CODEWITHSUNDEEP
emacselisp
Adobe
Adobe

Reputation: 13477

Evaluating a variable whose name is stored in a string

Consider a problem of evaluating a variable who's name is a string:

(defun string-dereference ()
  (interactive)
  (let ((myStr "rst-adjust"))
  ;; (describe-function 'myStr) => Symbol's function definition is void: myStr
  ;; (funcall (format "(describe-function '%s)" myStr) => Invalid function: "(describe-function 'rst-adjust)")
  )

While the following works

(describe-function 'rst-adjust)

How do I do that given rst-adjust is stored in a string?

Edit:

The answer is:

(describe-function (intern myStr))

Upvotes: 3

Views: 187

Answers (1)

legoscia
legoscia

Reputation: 41548

intern is the function you're looking for:

(let ((my-str "rst-adjust"))
  (intern my-str))
==> rst-adjust

Upvotes: 7

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