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 to execute but are in effect only short hand versions of longer commands.
Most editor commands can be invoked explicitly by using their full names. For example, in the previous section we met the command Ctrl+A which moves the current point to the beginning of the line. This command is called a key binding and is only a shorter way of executing the command Beginning of Line . To execute this command by name the user must type in +X followed by the full command name ( +X itself is only a default 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 as far as possible when Tab is used, and if the user is not sure of the rest of the command, then pressing Tab again provides a list of possible completions. The relevant command can then be selected from this list.
The most commonly used editor commands have a default binding associated with them.