Go forward to Readline Interaction.
Go up to Command Line Editing.
Introduction to Line Editing
============================
The following paragraphs describe the notation used to represent
keystrokes.
The text <C-k> is read as `Control-K' and describes the character
produced when the <k> key is pressed while the Control key is depressed.
The text <M-k> is read as `Meta-K' and describes the character
produced when the meta key (if you have one) is depressed, and the <k>
key is pressed. If you do not have a meta key, the identical keystroke
can be generated by typing <ESC> first, and then typing <k>. Either
process is known as "metafying" the <k> key.
The text <M-C-k> is read as `Meta-Control-k' and describes the
character produced by "metafying" <C-k>.
In addition, several keys have their own names. Specifically,
<DEL>, <ESC>, <LFD>, <SPC>, <RET>, and <TAB> all stand for themselves
when seen in this text, or in an init file (*note Readline Init
File::.).