Meaning of “value is t”

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2















When using describe-variable, often the value for a variable is listed as:



Its value is t



What does that mean and why specifically t?










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    2















    When using describe-variable, often the value for a variable is listed as:



    Its value is t



    What does that mean and why specifically t?










    share|improve this question


























      2












      2








      2








      When using describe-variable, often the value for a variable is listed as:



      Its value is t



      What does that mean and why specifically t?










      share|improve this question
















      When using describe-variable, often the value for a variable is listed as:



      Its value is t



      What does that mean and why specifically t?







      help






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Feb 14 at 17:08









      Drew

      48.6k463107




      48.6k463107










      asked Feb 14 at 12:39









      ChaimKutChaimKut

      1127




      1127




















          1 Answer
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          7














          To quote the Emacs Lisp Manual,




          t is the preferred way to represent the truth value true. When you
          need to choose a value that represents true, and there is no other
          basis for choosing, use t. The symbol t always has the value t.




          t stands for "True".



          This is important because it is used for decision making. It is used in decisions such as "If this condition is true, do this. Otherwise, do that." The statement Its value is t means that the variable you're describing holds the value t. The consequence of the variable being t depends on the variable.



          For example,



          (setq inhibit-startup-message t)


          When the value of inhibit-startup-message is t, Emacs doesn't show the startup screen. To enable the startup screen, you would use a nil value. nil is the opposite of t and means "False".



          Generally speaking, the concepts of t and nil are part of what's called Boolean Algebra, a method of logic named after mathematician George Boole.



          Boolean Algebra is a topic important to computer programming, and many, many other fields of study. It's also quite fun and interesting. Unfortunately, it's too broad to explain in detail here.






          share|improve this answer




















          • 2





            I think it's important to explain the "and there is no other basis for choosing" part of the quote -- in elisp, absolutely every value other than nil is considered true for the purposes of boolean tests. Hence you will see the term "non-nil" used a great deal in elisp documentation, as nil is false, and every non-nil value is true. t is a value which is true, and which has no other meaning.

            – phils
            Feb 15 at 4:36











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          1 Answer
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          active

          oldest

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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          7














          To quote the Emacs Lisp Manual,




          t is the preferred way to represent the truth value true. When you
          need to choose a value that represents true, and there is no other
          basis for choosing, use t. The symbol t always has the value t.




          t stands for "True".



          This is important because it is used for decision making. It is used in decisions such as "If this condition is true, do this. Otherwise, do that." The statement Its value is t means that the variable you're describing holds the value t. The consequence of the variable being t depends on the variable.



          For example,



          (setq inhibit-startup-message t)


          When the value of inhibit-startup-message is t, Emacs doesn't show the startup screen. To enable the startup screen, you would use a nil value. nil is the opposite of t and means "False".



          Generally speaking, the concepts of t and nil are part of what's called Boolean Algebra, a method of logic named after mathematician George Boole.



          Boolean Algebra is a topic important to computer programming, and many, many other fields of study. It's also quite fun and interesting. Unfortunately, it's too broad to explain in detail here.






          share|improve this answer




















          • 2





            I think it's important to explain the "and there is no other basis for choosing" part of the quote -- in elisp, absolutely every value other than nil is considered true for the purposes of boolean tests. Hence you will see the term "non-nil" used a great deal in elisp documentation, as nil is false, and every non-nil value is true. t is a value which is true, and which has no other meaning.

            – phils
            Feb 15 at 4:36
















          7














          To quote the Emacs Lisp Manual,




          t is the preferred way to represent the truth value true. When you
          need to choose a value that represents true, and there is no other
          basis for choosing, use t. The symbol t always has the value t.




          t stands for "True".



          This is important because it is used for decision making. It is used in decisions such as "If this condition is true, do this. Otherwise, do that." The statement Its value is t means that the variable you're describing holds the value t. The consequence of the variable being t depends on the variable.



          For example,



          (setq inhibit-startup-message t)


          When the value of inhibit-startup-message is t, Emacs doesn't show the startup screen. To enable the startup screen, you would use a nil value. nil is the opposite of t and means "False".



