Emacs has major modes for several variants of Lisp. They use the same editing commands as other programming language modes (Programs). In addition, they provide special commands for executing Lisp expressions.

Emacs Lisp mode

The mode for editing Emacs Lisp source files. It defines C-M-x to evaluate the current top-level Lisp expression. Lisp Eval.

Lisp Interaction mode

The mode for an interactive Emacs Lisp session. It defines C-j to evaluate the expression before point and insert its value in the buffer. Lisp Interaction.

Lisp mode

The mode for editing source files of programs that run in Lisps other than Emacs Lisp. It defines C-M-x to evaluate the current top-level expression in an external Lisp. External Lisp.

Inferior Lisp mode

The mode for an interactive session with an external Lisp which is being run as a subprocess (or inferior process) of Emacs. External Lisp.

Scheme mode

Like Lisp mode, but for Scheme programs.

Inferior Scheme mode

Like Inferior Lisp mode, but for Scheme.