List of Emacs commands

Emacs uses many keyboard commands

The control key [Ctrl] is denoted by a capital C, and the meta or alt [Alt] key by a capital M.

Command

Keystroke

Description

forward-character

C-f

Move forward(right) past one character.

backward-character

C-b

Move backward(left) past one character.

forward-line

C-n

Move forward(down) past one line.

backward-line

C-p

Move backward(up) past one line.

forward-word

M-f

Move forward(right) past one word.

backward-word

M-b

Move backward(left) past one word.

search-word

C-s

Search for a word in the buffer.

undo

C-/

Undo last change, and prior changes if pressed repeatedly.

keyboard-quit

C-g

Abort the current command.

fill-paragraph

M-q

Wrap text in ("fill") a paragraph.

find-file

C-x C-f

Visit(open) a file (you specify the name) in its own editor buffer.

save-buffer

C-x C-s

Save the current editor buffer in its visited file.

save-with-newname

C-x C-w

Save the current editor buffer as a file with the name you specify.

save-buffers-kill-emacs

C-x C-c

Offer to save changes, then exit Emacs.

set-marker

C-[space]

Set a marker from where you want to cut or copy.

cut

C-w

Cut all text between the marker and the cursor.

copy

M-w

Copy all text between the marker and the cursor.

paste

C-y

Paste text from the emacs clipboard

kill buffer

C-x k

Kill the current buffer

Suspend program

C-z

Suspend the program