@defun char-before &optional position
This function returns the character in the current buffer immediately
before position @var{position}. If @var{position} is out of range for
-this purpose, either before the beginning of the buffer, or at or beyond
+this purpose, either at or before the beginning of the buffer, or beyond
the end, then the value is @code{nil}. The default for
@var{position} is point.
@end defun
@end example
@end defun
+@tindex current-word
+@defun current-word &optional strict really-word
+This function returns the symbol (or word) at or near point, as a string.
+The return value includes no text properties.
+
+The optional argument @var{really-word} is non-@code{nil}, it finds a
+word; otherwise, it finds a symbol (which includes word characters and
+both symbol constituent characters).
+
+If the optional argument @var{strict} is non-@code{nil}, then point
+must be in or next to the symbol or word---if no symbol or word is
+there, the function returns @code{nil}. Otherwise, a nearby symbol or
+word on the same line is acceptable.
+@end defun
+
@defun thing-at-point thing
Return the @var{thing} around or next to point, as a string.
This variable holds an alist which maps property names to a list of
alternative property names. If a character does not specify a direct
value for a property, the alternative property names are consulted in
-order; the first non-nil value is used. This variable takes
+order; the first non-@code{nil} value is used. This variable takes
precedence over @code{default-text-properties}, and @code{category}
properties take precedence over this variable.
@end defvar
@cindex keymap of character
@kindex keymap @r{(text property)}
The @code{keymap} property specifies an additional keymap for
-commands. The property's value for the character after point, if
-non-@code{nil}, is used for key lookup before the buffer's local map.
-(For mouse clicks, the @code{keymap} property of the character clicked
-on is the one used.) If the property value is a symbol, the symbol's
-function definition is used as the keymap. @xref{Active Keymaps}.
+commands. The property's value for the character before point applies
+if it is non-@code{nil} and rear-sticky, and the property's value for
+the character after point applies if it is non-@code{nil} and
+front-sticky. When the value applies, it is used for key lookup
+before the buffer's local map. (For mouse clicks, the position of the
+click is used instead of the position of point.) If the property
+value is a symbol, the symbol's function definition is used as the
+keymap. @xref{Active Keymaps}.
@item local-map
@kindex local-map @r{(text property)}
-This property specifies a keymap to use @emph{instead of} the buffer's
-local map. If the property value is a symbol, the symbol's function
-definition is used as the keymap. For most purposes (perhaps all
-purposes), the @code{keymap} is superior.
+This property works like @code{keymap} except that it specifies a
+keymap to use @emph{instead of} the buffer's local map. For most
+purposes (perhaps all purposes), the @code{keymap} is superior.
@item syntax-table
The @code{syntax-table} property overrides what the syntax table says
You can cause @code{constrain-to-field} to ignore all field boundaries
(and so never constrain anything) by binding the variable
-@code{inhibit-field-text-motion} to a non-nil value.
+@code{inhibit-field-text-motion} to a non-@code{nil} value.
@end defun
@node Not Intervals
@defun base64-decode-string string
@tindex base64-decode-string
This function converts the string @var{string} from base 64 code into
-the corresponding decoded text. It returns a string containing the
+the corresponding decoded text. It returns a unibyte string containing the
decoded text.
The decoding functions ignore newline characters in the encoded text.
arguments.
@end defvar
+ Output of messges into the @samp{*Messages*} buffer does not
+call these functions.
+
@defmac combine-after-change-calls body...
The macro executes @var{body} normally, but arranges to call the
after-change functions just once for a series of several changes---if