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(elisp)Files

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Files
*****

   In Emacs, you can find, create, view, save, and otherwise work with
files and file directories.  This chapter describes most of the
file-related functions of Emacs Lisp, but a few others are described in
Note: Buffers, and those related to backups and auto-saving are
described in Note: Backups and Auto-Saving.

   Many of the file functions take one or more arguments that are file
names.  A file name is actually a string.  Most of these functions
expand file name arguments by calling `expand-file-name', so that `~'
is handled correctly, as are relative file names (including `../').
These functions don't recognize environment variable substitutions such
as `$HOME'.  Note: File Name Expansion.

   When file I/O functions signal Lisp errors, they usually use the
condition `file-error' (Note: Handling Errors).  The error message is
in most cases obtained from the operating system, according to locale
`system-message-locale', and decoded using coding system
`locale-coding-system' (Note: Locales).

Visiting Files

Reading files into Emacs buffers for editing.

Saving Buffers

Writing changed buffers back into files.

Reading from Files

Reading files into buffers without visiting.

Writing to Files

Writing new files from parts of buffers.

File Locks

Locking and unlocking files, to prevent

simultaneous editing by two people.

Information about Files

Testing existence, accessibility, size of files.

Changing Files

Renaming files, changing protection, etc.

File Names

Decomposing and expanding file names.

Contents of Directories

Getting a list of the files in a directory.

Create/Delete Dirs

Creating and Deleting Directories.

Magic File Names

Defining "magic" special handling

for certain file names.

Format Conversion

Conversion to and from various file formats.