete-word Complete minibuffer word, or provide completion options.

RET [when used in minibuffer] minibuffer-complete-and-exit Complete minibuffer if possible, and exit.

? [when used in minibuffer] minibuffer-list-completions List possible completions.

PRIOR, PAGE-UP or M-v [when used when a completion list is offered] switch-to-completions Move to window showing completions, to select a completion.

RET [when choosing a completion] choose-completion Choose completion.

RIGHT [when choosing a completion] next-completion Move to the next completion.

LEFT [when choosing a completion] previous-completion Move to the previous completion.

M-p previous-history-element Move to previous argument in minibuffer history.

M-n next-history-element Move to next argument in minibuffer history.

M-r regex RET previous-matching-history-element Move to previous argument in minibuffer history that contains a match for regular expression 'regex'.

M-s regex RET next-matching-history-element Move to next argument in minibuffer history that contains a match for regular expression 'regex'.

C-x ESC ESC repeat-complex-command Repeat a minibuffer command.

M-x list-command-history list-command-history Show command history (only shows commands that C-x ESC ESC can repeat).

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C-g	N/A	Exit mini-buffer - for example, to cancel any command which has displayed a prompt.
C-o	N/A	Enter a newline. Useful in a minibuffer where RET can't be used, as it exits the minibuffer.
M-x resize-minibuffer-mode	resize-minibuffer-mode	Toggle the minor mode that enables the minibuffer window to resize to contain the text that is entered within it.
C-M-v	N/A	Scroll help text in minibuffer. If used in selecting completions, scrolls a long list of completion options.
TAB [when used in minibuffer]	minibuffer-complete	Complete as much minibuffer as possible, or provide completion options.
SPC [when used in minibuffer]	minibuffer-complete-word	Complete minibuffer word, or provide completion options.
RET [when used in minibuffer]	minibuffer-complete-and-exit	Complete minibuffer if possible, and exit.
? [when used in minibuffer]	minibuffer-list-completions	List possible completions.
PRIOR, PAGE-UP or M-v [when used when a completion list is offered]	switch-to-completions	Move to window showing completions, to select a completion.
RET [when choosing a completion]	choose-completion	Choose completion.
RIGHT [when choosing a completion]	next-completion	Move to the next completion.
LEFT [when choosing a completion]	previous-completion	Move to the previous completion.
M-p	previous-history-element	Move to previous argument in minibuffer history.
M-n	next-history-element	Move to next argument in minibuffer history.
M-r regex RET	previous-matching-history-element	Move to previous argument in minibuffer history that contains a match for regular expression 'regex'.
M-s regex RET	next-matching-history-element	Move to next argument in minibuffer history that contains a match for regular expression 'regex'.
C-x ESC ESC	repeat-complex-command	Repeat a minibuffer command.
M-x list-command-history	list-command-history	Show command history (only shows commands that C-x ESC ESC can repeat).