root/trunk/lispref/keymaps.texi

@c -*-texinfo-*-
@c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
@c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001,
@c   2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008  Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
@setfilename ../info/keymaps
@node Keymaps, Modes, Command Loop, Top
@chapter Keymaps
@cindex keymap

  The command bindings of input events are recorded in data structures
called @dfn{keymaps}.  Each entry in a keymap associates (or
@dfn{binds}) an individual event type, either to another keymap or to
a command.  When an event type is bound to a keymap, that keymap is
used to look up the next input event; this continues until a command
is found.  The whole process is called @dfn{key lookup}.

@menu
* Key Sequences::               Key sequences as Lisp objects.
* Keymap Basics::               Basic concepts of keymaps.
* Format of Keymaps::           What a keymap looks like as a Lisp object.
* Creating Keymaps::            Functions to create and copy keymaps.
* Inheritance and Keymaps::     How one keymap can inherit the bindings
                                   of another keymap.
* Prefix Keys::                 Defining a key with a keymap as its definition.
* Active Keymaps::              How Emacs searches the active keymaps
                                   for a key binding.
* Searching Keymaps::           A pseudo-Lisp summary of searching active maps.
* Controlling Active Maps::     Each buffer has a local keymap
                                   to override the standard (global) bindings.
                                   A minor mode can also override them.
* Key Lookup::                  Finding a key's binding in one keymap.
* Functions for Key Lookup::    How to request key lookup.
* Changing Key Bindings::       Redefining a key in a keymap.
* Remapping Commands::          A keymap can translate one command to another.
* Translation Keymaps::         Keymaps for translating sequences of events.
* Key Binding Commands::        Interactive interfaces for redefining keys.
* Scanning Keymaps::            Looking through all keymaps, for printing help.
* Menu Keymaps::                Defining a menu as a keymap.
@end menu

@node Key Sequences
@section Key Sequences
@cindex key
@cindex keystroke
@cindex key sequence

  A @dfn{key sequence}, or @dfn{key} for short, is a sequence of one
or more input events that form a unit.  Input events include
characters, function keys, and mouse actions (@pxref{Input Events}).
The Emacs Lisp representation for a key sequence is a string or
vector.  Unless otherwise stated, any Emacs Lisp function that accepts
a key sequence as an argument can handle both representations.

  In the string representation, alphanumeric characters ordinarily
stand for themselves; for example, @code{"a"} represents @kbd{a}
and @code{"2"} represents @kbd{2}.  Control character events are
prefixed by the substring @code{"\C-"}, and meta characters by
@code{"\M-"}; for example, @code{"\C-x"} represents the key @kbd{C-x}.
In addition, the @key{TAB}, @key{RET}, @key{ESC}, and @key{DEL} events
are represented by @code{"\t"}, @code{"\r"}, @code{"\e"}, and
@code{"\d"} respectively.  The string representation of a complete key
sequence is the concatenation of the string representations of the
constituent events; thus, @code{"\C-xl"} represents the key sequence
@kbd{C-x l}.

  Key sequences containing function keys, mouse button events, or
non-ASCII characters such as @kbd{C-=} or @kbd{H-a} cannot be
represented as strings; they have to be represented as vectors.

  In the vector representation, each element of the vector represents
an input event, in its Lisp form.  @xref{Input Events}.  For example,
the vector @code{[?\C-x ?l]} represents the key sequence @kbd{C-x l}.

  For examples of key sequences written in string and vector
representations, @ref{Init Rebinding,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.

@defmac kbd keyseq-text
This macro converts the text @var{keyseq-text} (a string constant)
into a key sequence (a string or vector constant).  The contents of
@var{keyseq-text} should describe the key sequence using almost the same
syntax used in this manual.  More precisely, it uses the same syntax
that Edit Macro mode uses for editing keyboard macros (@pxref{Edit
Keyboard Macro,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}); you must surround
function key names with @samp{<@dots{}>}.

@example
(kbd "C-x") @result{} "\C-x"
(kbd "C-x C-f") @result{} "\C-x\C-f"
(kbd "C-x 4 C-f") @result{} "\C-x4\C-f"
(kbd "X") @result{} "X"
(kbd "RET") @result{} "\^M"
(kbd "C-c SPC") @result{} "\C-c@ "
(kbd "<f1> SPC") @result{} [f1 32]
(kbd "C-M-<down>") @result{} [C-M-down]
@end example

This macro is not meant for use with arguments that vary---only
with string constants.
@end defmac

@node Keymap Basics
@section Keymap Basics
@cindex key binding
@cindex binding of a key
@cindex complete key
@cindex undefined key

  A keymap is a Lisp data structure that specifies @dfn{key bindings}
for various key sequences.

  A single keymap directly specifies definitions for individual
events.  When a key sequence consists of a single event, its binding
in a keymap is the keymap's definition for that event.  The binding of
a longer key sequence is found by an iterative process: first find the
definition of the first event (which must itself be a keymap); then
find the second event's definition in that keymap, and so on until all
the events in the key sequence have been processed.

  If the binding of a key sequence is a keymap, we call the key sequence
a @dfn{prefix key}.  Otherwise, we call it a @dfn{complete key} (because
no more events can be added to it).  If the binding is @code{nil},
we call the key @dfn{undefined}.  Examples of prefix keys are @kbd{C-c},
@kbd{C-x}, and @kbd{C-x 4}.  Examples of defined complete keys are
@kbd{X}, @key{RET}, and @kbd{C-x 4 C-f}.  Examples of undefined complete
keys are @kbd{C-x C-g}, and @kbd{C-c 3}.  @xref{Prefix Keys}, for more
details.

