Emacs escape key

Question

Currently, if I press C-h c, then trice press ESC key on keyboard I get result

ESC ESC ESC (translated from <escape> <escape> <escape>) runs the command keyboard-escape-quit

What the difference between ESC and <escape> and how can I use this difference to make more keybindings?

I believe they're the same. It's just a notational difference — Eric, May 21 '13 at 19:25
It's ok to accept your own answer (click the checkmark beside your answer). This is also helpful for others, as it marks the question as 'answered'. — Tyler, May 22 '13 at 15:48

score 11 · Answer 1 · edited May 21 '13 at 20:42

Found solution in emacs mailing list archive:

The escape key usually is linked to the escape char, but the two are different. Under a tty, Emacs receives the exact same byte-sequence from the terminal if you type the escape key or if you type C-[ (both send the escape char).

Under a GUI, on the other hand, Emacs can distinguish the two, so under a GUI, the escape key doesn't send ?\e (aka ESC for kbd) but escape (aka <escape> for kbd) which is usually turned into a ?\e via function-key-map (i.e. only if there's no corresponding binding for the key sequence with escape).

Same thing happens with tab (i.e. TAB (aka C-i) vs tab) and return (i.e. RET (aka C-m) vs return).

Emacs escape key

1 Answers1