A lambda list is a list that specifies a set of parameters (sometimes called lambda variables) and a protocol for receiving values for those parameters.
There are several kinds of lambda lists.
Context Kind of Lambda List defun form ordinary lambda list defmacro form macro lambda list lambda expression ordinary lambda list flet local function definition ordinary lambda list labels local function definition ordinary lambda list handler-case clause specification ordinary lambda list restart-case clause specification ordinary lambda list macrolet local macro definition macro lambda list define-method-combination ordinary lambda list define-method-combination :arguments option define-method-combination arguments lambda list defstruct :constructor option boa lambda list defgeneric form generic function lambda list defgeneric method clause specialized lambda list defmethod form specialized lambda list defsetf form defsetf lambda list define-setf-expander form macro lambda list deftype form deftype lambda list destructuring-bind form destructuring lambda list define-compiler-macro form macro lambda list define-modify-macro form define-modify-macro lambda list
Figure 3-10. What Kind of Lambda Lists to Use
The next figure lists some defined names that are applicable to lambda lists.
lambda-list-keywords lambda-parameters-limit
Figure 3-11. Defined names applicable to lambda lists
3.4.2 Generic Function Lambda Lists
3.4.3 Specialized Lambda Lists
3.4.5 Destructuring Lambda Lists
3.4.9 Define-modify-macro Lambda Lists
3.4.10 Define-method-combination Arguments Lambda Lists
3.4.11 Syntactic Interaction of Documentation Strings and Declarations