  The rule for finding the binding of a key sequence assumes that the
intermediate bindings (found for the events before the last) are all
keymaps; if this is not so, the sequence of events does not form a
unit---it is not really one key sequence.  In other words, removing one
or more events from the end of any valid key sequence must always yield
a prefix key.  For example, @kbd{C-f C-n} is not a key sequence;
@kbd{C-f} is not a prefix key, so a longer sequence starting with
@kbd{C-f} cannot be a key sequence.

  The set of possible multi-event key sequences depends on the bindings
for prefix keys; therefore, it can be different for different keymaps,
and can change when bindings are changed.  However, a one-event sequence
is always a key sequence, because it does not depend on any prefix keys
for its well-formedness.

  At any time, several primary keymaps are @dfn{active}---that is, in
use for finding key bindings.  These are the @dfn{global map}, which is
shared by all buffers; the @dfn{local keymap}, which is usually
associated with a specific major mode; and zero or more @dfn{minor mode
keymaps}, which belong to currently enabled minor modes.  (Not all minor
modes have keymaps.)  The local keymap bindings shadow (i.e., take
precedence over) the corresponding global bindings.  The minor mode
keymaps shadow both local and global keymaps.  @xref{Active Keymaps},
for details.

@node Format of Keymaps
@section Format of Keymaps
@cindex format of keymaps
@cindex keymap format
@cindex full keymap
@cindex sparse keymap

  Each keymap is a list whose @sc{car} is the symbol @code{keymap}.  The
remaining elements of the list define the key bindings of the keymap.
A symbol whose function definition is a keymap is also a keymap.  Use
the function @code{keymapp} (see below) to test whether an object is a
keymap.

  Several kinds of elements may appear in a keymap, after the symbol
@code{keymap} that begins it:

@table @code
@item (@var{type} .@: @var{binding})
This specifies one binding, for events of type @var{type}.  Each
ordinary binding applies to events of a particular @dfn{event type},
which is always a character or a symbol.  @xref{Classifying Events}.
In this kind of binding, @var{binding} is a command.

@item (@var{type} @var{item-name} @r{[}@var{cache}@r{]} .@: @var{binding})
This specifies a binding which is also a simple menu item that
displays as @var{item-name} in the menu.  @var{cache}, if present,
caches certain information for display in the menu.  @xref{Simple Menu
Items}.

@item (@var{type} @var{item-name} @var{help-string} @r{[}@var{cache}@r{]} .@: @var{binding})
This is a simple menu item with help string @var{help-string}.

@item (@var{type} menu-item .@: @var{details})
This specifies a binding which is also an extended menu item.  This
allows use of other features.  @xref{Extended Menu Items}.

@item (t .@: @var{binding})
@cindex default key binding
This specifies a @dfn{default key binding}; any event not bound by other
elements of the keymap is given @var{binding} as its binding.  Default
bindings allow a keymap to bind all possible event types without having
to enumerate all of them.  A keymap that has a default binding
completely masks any lower-precedence keymap, except for events
explicitly bound to @code{nil} (see below).

@item @var{char-table}
If an element of a keymap is a char-table, it counts as holding
bindings for all character events with no modifier bits
(@pxref{modifier bits}): element @var{n} is the binding for the
character with code @var{n}.  This is a compact way to record lots of
bindings.  A keymap with such a char-table is called a @dfn{full
keymap}.  Other keymaps are called @dfn{sparse keymaps}.

@item @var{string}
@cindex keymap prompt string
@cindex overall prompt string
@cindex prompt string of keymap
Aside from elements that specify bindings for keys, a keymap can also
have a string as an element.  This is called the @dfn{overall prompt
string} and makes it possible to use the keymap as a menu.
@xref{Defining Menus}.
@end table

When the binding is @code{nil}, it doesn't constitute a definition
but it does take precedence over a default binding or a binding in the
parent keymap.  On the other hand, a binding of @code{nil} does
@emph{not} override lower-precedence keymaps; thus, if the local map
gives a binding of @code{nil}, Emacs uses the binding from the
global map.

@cindex meta characters lookup
  Keymaps do not directly record bindings for the meta characters.
Instead, meta characters are regarded for purposes of key lookup as
sequences of two characters, the first of which is @key{ESC} (or
whatever is currently the value of @code{meta-prefix-char}).  Thus, the
key @kbd{M-a} is internally represented as @kbd{@key{ESC} a}, and its
global binding is found at the slot for @kbd{a} in @code{esc-map}
(@pxref{Prefix Keys}).

  This conversion applies only to characters, not to function keys or
other input events; thus, @kbd{M-@key{end}} has nothing to do with
@kbd{@key{ESC} @key{end}}.

  Here as an example is the local keymap for Lisp mode, a sparse
keymap.  It defines bindings for @key{DEL} and @key{TAB}, plus @kbd{C-c
C-l}, @kbd{M-C-q}, and @kbd{M-C-x}.

