Skip to content

Emacs

Emacs Keyboard Reference

Emacs is an extensible, self-documenting text editor with a philosophy of keeping your fingers on the home row. Keybindings use modifier key prefixes: C- means hold Ctrl, M- means hold Alt (Meta). Many commands use two-step key sequences called prefix keys (e.g., C-x followed by another key).

The Absolute Essentials

  • Cancel Command (C-g): Cancel whatever you're doing. The universal "get me out of here" key.
  • Open File (C-x C-f): Find/open a file.
  • Save File (C-x C-s): Save the current buffer.
  • Save As (C-x C-w): Write the buffer to a different file.
  • Quit Emacs (C-x C-c): Exit Emacs (prompts to save unsaved buffers).
  • Undo (C-/): Undo the last change. Also C-_ or C-x u.
  • Redo: Undo the undo -- press C-g then C-/ to start redoing.

Movement

  • Character: C-f (forward), C-b (backward).
  • Word: M-f (forward word), M-b (backward word).
  • Line: C-a (beginning of line), C-e (end of line).
  • Sentence: M-a (beginning of sentence), M-e (end of sentence).
  • Paragraph: M-{ (backward paragraph), M-} (forward paragraph).
  • Page: C-v (scroll down), M-v (scroll up).
  • Buffer: M-< (beginning of buffer), M-> (end of buffer).
  • Go to Line (M-g g): Jump to a specific line number.
  • Recenter (C-l): Center the screen on the cursor. Press again for top, then bottom.

Editing

  • Kill (Cut) Line (C-k): Kill from cursor to end of line. Repeat to kill the newline.
  • Kill Word (M-d): Kill forward one word.
  • Kill Word Backward (M-Backspace): Kill backward one word.
  • Kill Region (C-w): Kill the selected region (cut).
  • Copy Region (M-w): Copy the selected region without killing it.
  • Yank (Paste) (C-y): Paste the last killed text.
  • Yank Pop (M-y): After C-y, cycle through the kill ring (previous kills).
  • Transpose Characters (C-t): Swap the two characters around the cursor.
  • Transpose Words (M-t): Swap the two words around the cursor.
  • Upcase Word (M-u): Uppercase the current word.
  • Downcase Word (M-l): Lowercase the current word.
  • Capitalize Word (M-c): Capitalize the current word.

Selection (Mark & Region)

  • Set Mark (C-Space): Begin selecting text. Move the cursor to extend the selection.
  • Select All (C-x h): Select the entire buffer.
  • Exchange Point and Mark (C-x C-x): Swap cursor position with the other end of the selection.
  • Rectangle Selection (C-x Space): Start a rectangular region selection.

Search & Replace

  • Incremental Search Forward (C-s): Search forward. Press C-s again for next match.
  • Incremental Search Backward (C-r): Search backward.
  • Regex Search (C-M-s): Search forward with a regular expression.
  • Query Replace (M-%): Search and replace with confirmation for each match.
  • Regex Replace (C-M-%): Search and replace using regular expressions.

Buffers & Windows

  • List Buffers (C-x C-b): Show all open buffers.
  • Switch Buffer (C-x b): Switch to another buffer by name.
  • Kill Buffer (C-x k): Close a buffer.
  • Split Horizontally (C-x 2): Split the window into top and bottom.
  • Split Vertically (C-x 3): Split the window into left and right.
  • Close Other Windows (C-x 1): Make the current window the only one.
  • Close This Window (C-x 0): Close the current window (buffer stays open).
  • Switch Window (C-x o): Move cursor to the next window.
  • Enlarge Window (C-x ^): Make the current window taller.

Help System

  • Help Prefix (C-h): Opens the help system. Follow with:
    • t: Tutorial.
    • k: Describe what a key does.
    • f: Describe a function.
    • v: Describe a variable.
    • a: Search for commands by keyword (apropos).
    • i: Open the info manual.
    • m: Describe the current mode.

Modes & Commands

  • Execute Command (M-x): Run any Emacs command by name (e.g., M-x shell, M-x compile).
  • Shell Command (M-!): Run a shell command and show output.
  • Shell Command on Region (M-|): Pipe the selected region through a shell command.
  • Compile (M-x compile): Run a compile command.
  • Next Error (C-x `): Jump to the next error in the compilation buffer.

Dired (File Manager)

  • Open Dired (C-x d): Open a directory listing.
  • Inside Dired:
    • Enter: Open the file or directory.
    • d: Mark for deletion.
    • x: Execute deletions.
    • R: Rename/move a file.
    • C: Copy a file.
    • +: Create a directory.
    • g: Refresh the listing.
    • q: Quit Dired.

Customization

  • Config File: ~/.emacs or ~/.emacs.d/init.el
  • Example Keybinding: 
    ;; Bind F5 to revert buffer
(global-set-key (kbd "<f5>") 'revert-buffer)

;; Bind C-c c to compile
(global-set-key (kbd "C-c c") 'compile)
  • Popular Starter Kits:
    • Doom Emacs: Vim-style keybindings (Evil mode) with modern defaults.
    • Spacemacs: Combines Emacs and Vim paradigms with a leader-key system.
    • Prelude: Opinionated but lightweight Emacs starter kit.