# Tab completion of \\uXXXX in the REPL?

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/tab-completion-of-uxxxx-in-the-repl/108442>\
**Category:** Internals & Design\
**Tags:** unicode\
**Created:** [January 6, 2024, 3:23pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/tab-completion-of-uxxxx-in-the-repl/108442 "2024-01-06T15:23:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 23

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**Author:** ![devel-chm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/devel-chm/32/3572_2.png) [@devel-chm](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/devel-chm)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 7:58pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/tab-completion-of-uxxxx-in-the-repl/108442/23 "2024-01-07T19:58:07Z")

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@foobar_lv2 This topic was split off from your recent [discourse thread](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/syntax-escape-hatch-for-unicode-haters/108363) but it started as a suggestion addressing some of the issues in your posts in that discussion.

> [@Syntax: Escape hatch for unicode haters](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/syntax-escape-hatch-for-unicode-haters/108363/1):
>
> my input keyboard should not constrain the set of ASTs I can generate.

My proposal is adding better, more uniform support for Unicode entry by extending  
the REPL tab completion from the current _ad hoc_ LaTeX-ish expansions by allowing  
expansion of any Unicode codepoint in the REPL.

I see this as more a polishing of the existing REPL expansion capability to allow entry  
of any Unicode character and not just the set of characters that are blessed by historic  
or common usage, such as \alpha or \mu. This would not only allow any Unicode  
character to be entered, but could also enable search/recognition of existing aliases.  
If there were no existing alias, it could offer an immediate ability to add an entry to  
complete that character.

While there was a generally dismissive attitude towards this capability, the  
discussions clarified what is available in the existing Julia support that could be  
leveraged to smooth some of the rough edges:

1. String macros could be implemented (here are examples for Unicode only support  
and for LaTeX only support). N.B. My proposal would essentially combine these 2  
into the existing REPL TAB completion capability.

2. Entering the glyph as a character will display the unicode codepoint value

3. You can use string escape sequences to return a string with the desired unicode in it

For additional information on Unicode support currently in Julia, see the documentation for  
the [Unicode standard library](https://docs.julialang.org/en/v1/stdlib/Unicode/).

I hope this collected information is helpful for anyone having some of these Unicode pain points.  
My thanks to everyone who participated in this discussion.

Also, I meant to include [use Glyphy](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/tab-completion-of-uxxxx-in-the-repl/108442/21) in the suggestion by @cormullion, thanks!

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