@example
@group
lisp-mode-map
@result{}
@end group
@group
(keymap
 (3 keymap
    ;; @kbd{C-c C-z}
    (26 . run-lisp))
@end group
@group
 (27 keymap
     ;; @r{@kbd{M-C-x}, treated as @kbd{@key{ESC} C-x}}
     (24 . lisp-send-defun)
     keymap
     ;; @r{@kbd{M-C-q}, treated as @kbd{@key{ESC} C-q}}
     (17 . indent-sexp))
@end group
@group
 ;; @r{This part is inherited from @code{lisp-mode-shared-map}.}
 keymap
 ;; @key{DEL}
 (127 . backward-delete-char-untabify)
@end group
@group
 (27 keymap
     ;; @r{@kbd{M-C-q}, treated as @kbd{@key{ESC} C-q}}
     (17 . indent-sexp))
 (9 . lisp-indent-line))
@end group
@end example

@defun keymapp object
This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a keymap, @code{nil}
otherwise.  More precisely, this function tests for a list whose
@sc{car} is @code{keymap}, or for a symbol whose function definition
satisfies @code{keymapp}.

@example
@group
(keymapp '(keymap))
    @result{} t
@end group
@group
(fset 'foo '(keymap))
(keymapp 'foo)
    @result{} t
@end group
@group
(keymapp (current-global-map))
    @result{} t
@end group
@end example
@end defun

@node Creating Keymaps
@section Creating Keymaps
@cindex creating keymaps

  Here we describe the functions for creating keymaps.

@defun make-sparse-keymap &optional prompt
This function creates and returns a new sparse keymap with no entries.
(A sparse keymap is the kind of keymap you usually want.)  The new
keymap does not contain a char-table, unlike @code{make-keymap}, and
does not bind any events.

@example
@group
(make-sparse-keymap)
    @result{} (keymap)
@end group
@end example

If you specify @var{prompt}, that becomes the overall prompt string
for the keymap.  You should specify this only for menu keymaps
(@pxref{Defining Menus}).  A keymap with an overall prompt string will
always present a mouse menu or a keyboard menu if it is active for
looking up the next input event.  Don't specify an overall prompt string
for the main map of a major or minor mode, because that would cause
the command loop to present a keyboard menu every time.
@end defun

@defun make-keymap &optional prompt
This function creates and returns a new full keymap.  That keymap
contains a char-table (@pxref{Char-Tables}) with slots for all
characters without modifiers.  The new keymap initially binds all
these characters to @code{nil}, and does not bind any other kind of
event.  The argument @var{prompt} specifies a
prompt string, as in @code{make-sparse-keymap}.

@example
@group
(make-keymap)
    @result{} (keymap #^[t nil nil nil @dots{} nil nil keymap])
@end group
@end example

A full keymap is more efficient than a sparse keymap when it holds
lots of bindings; for just a few, the sparse keymap is better.
@end defun

@defun copy-keymap keymap
This function returns a copy of @var{keymap}.  Any keymaps that
appear directly as bindings in @var{keymap} are also copied recursively,
and so on to any number of levels.  However, recursive copying does not
take place when the definition of a character is a symbol whose function
definition is a keymap; the same symbol appears in the new copy.
@c Emacs 19 feature

@example
@group
(setq map (copy-keymap (current-local-map)))
@result{} (keymap
@end group
@group
     ;; @r{(This implements meta characters.)}
     (27 keymap
         (83 . center-paragraph)
         (115 . center-line))
     (9 . tab-to-tab-stop))
@end group

@group
(eq map (current-local-map))
    @result{} nil
@end group
@group
(equal map (current-local-map))
    @result{} t
@end group
@end example
@end defun

@node Inheritance and Keymaps
@section Inheritance and Keymaps
@cindex keymap inheritance
@cindex inheriting a keymap's bindings

  A keymap can inherit the bindings of another keymap, which we call the
@dfn{parent keymap}.  Such a keymap looks like this:

@example
(keymap @var{elements}@dots{} . @var{parent-keymap})
@end example

@noindent
The effect is that this keymap inherits all the bindings of
@var{parent-keymap}, whatever they may be at the time a key is looked up,
but can add to them or override them with @var{elements}.

If you change the bindings in @var{parent-keymap} using
@code{define-key} or other key-binding functions, these changed
bindings are visible in the inheriting keymap, unless shadowed by the
bindings made by @var{elements}.  The converse is not true: if you use
@code{define-key} to change bindings in the inheriting keymap, these
changes are recorded in @var{elements}, but have no effect on
@var{parent-keymap}.

The proper way to construct a keymap with a parent is to use
@code{set-keymap-parent}; if you have code that directly constructs a
keymap with a parent, please convert the program to use
@code{set-keymap-parent} instead.

@defun keymap-parent keymap
This returns the parent keymap of @var{keymap}.  If @var{keymap}
has no parent, @code{keymap-parent} returns @code{nil}.
@end defun

@defun set-keymap-parent keymap parent
This sets the parent keymap of @var{keymap} to @var{parent}, and returns
@var{parent}.  If @var{parent} is @code{nil}, this function gives
@var{keymap} no parent at all.

If @var{keymap} has submaps (bindings for prefix keys), they too receive
new parent keymaps that reflect what @var{parent} specifies for those
prefix keys.
@end defun

   Here is an example showing how to make a keymap that inherits
from @code{text-mode-map}:

@example
(let ((map (make-sparse-keymap)))
  (set-keymap-parent map text-mode-map)
  map)
@end example

  A non-sparse keymap can have a parent too, but this is not very
useful.  A non-sparse keymap always specifies something as the binding
for every numeric character code without modifier bits, even if it is
@code{nil}, so these character's bindings are never inherited from
the parent keymap.

@node Prefix Keys
@section Prefix Keys
@cindex prefix key

  A @dfn{prefix key} is a key sequence whose binding is a keymap.  The
keymap defines what to do with key sequences that extend the prefix key.
For example, @kbd{C-x} is a prefix key, and it uses a keymap that is
also stored in the variable @code{ctl-x-map}.  This keymap defines
bindings for key sequences starting with @kbd{C-x}.

  Some of the standard Emacs prefix keys use keymaps that are
also found in Lisp variables:

@itemize @bullet
@item
@vindex esc-map
@findex ESC-prefix
@code{esc-map} is the global keymap for the @key{ESC} prefix key.  Thus,
the global definitions of all meta characters are actually found here.
This map is also the function definition of @code{ESC-prefix}.

@item
@cindex @kbd{C-h}
@code{help-map} is the global keymap for the @kbd{C-h} prefix key.

@item
@cindex @kbd{C-c}
@vindex mode-specific-map
@code{mode-specific-map} is the global keymap for the prefix key
@kbd{C-c}.  This map is actually global, not mode-specific, but its name
provides useful information about @kbd{C-c} in the output of @kbd{C-h b}
(@code{display-bindings}), since the main use of this prefix key is for
mode-specific bindings.

@item
@cindex @kbd{C-x}
@vindex ctl-x-map
@findex Control-X-prefix
@code{ctl-x-map} is the global keymap used for the @kbd{C-x} prefix key.
This map is found via the function cell of the symbol
@code{Control-X-prefix}.

@item
@cindex @kbd{C-x @key{RET}}
@vindex mule-keymap
@code{mule-keymap} is the global keymap used for the @kbd{C-x @key{RET}}
prefix key.

@item
@cindex @kbd{C-x 4}
@vindex ctl-x-4-map
@code{ctl-x-4-map} is the global keymap used for the @kbd{C-x 4} prefix
key.

@c Emacs 19 feature
@item
@cindex @kbd{C-x 5}
@vindex ctl-x-5-map
@code{ctl-x-5-map} is the global keymap used for the @kbd{C-x 5} prefix
key.

@c Emacs 19 feature
@item
@cindex @kbd{C-x 6}
@vindex 2C-mode-map
@code{2C-mode-map} is the global keymap used for the @kbd{C-x 6} prefix
key.

@item
@cindex @kbd{C-x v}
@vindex vc-prefix-map
@code{vc-prefix-map} is the global keymap used for the @kbd{C-x v} prefix
key.

@item
@cindex @kbd{M-o}
@vindex facemenu-keymap
@code{facemenu-keymap} is the global keymap used for the @kbd{M-o}
prefix key.

@c Emacs 19 feature
@item
The other Emacs prefix keys are @kbd{M-g}, @kbd{C-x @@}, @kbd{C-x a i},
@kbd{C-x @key{ESC}} and @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}}.  They use keymaps
that have no special names.
@end itemize

  The keymap binding of a prefix key is used for looking up the event
that follows the prefix key.  (It may instead be a symbol whose function
definition is a keymap.  The effect is the same, but the symbol serves
as a name for the prefix key.)  Thus, the binding of @kbd{C-x} is the
symbol @code{Control-X-prefix}, whose function cell holds the keymap
for @kbd{C-x} commands.  (The same keymap is also the value of
@code{ctl-x-map}.)

  Prefix key definitions can appear in any active keymap.  The
definitions of @kbd{C-c}, @kbd{C-x}, @kbd{C-h} and @key{ESC} as prefix
keys appear in the global map, so these prefix keys are always
available.  Major and minor modes can redefine a key as a prefix by
putting a prefix key definition for it in the local map or the minor
mode's map.  @xref{Active Keymaps}.

  If a key is defined as a prefix in more than one active map, then its
various definitions are in effect merged: the commands defined in the
minor mode keymaps come first, followed by those in the local map's
prefix definition, and then by those from the global map.

  In the following example, we make @kbd{C-p} a prefix key in the local
keymap, in such a way that @kbd{C-p} is identical to @kbd{C-x}.  Then
the binding for @kbd{C-p C-f} is the function @code{find-file}, just
like @kbd{C-x C-f}.  The key sequence @kbd{C-p 6} is not found in any
active keymap.

@example
@group
(use-local-map (make-sparse-keymap))
    @result{} nil
@end group
@group
(local-set-key "\C-p" ctl-x-map)
    @result{} nil
@end group
@group
(key-binding "\C-p\C-f")
    @result{} find-file
@end group

@group
(key-binding "\C-p6")
    @result{} nil
@end group
@end example

@defun define-prefix-command symbol &optional mapvar prompt
@cindex prefix command
@anchor{Definition of define-prefix-command}
This function prepares @var{symbol} for use as a prefix key's binding:
it creates a sparse keymap and stores it as @var{symbol}'s function
definition.  Subsequently binding a key sequence to @var{symbol} will
make that key sequence into a prefix key.  The return value is @code{symbol}.

This function also sets @var{symbol} as a variable, with the keymap as
its value.  But if @var{mapvar} is non-@code{nil}, it sets @var{mapvar}
as a variable instead.

If @var{prompt} is non-@code{nil}, that becomes the overall prompt
string for the keymap.  The prompt string should be given for menu keymaps
(@pxref{Defining Menus}).
@end defun

@node Active Keymaps
@section Active Keymaps
@cindex active keymap
@cindex global keymap
@cindex local keymap

  Emacs normally contains many keymaps; at any given time, just a few
of them are @dfn{active}, meaning that they participate in the
interpretation of user input.  All the active keymaps are used
together to determine what command to execute when a key is entered.

