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(efaq)Matching parentheses

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How do I show which parenthesis matches the one I'm looking at?
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   As of version 19, Emacs comes with `paren.el', which (when loaded)
will automatically highlight matching parentheses whenever point (i.e.,
the cursor) is located over one.  To load `paren.el' automatically,
include the line

     (require 'paren)

   in your `.emacs' file.  Alan Shutko <shutkoa@ugsolutions.com>
reports that as of version 20.1, you must also call `show-paren-mode' in
your `.emacs' file:

     (show-paren-mode 1)

   Customize will let you turn on `show-paren-mode'.  Use `M-x
customize-group <RET> paren-showing <RET>'.  From within Customize, you
can also go directly to the "paren-showing" group.

   Alternatives to paren include:

   * If you're looking at a right parenthesis (or brace or bracket) you
     can delete it and reinsert it.  Emacs will momentarily move the
     cursor to the matching parenthesis.

   * `M-C-f' (`forward-sexp') and `M-C-b' (`backward-sexp') will skip
     over one set of balanced parentheses, so you can see which
     parentheses match.  (You can train it to skip over balanced
     brackets and braces at the same time by modifying the syntax
     table.)

   * Here is some Emacs Lisp that will make the <%> key show the
     matching parenthesis, like in `vi'.  In addition, if the cursor
     isn't over a parenthesis, it simply inserts a % like normal.

          ;; By an unknown contributor
          
          (global-set-key "%" 'match-paren)
          
          (defun match-paren (arg)
            "Go to the matching paren if on a paren; otherwise insert %."
            (interactive "p")
            (cond ((looking-at "\\s\(") (forward-list 1) (backward-char 1))
                  ((looking-at "\\s\)") (forward-char 1) (backward-list 1))
                  (t (self-insert-command (or arg 1)))))