GNU Emacs Manual - Executing Lisp

Executing Lisp Expressions

Emacs has several different major modes for Lisp and Scheme. They are the same in terms of editing commands, but differ in the commands for executing Lisp expressions. Each mode has its own purpose.

Emacs-Lisp mode

The mode for editing source files of programs to run in Emacs Lisp. This mode defines C-M-x to evaluate the current defun. See Lisp Libraries.

Lisp Interaction mode

The mode for an interactive session with Emacs Lisp. It defines LFD to evaluate the sexp before point and insert its value in the buffer. See Lisp Interaction.

Lisp mode

The mode for editing source files of programs that run in Lisps other than Emacs Lisp. This mode defines C-M-x to send the current defun to an inferior Lisp process. See External Lisp.

Inferior Lisp mode

The mode for an interactive session with an inferior Lisp process. This mode combines the special features of Lisp mode and Shell mode (see Shell Mode).

Scheme mode

Like Lisp mode but for Scheme programs.

Inferior Scheme mode

The mode for an interactive session with an inferior Scheme process.

These subnodes of the chapter on editing programs describe the editing
commands for working with Lisp programs, which are in fact available
globally.

Lists	Expressions with balanced parentheses.
List Commands	The commands for working with list and sexps.
Defuns	Each program is made up of separate functions. There are editing commands to operate on them.
Program Indent	Adjusting indentation to show the nesting.
Matching	Insertion of a close-delimiter flashes matching open.
Comments	Inserting, killing, and aligning comments.