  Normally the active keymaps are the @code{keymap} property keymap,
the keymaps of any enabled minor modes, the current buffer's local
keymap, and the global keymap, in that order.  Emacs searches for each
input key sequence in all these keymaps.  @xref{Searching Keymaps},
for more details of this procedure.

  When the key sequence starts with a mouse event (optionally preceded
by a symbolic prefix), the active keymaps are determined based on the
position in that event.  If the event happened on a string embedded
with a @code{display}, @code{before-string}, or @code{after-string}
property (@pxref{Special Properties}), the non-@code{nil} map
properties of the string override those of the buffer.

  The @dfn{global keymap} holds the bindings of keys that are defined
regardless of the current buffer, such as @kbd{C-f}.  The variable
@code{global-map} holds this keymap, which is always active.

  Each buffer may have another keymap, its @dfn{local keymap}, which
may contain new or overriding definitions for keys.  The current
buffer's local keymap is always active except when
@code{overriding-local-map} overrides it.  The @code{local-map} text
or overlay property can specify an alternative local keymap for certain
parts of the buffer; see @ref{Special Properties}.

  Each minor mode can have a keymap; if it does, the keymap is active
when the minor mode is enabled.  Modes for emulation can specify
additional active keymaps through the variable
@code{emulation-mode-map-alists}.

  The highest precedence normal keymap comes from the @code{keymap}
text or overlay property.  If that is non-@code{nil}, it is the first
keymap to be processed, in normal circumstances.

  However, there are also special ways for programs to substitute
other keymaps for some of those.  The variable
@code{overriding-local-map}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies a keymap
that replaces all the usual active keymaps except the global keymap.
Another way to do this is with @code{overriding-terminal-local-map};
it operates on a per-terminal basis.  These variables are documented
below.

@cindex major mode keymap
  Since every buffer that uses the same major mode normally uses the
same local keymap, you can think of the keymap as local to the mode.  A
change to the local keymap of a buffer (using @code{local-set-key}, for
example) is seen also in the other buffers that share that keymap.

  The local keymaps that are used for Lisp mode and some other major
modes exist even if they have not yet been used.  These local keymaps are
the values of variables such as @code{lisp-mode-map}.  For most major
modes, which are less frequently used, the local keymap is constructed
only when the mode is used for the first time in a session.

  The minibuffer has local keymaps, too; they contain various completion
and exit commands.  @xref{Intro to Minibuffers}.

  Emacs has other keymaps that are used in a different way---translating
events within @code{read-key-sequence}.  @xref{Translation Keymaps}.

  @xref{Standard Keymaps}, for a list of standard keymaps.

@defun current-active-maps &optional olp
This returns the list of active keymaps that would be used by the
command loop in the current circumstances to look up a key sequence.
Normally it ignores @code{overriding-local-map} and
@code{overriding-terminal-local-map}, but if @var{olp} is
non-@code{nil} then it pays attention to them.
@end defun

@defun key-binding key &optional accept-defaults no-remap position
This function returns the binding for @var{key} according to the
current active keymaps.  The result is @code{nil} if @var{key} is
undefined in the keymaps.

The argument @var{accept-defaults} controls checking for default
bindings, as in @code{lookup-key} (above).

When commands are remapped (@pxref{Remapping Commands}),
@code{key-binding} normally processes command remappings so as to
returns the remapped command that will actually be executed.  However,
if @var{no-remap} is non-@code{nil}, @code{key-binding} ignores
remappings and returns the binding directly specified for @var{key}.

If @var{key} starts with a mouse event (perhaps following a prefix
event), the maps to be consulted are determined based on the event's
position.  Otherwise, they are determined based on the value of point.
However, you can override either of them by specifying @var{position}.
If @var{position} is non-@code{nil}, it should be either a buffer
position or an event position like the value of @code{event-start}.
Then the maps consulted are determined based on @var{position}.

An error is signaled if @var{key} is not a string or a vector.

@example
@group
(key-binding "\C-x\C-f")
    @result{} find-file
@end group
@end example
@end defun

@node Searching Keymaps
@section Searching the Active Keymaps
@cindex searching active keymaps for keys

  After translation of event subsequences (@pxref{Translation
Keymaps}) Emacs looks for them in the active keymaps.  Here is a
pseudo-Lisp description of the order and conditions for searching
them:

@lisp
(or (if overriding-terminal-local-map
        (@var{find-in} overriding-terminal-local-map)
      (if overriding-local-map
          (@var{find-in} overriding-local-map)
        (or (@var{find-in} (get-char-property (point) 'keymap))
            (@var{find-in-any} emulation-mode-map-alists)
            (@var{find-in-any} minor-mode-overriding-map-alist)
            (@var{find-in-any} minor-mode-map-alist)
            (if (get-text-property (point) 'local-map)
                (@var{find-in} (get-char-property (point) 'local-map))
              (@var{find-in} (current-local-map))))))
    (@var{find-in} (current-global-map)))
@end lisp

@noindent
The @var{find-in} and @var{find-in-any} are pseudo functions that
search in one keymap and in an alist of keymaps, respectively.
(Searching a single keymap for a binding is called @dfn{key lookup};
see @ref{Key Lookup}.)  If the key sequence starts with a mouse event,
or a symbolic prefix event followed by a mouse event, that event's
position is used instead of point and the current buffer.  Mouse
events on an embedded string use non-@code{nil} text properties from
that string instead of the buffer.

@enumerate
@item
The function finally found may be remapped
(@pxref{Remapping Commands}).

@item
Characters that are bound to @code{self-insert-command} are translated
according to @code{translation-table-for-input} before insertion.

