The key sequences used to execute commands, as described in the previous section, are only one way to execute an editor command. As a general rule, editor commands that are used frequently should involve as few key strokes as possible to allow for fast editing. The key sequences described above are quick and easy shortcuts for invoking commands.
Most editor commands can also be invoked explicitly by using their full names. For example, in the previous section we met the keystroke
Ctrl+A
which moves the current point to the beginning of the line. This keystroke is called a
key binding
and is a shortcut for executing the command
Beginning of Line
. To execute this command by name you must type
Meta+X
followed by the full command name (
Meta+X
itself is only a key binding for the command
Extended Command
).
Even though there may seem like a lot of typing to issue the extended version of a command, it is not generally necessary to type in the whole of a command to be executed. The
Tab
key can be used to complete a partially typed in extended command. The editor extends the command name as far as possible when
Tab
is used, and if the user is not sure of the rest of the command name, then pressing
Tab
again provides a list of possible completions. The command can then be selected from this list.
The most commonly used editor commands have a default binding associated with them.