          Generally speaking, the concepts of t and nil are part of what's called Boolean Algebra, a method of logic named after mathematician George Boole.



          Boolean Algebra is a topic important to computer programming, and many, many other fields of study. It's also quite fun and interesting. Unfortunately, it's too broad to explain in detail here.






          share|improve this answer




















          • 2





            I think it's important to explain the "and there is no other basis for choosing" part of the quote -- in elisp, absolutely every value other than nil is considered true for the purposes of boolean tests. Hence you will see the term "non-nil" used a great deal in elisp documentation, as nil is false, and every non-nil value is true. t is a value which is true, and which has no other meaning.

            – phils
            Feb 15 at 4:36














          7












          7








          7







          To quote the Emacs Lisp Manual,




          t is the preferred way to represent the truth value true. When you
          need to choose a value that represents true, and there is no other
          basis for choosing, use t. The symbol t always has the value t.




          t stands for "True".



          This is important because it is used for decision making. It is used in decisions such as "If this condition is true, do this. Otherwise, do that." The statement Its value is t means that the variable you're describing holds the value t. The consequence of the variable being t depends on the variable.



          For example,



          (setq inhibit-startup-message t)


          When the value of inhibit-startup-message is t, Emacs doesn't show the startup screen. To enable the startup screen, you would use a nil value. nil is the opposite of t and means "False".



          Generally speaking, the concepts of t and nil are part of what's called Boolean Algebra, a method of logic named after mathematician George Boole.



          Boolean Algebra is a topic important to computer programming, and many, many other fields of study. It's also quite fun and interesting. Unfortunately, it's too broad to explain in detail here.






          share|improve this answer















          To quote the Emacs Lisp Manual,




          t is the preferred way to represent the truth value true. When you
          need to choose a value that represents true, and there is no other
          basis for choosing, use t. The symbol t always has the value t.




          t stands for "True".



          This is important because it is used for decision making. It is used in decisions such as "If this condition is true, do this. Otherwise, do that." The statement Its value is t means that the variable you're describing holds the value t. The consequence of the variable being t depends on the variable.



          For example,



          (setq inhibit-startup-message t)


          When the value of inhibit-startup-message is t, Emacs doesn't show the startup screen. To enable the startup screen, you would use a nil value. nil is the opposite of t and means "False".



          Generally speaking, the concepts of t and nil are part of what's called Boolean Algebra, a method of logic named after mathematician George Boole.



          Boolean Algebra is a topic important to computer programming, and many, many other fields of study. It's also quite fun and interesting. Unfortunately, it's too broad to explain in detail here.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Feb 14 at 14:05









          NickD

          2,6691515




          2,6691515










          answered Feb 14 at 13:18









          Lorem IpsumLorem Ipsum

          1,296413




          1,296413







          • 2





            I think it's important to explain the "and there is no other basis for choosing" part of the quote -- in elisp, absolutely every value other than nil is considered true for the purposes of boolean tests. Hence you will see the term "non-nil" used a great deal in elisp documentation, as nil is false, and every non-nil value is true. t is a value which is true, and which has no other meaning.

            – phils
            Feb 15 at 4:36













          • 2





            I think it's important to explain the "and there is no other basis for choosing" part of the quote -- in elisp, absolutely every value other than nil is considered true for the purposes of boolean tests. Hence you will see the term "non-nil" used a great deal in elisp documentation, as nil is false, and every non-nil value is true. t is a value which is true, and which has no other meaning.

            – phils
            Feb 15 at 4:36








          2




          2





          I think it's important to explain the "and there is no other basis for choosing" part of the quote -- in elisp, absolutely every value other than nil is considered true for the purposes of boolean tests. Hence you will see the term "non-nil" used a great deal in elisp documentation, as nil is false, and every non-nil value is true. t is a value which is true, and which has no other meaning.

          – phils
          Feb 15 at 4:36






          I think it's important to explain the "and there is no other basis for choosing" part of the quote -- in elisp, absolutely every value other than nil is considered true for the purposes of boolean tests. Hence you will see the term "non-nil" used a great deal in elisp documentation, as nil is false, and every non-nil value is true. t is a value which is true, and which has no other meaning.

          – phils
          Feb 15 at 4:36


















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