@item
@code{current-active-maps} returns a list of the
currently active keymaps at point.

@item
When a match is found (@pxref{Key Lookup}), if the binding in the
keymap is a function, the search is over.  However if the keymap entry
is a symbol with a value or a string, Emacs replaces the input key
sequences with the variable's value or the string, and restarts the
search of the active keymaps.
@end enumerate

@node Controlling Active Maps
@section Controlling the Active Keymaps

@defvar global-map
This variable contains the default global keymap that maps Emacs
keyboard input to commands.  The global keymap is normally this
keymap.  The default global keymap is a full keymap that binds
@code{self-insert-command} to all of the printing characters.

It is normal practice to change the bindings in the global keymap, but you
should not assign this variable any value other than the keymap it starts
out with.
@end defvar

@defun current-global-map
This function returns the current global keymap.  This is the
same as the value of @code{global-map} unless you change one or the
other.

@example
@group
(current-global-map)
@result{} (keymap [set-mark-command beginning-of-line @dots{}
            delete-backward-char])
@end group
@end example
@end defun

@defun current-local-map
This function returns the current buffer's local keymap, or @code{nil}
if it has none.  In the following example, the keymap for the
@samp{*scratch*} buffer (using Lisp Interaction mode) is a sparse keymap
in which the entry for @key{ESC}, @acronym{ASCII} code 27, is another sparse
keymap.

@example
@group
(current-local-map)
@result{} (keymap
    (10 . eval-print-last-sexp)
    (9 . lisp-indent-line)
    (127 . backward-delete-char-untabify)
@end group
@group
    (27 keymap
        (24 . eval-defun)
        (17 . indent-sexp)))
@end group
@end example
@end defun

@defun current-minor-mode-maps
This function returns a list of the keymaps of currently enabled minor modes.
@end defun

@defun use-global-map keymap
This function makes @var{keymap} the new current global keymap.  It
returns @code{nil}.

It is very unusual to change the global keymap.
@end defun

@defun use-local-map keymap
This function makes @var{keymap} the new local keymap of the current
buffer.  If @var{keymap} is @code{nil}, then the buffer has no local
keymap.  @code{use-local-map} returns @code{nil}.  Most major mode
commands use this function.
@end defun

@c Emacs 19 feature
@defvar minor-mode-map-alist
@anchor{Definition of minor-mode-map-alist}
This variable is an alist describing keymaps that may or may not be
active according to the values of certain variables.  Its elements look
like this:

@example
(@var{variable} . @var{keymap})
@end example

The keymap @var{keymap} is active whenever @var{variable} has a
non-@code{nil} value.  Typically @var{variable} is the variable that
enables or disables a minor mode.  @xref{Keymaps and Minor Modes}.

Note that elements of @code{minor-mode-map-alist} do not have the same
structure as elements of @code{minor-mode-alist}.  The map must be the
@sc{cdr} of the element; a list with the map as the second element will
not do.  The @sc{cdr} can be either a keymap (a list) or a symbol whose
function definition is a keymap.

When more than one minor mode keymap is active, the earlier one in
@code{minor-mode-map-alist} takes priority.  But you should design
minor modes so that they don't interfere with each other.  If you do
this properly, the order will not matter.

See @ref{Keymaps and Minor Modes}, for more information about minor
modes.  See also @code{minor-mode-key-binding} (@pxref{Functions for Key
Lookup}).
@end defvar

@defvar minor-mode-overriding-map-alist
This variable allows major modes to override the key bindings for
particular minor modes.  The elements of this alist look like the
elements of @code{minor-mode-map-alist}: @code{(@var{variable}
. @var{keymap})}.

If a variable appears as an element of
@code{minor-mode-overriding-map-alist}, the map specified by that
element totally replaces any map specified for the same variable in
@code{minor-mode-map-alist}.

@code{minor-mode-overriding-map-alist} is automatically buffer-local in
all buffers.
@end defvar

@defvar overriding-local-map
If non-@code{nil}, this variable holds a keymap to use instead of the
buffer's local keymap, any text property or overlay keymaps, and any
minor mode keymaps.  This keymap, if specified, overrides all other
maps that would have been active, except for the current global map.
@end defvar

@defvar overriding-terminal-local-map
If non-@code{nil}, this variable holds a keymap to use instead of
@code{overriding-local-map}, the buffer's local keymap, text property
or overlay keymaps, and all the minor mode keymaps.

This variable is always local to the current terminal and cannot be
buffer-local.  @xref{Multiple Displays}.  It is used to implement
incremental search mode.
@end defvar

@defvar overriding-local-map-menu-flag
If this variable is non-@code{nil}, the value of
@code{overriding-local-map} or @code{overriding-terminal-local-map} can
affect the display of the menu bar.  The default value is @code{nil}, so
those map variables have no effect on the menu bar.

Note that these two map variables do affect the execution of key
sequences entered using the menu bar, even if they do not affect the
menu bar display.  So if a menu bar key sequence comes in, you should
clear the variables before looking up and executing that key sequence.
Modes that use the variables would typically do this anyway; normally
they respond to events that they do not handle by ``unreading'' them and
exiting.
@end defvar

@defvar special-event-map
This variable holds a keymap for special events.  If an event type has a
binding in this keymap, then it is special, and the binding for the
event is run directly by @code{read-event}.  @xref{Special Events}.
@end defvar

@defvar emulation-mode-map-alists
This variable holds a list of keymap alists to use for emulations
modes.  It is intended for modes or packages using multiple minor-mode
keymaps.  Each element is a keymap alist which has the same format and
meaning as @code{minor-mode-map-alist}, or a symbol with a variable
binding which is such an alist.  The ``active'' keymaps in each alist
are used before @code{minor-mode-map-alist} and
@code{minor-mode-overriding-map-alist}.
@end defvar

@node Key Lookup
@section Key Lookup
@cindex key lookup
@cindex keymap entry

  @dfn{Key lookup} is the process of finding the binding of a key
sequence from a given keymap.  The execution or use of the binding is
not part of key lookup.

