Elisp Symbols

Table of Contents

1. Symbol Type

Symbols is used for variables or function names, aka identifiers; symbols can be held unevaluated. A symbol can be both function name, variable name, and/or font-face name.

Symbols whose name starts with a : is called a keyword symbol. These symbols automatically act as constants, and are normally used only by comparing an unknown symbol with a few specific alternatives.

1.1. Common Methods

Convert Symbol to String. Use symbol-name + quote

  (symbol-name (quote xxx))

1.2. Quoting Symbol

Return the argument without evaluating it. It has 2 forms

  (quote arg)
  ;; or
  'arg

Moreover, #'symbol returns the function bound to the symbol.

Date: 2026-07-22 Wed