8.2 Documentation for a Key

The most basic C-h options are C-h c (describe-key-briefly) and C-h k (describe-key). C-h c key prints in the echo area the name of the command that key is bound to. For example, C-h c C-f prints ‘forward-char’. Since command names are chosen to describe what the commands do, this is a good way to get a very brief description of what key does.

C-h k key is similar to C-h c but gives more information. It displays the documentation string of the function key is bound to as well as its name. key is a string or vector of events. When called interactively, key may also be a menu selection. This information does not usually fit into the echo area, so a window is used for the display.

C-h c and C-h k work for any sort of key sequences, including function keys and mouse events.