Question

In emacs, I’ve read the following code snippet in simple.el:

(frame-parameter frame 'buried-buffer-list) 

What is the exact meaning of the 'buried-buffer-list parameter? What it is used for?

Answer 1

The result of M-x describe function RET frame-parameter is:

frame-parameter is a built-in function.

(frame-parameter FRAME PARAMETER) 

Return FRAME’s value for parameter PARAMETER. If FRAME is nil, describe the currently selected frame.

Also, have a look in the Elisp info manual for the node called ‘Frame/Frame Parameters’. There isn’t a specific reference to ‘buried-buffer-list that I could find.

You might be able to get the value of it by evaluating:

(cdr (frame-parameter FRAME 'buffer-list)) 

since a ‘buried buffer’ is just a buffer that’s been pushed to the back of the list of buffers for a particular frame. See the documentation for bury-buffer:

bury-buffer is an interactive compiled Lisp function in `window.el’.

(bury-buffer &optional BUFFER-OR-NAME)

Put BUFFER-OR-NAME at the end of the list of all buffers. There it is the least likely candidate for `other-buffer’ to return; thus, the least likely buffer for C-x b to select by default.

You can specify a buffer name as BUFFER-OR-NAME, or an actual buffer object. If BUFFER-OR-NAME is nil or omitted, bury the current buffer. Also, if BUFFER-OR-NAME is nil or omitted, remove the current buffer from the selected window if it is displayed there.