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Chapter 19: Keymaps

The bindings between input events and commands are recorded in data structures called keymaps. Each binding in a keymap associates (or binds) an individual event type either with another keymap or with a command. When an event 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 key lookup.

  • Keymap Terminology Definitions of terms pertaining to 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 Each buffer has a local keymap to override the standard (global) bindings. A minor mode can also override them.
  • Key Lookup How extracting elements from keymaps works.
  • Functions for Key Lookup How to request key lookup.
  • Changing Key Bindings Redefining a key in a keymap.
  • Key Binding Commands Interactive interfaces for redefining keys.
  • Scanning Keymaps Looking through all keymaps, for printing help.
  • Menu Keymaps A keymap can define a menu.