+ The Font Lock functionality is based on several basic functions.
+Each of these calls the function specified by the corresponding
+variable. This indirection allows major and minor modes to modify the
+way fontification works in the buffers of that mode, and even use the
+Font Lock mechanisms for features that have nothing to do with
+fontification. (This is why the description below says ``should''
+when it describes what the functions do: the mode can customize the
+values of the corresponding variables to do something entirely
+different.) The variables mentioned below are described in @ref{Other
+Font Lock Variables}.
+
+@ftable @code
+@item font-lock-fontify-buffer
+This function should fontify the current buffer's accessible portion,
+by calling the function specified by
+@code{font-lock-fontify-buffer-function}.
+
+@item font-lock-unfontify-buffer
+Used when turning Font Lock off to remove the fontification. Calls
+the function specified by @code{font-lock-unfontify-buffer-function}.
+
+@item font-lock-fontify-region beg end &optional loudly
+Should fontify the region between @var{beg} and @var{end}. If
+@var{loudly} is non-@code{nil}, should display status messages while
+fontifying. Calls the function specified by
+@code{font-lock-fontify-region-function}.
+
+@item font-lock-unfontify-region beg end
+Should remove fontification from the region between @var{beg} and
+@var{end}. Calls the function specified by
+@code{font-lock-unfontify-region-function}.
+
+@item font-lock-flush &optional beg end
+This function should mark the fontification of the region between
+@var{beg} and @var{end} as outdated. If not specified or @code{nil},
+@var{beg} and @var{end} default to the beginning and end of the
+buffer's accessible portion. Calls the function specified by
+@code{font-lock-flush-function}.
+
+@item font-lock-ensure &optional beg end
+This function should make sure the region between @var{beg} and
+@var{end} has been fontified. The optional arguments @var{beg} and
+@var{end} default to the beginning and the end of the buffer's
+accessible portion. Calls the function specified by
+@code{font-lock-ensure-function}.
+@end ftable
+