Edit - Emacs Stack Exchange

You are not logged in. Your edit will be placed in a queue until it is peer reviewed.

We welcome edits that make the post easier to understand and more valuable for readers. Because community members review edits, please try to make the post substantially better than how you found it, for example, by fixing grammar or adding additional resources and hyperlinks.

I thought something like that too, but then why not return position in the list?

Alex Stragies
– Alex Stragies

2016-12-17 22:53:45 +00:00
Commented Dec 17, 2016 at 22:53
2

Because that would be slightly more work, and probably less useful?

phils
– phils

2016-12-18 00:32:20 +00:00
Commented Dec 18, 2016 at 0:32
2

Not to mention that member works on circular lists, where position isn't very useful (plus, you already have position function). I'd imagine Stefan's answer to be at least very close to the truth: it's unlikely there was a grand design for the return value. Just an implementation detail that became a tradition.

wvxvw
– wvxvw

2016-12-18 07:23:45 +00:00
Commented Dec 18, 2016 at 7:23

Add a comment |

Correct minor typos or mistakes
Clarify meaning without changing it
Add related resources or links
Always respect the author’s intent
Don’t use edits to reply to the author

create code fences with backticks ` or tildes ~
```
like so
```
add language identifier to highlight code
```python
def function(foo):
print(foo)
```
put returns between paragraphs
for linebreak add 2 spaces at end
_italic_ or **bold**
indent code by 4 spaces
backtick escapes `like _so_`
quote by placing > at start of line
to make links (use https whenever possible)

<https://example.com>

[example](https://example.com)

<a href="https://example.com">example</a>

formatting help »
answering help »