query-replace

Interactively replace strings.

Alt-%

This command behaves like replace-string. Instead of replacing everything automatically, it positions point after each occurrence of the old string, and you may select whether or not to replace it. With a numeric argument, the command will match only complete words.

y or <Space>: replaces and goes to the next match.
n or <Backspace>: doesn't replace, but goes to the next match.
<Esc>: exits immediately.
.: replaces and then exits.
^: backs up to the previous match.
!: replaces all remaining occurrences.
,: replaces the current match but doesn't go to the next match.
Ctrl-r: enters a recursive edit, allowing you to modify the buffer arbitrarily. When you exit the recursive edit with exit-level, the query-replace continues.
Ctrl-g: exits and returns point to its original location.
Ctrl-w: toggles the state of word mode.
Ctrl-t: toggles the state of regular expression mode (see the description of regex-replace).
Ctrl-c: toggles the state of case-folding.
Any other key: causes query-replace to exit and any command bound to that key to execute.

See the replace-in-region variable to restrict matches to a highlighted region.

More info:

Replacing

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