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documentation (FUNCTION)

Format: (documentation <func> <type>)

Required arguments: 2

<func> must evaluate to the name of a function <type> must be function, variable, type, structure, or setf (see below)

This function is useful from the command line for a quick reminder of the format and usage of certain LISP primitives. Both arguments are usually quoted symbols. See examples below.

Examples:

>(documentation 'documentation 'function)
"
Args: (symbol doc-type)
Returns the doc-string of DOC-TYPE for SYMBOL; NIL if none exists.
Possible doc-types are:
        FUNCTION  (special forms, macros, and functions)
        VARIABLE  (dynamic variables, including constants)
        TYPE      (types defined by DEFTYPE)
        STRUCTURE (structures defined by DEFSTRUCT)
        SETF      (SETF methods defined by DEFSETF, DEFINE-SETF-METHOD, and
                   DEFINE-MODIFY-MACRO)
All built-in special forms, macros, functions, and variables have their
doc-strings."

>(documentation 'cdr 'function)
"
Args: (list)
Returns the cdr of LIST.  Returns NIL if LIST is NIL."

>(documentation 'pi 'variable)
"
The floating-point number that is appropriately equal to the ratio of the
circumference of the circle to the diameter."



© Colin Allen & Maneesh Dhagat
November 1999