EmacsWiki: Buffer (original) (raw)
(This is a glossary page. It is not for how-to information.)
An Emacs buffer is similar to what other systems might call a file, document, workspace or editor. A buffer can contain text and images.
Buffers are shown in windows on the screen. A buffer can be displayed in more than one window at a time, or it might not be displayed at all.
At the bottom of each window is a ModeLine that describes the buffer and its state. Every buffer has a unique buffer name; the name is shown in the mode-line.
By default, visiting a file puts the file content into a buffer and displays it in a window. By default, the buffer name is based on the (relative) file name.
Saving a buffer writes it to its visited file.
Killing a buffer discards its contents. By default, Emacs prompts you if there are unsaved changes.
By convention, buffers whose names start with an asterisk (*) are not associated with files. For example, by default Emacs starts with an empty buffer named *scratch*. If such buffers have unsaved changes when you exit Emacs, these buffers are discarded without asking.
Buffers whose names start with a space are invisible, which means they are hidden from many operations. These buffers are typically created and used by Emacs for internal purposes.
Buffer Commands and Their Keys
| Key | Meaning | Command |
|---|---|---|
| C-x C-f | Find and visit a file | find-file |
| C-x C-r | Visit a file in read-only mode | find-file-read-only |
| C-x C-s | Save the current buffer to its file | save-buffer |
| C-x C-w | Save the current buffer contents to a file you specify (Save As) | write-file |
| C-x k | Kill a buffer you name | kill-buffer |
| C-x b | Switch to editing a buffer you specify | switch-to-buffer |
| C-x C-b | Open the BufferMenu | list-buffers |