@c -*-texinfo-*-
@c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
@c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001,
-@c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+@c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
@setfilename ../../info/modes
@node Modes, Documentation, Keymaps, Top
It can be a symbol, a variable or a function whose value is the list
to use for @code{font-lock-keywords}. It can also be a list of
several such symbols, one for each possible level of fontification.
-The first symbol specifies how to do level 1 fontification, the second
-symbol how to do level 2, and so on. @xref{Levels of Font Lock}.
+The first symbol specifies the @samp{mode default} level of
+fontification, the next symbol level 1 fontification, the next level 2,
+and so on. The @samp{mode default} level is normally the same as level
+1. It is used when @code{font-lock-maximum-decoration} has a @code{nil}
+value. @xref{Levels of Font Lock}.
The second element, @var{keywords-only}, specifies the value of the
variable @code{font-lock-keywords-only}. If this is omitted or
Many major modes offer three different levels of fontification. You
can define multiple levels by using a list of symbols for @var{keywords}
in @code{font-lock-defaults}. Each symbol specifies one level of
-fontification; it is up to the user to choose one of these levels. The
-chosen level's symbol value is used to initialize
-@code{font-lock-keywords}.
+fontification; it is up to the user to choose one of these levels,
+normally by setting @code{font-lock-maximum-decoration} (@pxref{Font
+Lock,,, emacs, the GNU Emacs Manual}). The chosen level's symbol
+value is used to initialize @code{font-lock-keywords}.
Here are the conventions for how to define the levels of
fontification: