4.1.1 How to search with emacs-w3m

You can fire up the regular search interface by using the S key in an emacs-w3m buffer (provided you use the default keymap). You will see a prompt in the minibuffer, asking for a search term. Type one or several words at the prompt, then hit RET. The result page of your search in the engine appears, you can then browse the results, just as if you had used the normal web based entry point to the engine.

You probably noticed that you have not been given a chance to choose which engine you want to search with. By default, emacs-w3m will use the Google search engine, you can change this behavior by customizing the w3m-search-default-engine variable (see 5. Customizable variables), or you can specify the search engine each time you use the command.

To specify which engine to use, you have to give the command a prefix argument (usually, this means hitting C-u before the command, e.g. C-u S). Emacs-w3m will prompt you for an engine, you can choose one by typing its name (completion is also available with the TAB key). Once you have made your choice, hit the RET key. You can then type your search term, hit RET, and you will see the search results.

S

Begin a new search. If called with a prefix argument, prompt for the engine to use (w3m-search).