  Key lookup uses just the event type of each event in the key sequence;
the rest of the event is ignored.  In fact, a key sequence used for key
lookup may designate a mouse event with just its types (a symbol)
instead of the entire event (a list).  @xref{Input Events}.  Such
a ``key sequence'' is insufficient for @code{command-execute} to run,
but it is sufficient for looking up or rebinding a key.

  When the key sequence consists of multiple events, key lookup
processes the events sequentially: the binding of the first event is
found, and must be a keymap; then the second event's binding is found in
that keymap, and so on until all the events in the key sequence are used
up.  (The binding thus found for the last event may or may not be a
keymap.)  Thus, the process of key lookup is defined in terms of a
simpler process for looking up a single event in a keymap.  How that is
done depends on the type of object associated with the event in that
keymap.

  Let's use the term @dfn{keymap entry} to describe the value found by
looking up an event type in a keymap.  (This doesn't include the item
string and other extra elements in a keymap element for a menu item, because
@code{lookup-key} and other key lookup functions don't include them in
the returned value.)  While any Lisp object may be stored in a keymap
as a keymap entry, not all make sense for key lookup.  Here is a table
of the meaningful types of keymap entries:

@table @asis
@item @code{nil}
@cindex @code{nil} in keymap
@code{nil} means that the events used so far in the lookup form an
undefined key.  When a keymap fails to mention an event type at all, and
has no default binding, that is equivalent to a binding of @code{nil}
for that event type.

@item @var{command}
@cindex command in keymap
The events used so far in the lookup form a complete key,
and @var{command} is its binding.  @xref{What Is a Function}.

@item @var{array}
@cindex string in keymap
The array (either a string or a vector) is a keyboard macro.  The events
used so far in the lookup form a complete key, and the array is its
binding.  See @ref{Keyboard Macros}, for more information.

@item @var{keymap}
@cindex keymap in keymap
The events used so far in the lookup form a prefix key.  The next
event of the key sequence is looked up in @var{keymap}.

@item @var{list}
@cindex list in keymap
The meaning of a list depends on what it contains:

@itemize @bullet
@item
If the @sc{car} of @var{list} is the symbol @code{keymap}, then the list
is a keymap, and is treated as a keymap (see above).

@item
@cindex @code{lambda} in keymap
If the @sc{car} of @var{list} is @code{lambda}, then the list is a
lambda expression.  This is presumed to be a function, and is treated
as such (see above).  In order to execute properly as a key binding,
this function must be a command---it must have an @code{interactive}
specification.  @xref{Defining Commands}.

@item
If the @sc{car} of @var{list} is a keymap and the @sc{cdr} is an event
type, then this is an @dfn{indirect entry}:

@example
(@var{othermap} . @var{othertype})
@end example

When key lookup encounters an indirect entry, it looks up instead the
binding of @var{othertype} in @var{othermap} and uses that.

This feature permits you to define one key as an alias for another key.
For example, an entry whose @sc{car} is the keymap called @code{esc-map}
and whose @sc{cdr} is 32 (the code for @key{SPC}) means, ``Use the global
binding of @kbd{Meta-@key{SPC}}, whatever that may be.''
@end itemize

@item @var{symbol}
@cindex symbol in keymap
The function definition of @var{symbol} is used in place of
@var{symbol}.  If that too is a symbol, then this process is repeated,
any number of times.  Ultimately this should lead to an object that is
a keymap, a command, or a keyboard macro.  A list is allowed if it is a
keymap or a command, but indirect entries are not understood when found
via symbols.

Note that keymaps and keyboard macros (strings and vectors) are not
valid functions, so a symbol with a keymap, string, or vector as its
function definition is invalid as a function.  It is, however, valid as
a key binding.  If the definition is a keyboard macro, then the symbol
is also valid as an argument to @code{command-execute}
(@pxref{Interactive Call}).

@cindex @code{undefined} in keymap
The symbol @code{undefined} is worth special mention: it means to treat
the key as undefined.  Strictly speaking, the key is defined, and its
binding is the command @code{undefined}; but that command does the same
thing that is done automatically for an undefined key: it rings the bell
(by calling @code{ding}) but does not signal an error.

@cindex preventing prefix key
@code{undefined} is used in local keymaps to override a global key
binding and make the key ``undefined'' locally.  A local binding of
@code{nil} would fail to do this because it would not override the
global binding.

@item @var{anything else}
If any other type of object is found, the events used so far in the
lookup form a complete key, and the object is its binding, but the
binding is not executable as a command.
@end table

  In short, a keymap entry may be a keymap, a command, a keyboard macro,
a symbol that leads to one of them, or an indirection or @code{nil}.
Here is an example of a sparse keymap with two characters bound to
commands and one bound to another keymap.  This map is the normal value
of @code{emacs-lisp-mode-map}.  Note that 9 is the code for @key{TAB},
127 for @key{DEL}, 27 for @key{ESC}, 17 for @kbd{C-q} and 24 for
@kbd{C-x}.

