query-replace-regexp

query-replace-regexp is an interactive compiled Lisp function in `replace.el'.

It is bound to C-M-%, <menu-bar> <edit> <replace> <query-replace-regexp>.

(query-replace-regexp REGEXP TO-STRING &optional DELIMITED START END BACKWARD)

Replace some things after point matching REGEXP with TO-STRING.
As each match is found, the user must type a character saying
what to do with it. For directions, type C-h at that time.

In Transient Mark mode, if the mark is active, operate on the contents
of the region. Otherwise, operate from point to the end of the buffer.

Use M-n to pull the last incremental search regexp to the minibuffer
that reads REGEXP, or invoke replacements from
incremental search with a key sequence like `C-M-s C-M-s C-M-%'
to use its current search regexp as the regexp to replace.

Matching is independent of case if `case-fold-search' is non-nil and
REGEXP has no uppercase letters. Replacement transfers the case
pattern of the old text to the new text, if `case-replace' and
`case-fold-search' are non-nil and REGEXP has no uppercase letters.
(Transferring the case pattern means that if the old text matched is
all caps, or capitalized, then its replacement is upcased or
capitalized.)

Ignore read-only matches if `query-replace-skip-read-only' is non-nil,
ignore hidden matches if `search-invisible' is nil, and ignore more
matches using `isearch-filter-predicate'.

If `replace-regexp-lax-whitespace' is non-nil, a space or spaces in the regexp
to be replaced will match a sequence of whitespace chars defined by the
regexp in `search-whitespace-regexp'.

Third arg DELIMITED (prefix arg if interactive), if non-nil, means replace
only matches surrounded by word boundaries. A negative prefix arg means
replace backward.

Fourth and fifth arg START and END specify the region to operate on.

In TO-STRING, `\&' stands for whatever matched the whole of REGEXP,
and `\N' (where N is a digit) stands for
whatever what matched the Nth `\(...\)' in REGEXP.
`\?' lets you edit the replacement text in the minibuffer
at the given position for each replacement.

In interactive calls, the replacement text can contain `\,'
followed by a Lisp expression. Each
replacement evaluates that expression to compute the replacement
string. Inside of that expression, `\&' is a string denoting the
whole match as a string, `\N' for a partial match, `\#&' and `\#N'
for the whole or a partial match converted to a number with
`string-to-number', and `\#' itself for the number of replacements
done so far (starting with zero).

If the replacement expression is a symbol, write a space after it
to terminate it. One space there, if any, will be discarded.

When using those Lisp features interactively in the replacement
text, TO-STRING is actually made a list instead of a string.
Use C-x M-: after this command for details.