11.1.1 Introduction to Packages

A package establishes a mapping from names to symbols. At any given time, one package is current. The current package is the one that is the value of *package*. When using the Lisp reader, it is possible to refer to symbols in packages other than the current one through the use of package prefixes in the printed representation of the symbol.

The next figure lists some defined names that are applicable to packages. Where an operator takes an argument that is either a symbol or a list of symbols, an argument of nil is treated as an empty list of symbols. Any package argument may be either a string, a symbol, or a package. If a symbol is supplied, its name will be used as the package name.

*modules*            import                     provide           
*package*            in-package                 rename-package    
defpackage           intern                     require           
do-all-symbols       list-all-packages          shadow            
do-external-symbols  make-package               shadowing-import  
do-symbols           package-name               unexport          
export               package-nicknames          unintern          
find-all-symbols     package-shadowing-symbols  unuse-package     
find-package         package-use-list           use-package       
find-symbol          package-used-by-list                         

Figure 11-1. Some Defined Names related to Packages

11.1.1.1 Package Names and Nicknames

11.1.1.2 Symbols in a Package

• REQUIRE-PATHNAME-DEFAULTS:ELIMINATE