3.5. Built-in Emacs Tutorial

Emacs includes a built-in, interactive tutorial. We highly recommend working through this tutorial to reinforce your editing and navigation skills in a hands-on environment.

3.5.1. Starting the Tutorial

The tutorial can be started in either of the following ways:

  1. From the Welcome Screen: Launch Emacs from the terminal by running emacs. Follow the prompt next to Emacs tutorial on the startup screen.

  2. Via Key Binding: From anywhere within Emacs, press C-h t (press Ctrl and h together, release both, then press t).

Tip

If your terminal emulator maps C-h to backspace or help is intercepted, you can also launch the tutorial by typing M-x (hold Alt and press x), typing help-with-tutorial, and pressing RET.

3.5.2. What to Expect

The tutorial is an interactive text buffer. As you read through the instructions, you will perform the exercises directly inside the buffer:

  • Self-Paced Practice: The tutorial takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes to complete.

  • Hands-on Editing: You can practice cursor navigation (C-f, C-b, C-n, C-p), scrolling (C-v, M-v), basic file saving, search, and buffer management.

  • Exiting the Tutorial: When you are finished (or wish to pause), you can save and exit using C-x C-c. Because the tutorial operates in its own temporary buffer, changes to the tutorial text will not alter the original tutorial files on your system.

Note

If you are on Windows using MobaXterm, ensure you have configured your backspace key as described in the Windows Setup Guide so that backspacing functions as expected inside the tutorial.