* Future Local Variables:: New kinds of local values we might add some day.
* Variable Aliases:: Variables that are aliases for other variables.
* File Local Variables:: Handling local variable lists in files.
+* Variables with Restricted Values:: Non-constant variables whose value can
+ @emph{not} be an arbitrary Lisp object.
@end menu
@node Global Variables
they are localized depending on ``where'' you are in Emacs, rather than
localized in time.
+@anchor{Definition of max-specpdl-size}
@defvar max-specpdl-size
@cindex variable limit error
@cindex evaluation error
@cindex infinite recursion
This variable defines the limit on the total number of local variable
-bindings and @code{unwind-protect} cleanups (@pxref{Nonlocal Exits})
-that are allowed before signaling an error (with data @code{"Variable
-binding depth exceeds max-specpdl-size"}).
+bindings and @code{unwind-protect} cleanups (@pxref{Cleanups,,
+Cleaning Up from Nonlocal Exits}) that are allowed before signaling an
+error (with data @code{"Variable binding depth exceeds
+max-specpdl-size"}).
This limit, with the associated error when it is exceeded, is one way
that Lisp avoids infinite recursion on an ill-defined function.
@code{max-lisp-eval-depth} provides another limit on depth of nesting.
-@xref{Eval}.
+@xref{Definition of max-lisp-eval-depth,, Eval}.
The default value is 600. Entry to the Lisp debugger increases the
value, if there is little room left, to make sure the debugger itself
@code{nil}.
@end defun
+@defun local-variable-if-set-p variable &optional buffer
+This returns @code{t} if @var{variable} will become buffer-local in
+buffer @var{buffer} (which defaults to the current buffer) if it is
+set there.
+@end defun
+
@defun buffer-local-value variable buffer
This function returns the buffer-local binding of @var{variable} (a
symbol) in buffer @var{buffer}. If @var{variable} does not have a
This function returns the variable at the end of the chain of aliases
of @var{variable}. If @var{variable} is not a symbol, or if @var{variable} is
not defined as an alias, the function returns @var{variable}.
+
+This function signals a @code{cyclic-variable-indirection} error if
+there is a loop in the chain of symbols.
@end defun
@example
properties from string values specified in a file's local variables
list.
+@node Variables with Restricted Values
+@section Variables with Restricted Values
+
+ Ordinary Lisp variables can be assigned any value that is a valid
+Lisp object. However, certain Lisp variables are not defined in Lisp,
+but in C. Most of these variables are defined in the C code using
+@code{DEFVAR_LISP}. Like variables defined in Lisp, these can take on
+any value. However, some variables are defined using
+@code{DEFVAR_INT} or @code{DEFVAR_BOOL}. @xref{Defining Lisp
+variables in C,, Writing Emacs Primitives}, in particular the
+description of functions of the type @code{syms_of_@var{filename}},
+for a brief discussion of the C implementation.
+
+ Variables of type @code{DEFVAR_BOOL} can only take on the values
+@code{nil} or @code{t}. Attempting to assign them any other value
+will set them to @code{t}:
+
+@example
+(let ((display-hourglass 5))
+ display-hourglass)
+ @result{} t
+@end example
+
+@defvar byte-boolean-vars
+This variable holds a list of all variables of type @code{DEFVAR_BOOL}.
+@end defvar
+
+ Variables of type @code{DEFVAR_INT} can only take on integer values.
+Attempting to assign them any other value will result in an error:
+
+@example
+(setq window-min-height 5.0)
+@error{} Wrong type argument: integerp, 5.0
+@end example
+
@ignore
arch-tag: 5ff62c44-2b51-47bb-99d4-fea5aeec5d3e
@end ignore