@example
@group
(keymap (9 . lisp-indent-line)
        (127 . backward-delete-char-untabify)
        (27 keymap (17 . indent-sexp) (24 . eval-defun)))
@end group
@end example

@node Functions for Key Lookup
@section Functions for Key Lookup

  Here are the functions and variables pertaining to key lookup.

@defun lookup-key keymap key &optional accept-defaults
This function returns the definition of @var{key} in @var{keymap}.  All
the other functions described in this chapter that look up keys use
@code{lookup-key}.  Here are examples:

@example
@group
(lookup-key (current-global-map) "\C-x\C-f")
    @result{} find-file
@end group
@group
(lookup-key (current-global-map) (kbd "C-x C-f"))
    @result{} find-file
@end group
@group
(lookup-key (current-global-map) "\C-x\C-f12345")
    @result{} 2
@end group
@end example

If the string or vector @var{key} is not a valid key sequence according
to the prefix keys specified in @var{keymap}, it must be ``too long''
and have extra events at the end that do not fit into a single key
sequence.  Then the value is a number, the number of events at the front
of @var{key} that compose a complete key.

@c Emacs 19 feature
If @var{accept-defaults} is non-@code{nil}, then @code{lookup-key}
considers default bindings as well as bindings for the specific events
in @var{key}.  Otherwise, @code{lookup-key} reports only bindings for
the specific sequence @var{key}, ignoring default bindings except when
you explicitly ask about them.  (To do this, supply @code{t} as an
element of @var{key}; see @ref{Format of Keymaps}.)

If @var{key} contains a meta character (not a function key), that
character is implicitly replaced by a two-character sequence: the value
of @code{meta-prefix-char}, followed by the corresponding non-meta
character.  Thus, the first example below is handled by conversion into
the second example.

@example
@group
(lookup-key (current-global-map) "\M-f")
    @result{} forward-word
@end group
@group
(lookup-key (current-global-map) "\ef")
    @result{} forward-word
@end group
@end example

Unlike @code{read-key-sequence}, this function does not modify the
specified events in ways that discard information (@pxref{Key Sequence
Input}).  In particular, it does not convert letters to lower case and
it does not change drag events to clicks.
@end defun

@deffn Command undefined
Used in keymaps to undefine keys.  It calls @code{ding}, but does
not cause an error.
@end deffn

@defun local-key-binding key &optional accept-defaults
This function returns the binding for @var{key} in the current
local keymap, or @code{nil} if it is undefined there.

@c Emacs 19 feature
The argument @var{accept-defaults} controls checking for default bindings,
as in @code{lookup-key} (above).
@end defun

@defun global-key-binding key &optional accept-defaults
This function returns the binding for command @var{key} in the
current global keymap, or @code{nil} if it is undefined there.

@c Emacs 19 feature
The argument @var{accept-defaults} controls checking for default bindings,
as in @code{lookup-key} (above).
@end defun

@c Emacs 19 feature
@defun minor-mode-key-binding key &optional accept-defaults
This function returns a list of all the active minor mode bindings of
@var{key}.  More precisely, it returns an alist of pairs
@code{(@var{modename} . @var{binding})}, where @var{modename} is the
variable that enables the minor mode, and @var{binding} is @var{key}'s
binding in that mode.  If @var{key} has no minor-mode bindings, the
value is @code{nil}.

If the first binding found is not a prefix definition (a keymap or a
symbol defined as a keymap), all subsequent bindings from other minor
modes are omitted, since they would be completely shadowed.  Similarly,
the list omits non-prefix bindings that follow prefix bindings.

The argument @var{accept-defaults} controls checking for default
bindings, as in @code{lookup-key} (above).
@end defun

@defvar meta-prefix-char
@cindex @key{ESC}
This variable is the meta-prefix character code.  It is used for
translating a meta character to a two-character sequence so it can be
looked up in a keymap.  For useful results, the value should be a
prefix event (@pxref{Prefix Keys}).  The default value is 27, which is
the @acronym{ASCII} code for @key{ESC}.

As long as the value of @code{meta-prefix-char} remains 27, key lookup
translates @kbd{M-b} into @kbd{@key{ESC} b}, which is normally defined
as the @code{backward-word} command.  However, if you were to set
@code{meta-prefix-char} to 24, the code for @kbd{C-x}, then Emacs will
translate @kbd{M-b} into @kbd{C-x b}, whose standard binding is the
@code{switch-to-buffer} command.  (Don't actually do this!)  Here is an
illustration of what would happen:

@smallexample
@group
meta-prefix-char                    ; @r{The default value.}
     @result{} 27
@end group
@group
(key-binding "\M-b")
     @result{} backward-word
@end group
@group
?\C-x                               ; @r{The print representation}
     @result{} 24                          ;   @r{of a character.}
@end group
@group
(setq meta-prefix-char 24)
     @result{} 24
@end group
@group
(key-binding "\M-b")
     @result{} switch-to-buffer            ; @r{Now, typing @kbd{M-b} is}
                                    ;   @r{like typing @kbd{C-x b}.}

(setq meta-prefix-char 27)          ; @r{Avoid confusion!}
     @result{} 27                          ; @r{Restore the default value!}
@end group
@end smallexample

This translation of one event into two happens only for characters, not
for other kinds of input events.  Thus, @kbd{M-@key{F1}}, a function
key, is not converted into @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{F1}}.
@end defvar

@node Changing Key Bindings
@section Changing Key Bindings
@cindex cha