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   GNU Emacs Manual
28.2.1: Examining and Setting Variables
- C-h v var
RET - Print the value and documentation of variable var (
describe-variable). - M-x set-variable
RET var RET value RET - Change the value of variable var to value.
To examine the value of a single variable, use C-h v (describe-variable), which reads a variable name using the minibuffer, with completion. It prints both the value and the documentation of the variable. For example,
C-h v fill-column RET
prints something like this:
fill-column's value is 75
Documentation:
*Column beyond which automatic line-wrapping should happen.
Automatically becomes buffer-local when set in any fashion.
The star at the beginning of the documentation indicates that this variable is an option. C-h v is not restricted to options; it allows any variable name.
The most convenient way to set a specific option is with M-x set-variable. This reads the variable name with the minibuffer (with completion), and then reads a Lisp expression for the new value using the minibuffer a second time. For example,
M-x set-variable RET fill-column RET 75 RET
sets fill-column to 75.
You can set any variable with a Lisp expression using the function setq. Here's how to use it to set fill-column:
(setq fill-column 75)
Setting variables, like all means of customizing Emacs except where explicitly stated, affects only the current Emacs session.
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