(setq symbol1 statement1 [symbol2 statement2] ...)

Set the symbol to the statement.

This function is LISP's most commonly-used assignment function. This function assigns statement1 to symbol1. For example:

(setq x 16)

sets the value of 16 to the symbol x.

NOTE Don't confuse this with the equals function (=. The = function doesn't assign.

Symbol1 is the variable that receives the value, where as statement1 is the value that is assigned to symbol1. Statement1 can be a variable representing a value, a numeric value, or a string.

Examples

Code	Returns
(setq y 10)	10
(setq x y)	10 Sets the variable x to the value of y-previously we set y to 10.
(setq myvar "Mom")	"Mom"
(setq pt1 '(5 3))	(5 3)

NOTE You can set multiple variables at a time with the setq function. The [symbol2 stmt2]... is optional. When assigning multiple variables, the value returned is the last variable's assigned value.

Code	Returns
(setq a 5 b 6)	6
(setq x 1.0y 2.0 z 3.0)	3.0

To see the value of any variable, type ! before the variable name:

Code	Returns
!a	5
!b	6

Tell me about...

(defun [c:] name ([arg1 arg2 ...] / [local-var1 local-var2 ...]) expression)

(lambda arguments expression ...)

(quote statement)

LISP Compatibility

Programming Overview of LISP (LISt Processing) Language