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If you ask for a function description, there is a line that starts:

It is bound to <...> <...> <...>

For example, for isearch it says: 

It is bound to <menu-bar> <search> <isearch-forward>

What does it mean? Isn't it supposed to show the keybindings associated with the function?

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  • What do you get when you do C-h k C-s?
    – Kaushal Modi
    Commented May 27, 2015 at 15:33
  • I have ergoemacs enabled, so C-s is bound to some other function and isearch is bound to C-f. The message for C-h k C-f shows the keybinding (wrongly: it says Alt-f instead of C-f). But if I do M-x describe-function isearch-forward I get exactly what I typed in my question. wasamasa answer below, and @Drew comment answer my question!
    – El Diego Efe
    Commented May 27, 2015 at 17:55
  • This is unrelated to the question but you can do C-h f instead of M-x describe-function.
    – Kaushal Modi
    Commented May 27, 2015 at 17:57

2 Answers 2

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Menu bar items are represented as keybindings internally. So, this means that on the one hand keybinding-related actions will involve menu bar items and on the other one that clicking the "Search" item in the menu bar would yield a list where isearch-forward would be a valid action.

FWIW, the docs tell me something slightly different:

It is bound to C-s, <menu-bar> <edit> <search> <i-search> <isearch-forward>.
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  • It's possible that the OP has bound C-s to something else.
    – Kaushal Modi
    Commented May 27, 2015 at 15:06
  • Oh sure, I'm just a bit more worried about them having a different menu bar sequence as these shouldn't change often.
    – wasamasa
    Commented May 27, 2015 at 15:20
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    Mine says the exact same as yours. Looks like the OP probably typed it out instead of copying the text verbatim from the *Help* buffer.
    – Kaushal Modi
    Commented May 27, 2015 at 15:32
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    It might help to add that the example you give shows two key bindings for isearch-forward, separated by a comma. The first is the key C-s. The second is the "key" <menu-bar> <edit> <search> <i-search> <isearch-forward>, which you described. The comma is maybe not obvious, and likewise for the fact that everything after the comma represents a single key binding.
    – Drew
    Commented May 27, 2015 at 15:58
  • ahhh, your comment (Drew) clarifies what I wanted to know!
    – El Diego Efe
    Commented May 27, 2015 at 16:05
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The example you give shows two key bindings for isearch-forward, separated by a comma.

The first is the key C-s. The second is the "key" <menu-bar> <edit> <search> <i-search> <isearch-forward>, which you described.

The comma is maybe not obvious, and likewise for the fact that everything after a comma represents a single key binding.

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