Call a function from a string name in (Emacs) Lisp

Question

Given a string, built by various concatenation, "my-func-name", I would like to call the associated function.

As funcall expects a function object as parameter, I would like to know if there is a way to retrieve the function reference by its name, so I can execute it.

Hint: I am currently using the Emacs Lisp dialect.

Thank you very much

Bonus: Sample dummy code

(defun my-func-name ()
  "My function."
  (message "Hello"))

(setq mfname "my-func-name")

;; Not working, obviously
;; (funcall mfname)

legoscia · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-23 14:48:01Z

12

Get the symbol of that name with intern, and then funcall it:

(funcall (intern "my-func-name"))

answered Mar 23, 2015 at 14:48

legoscia

42.1k23 gold badges123 silver badges179 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

RichieHH Over a year ago

and if (setq fname = "myfunc") how to call fname?

legoscia Over a year ago

@RichieHH That would be (funcall (intern fname)).

RichieHH Over a year ago

Thanks for the reply. Silly me. I put the Q wrong. But I'm sorted now I actually needed (funcall (symbol-val (intern-soft myVarHoldingFunctionNameAsString))). Though looking at that I need to go play in scratch again. One day the whole string/symbol thing will click...

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Call a function from a string name in (Emacs) Lisp

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related