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### 5.8 How do I make Emacs use a certain major mode for certain files?

If you want to use a certain mode foo for all files whose names end with the extension `.bar`, this will do it for you:

    (add-to-list 'auto-mode-alist '("\\.bar\\'" . foo-mode))

Alternatively, put this somewhere in the first line of any file you want to edit in the mode foo (in the second line, if the first line begins with ‘`#!`’):

    -*- foo -*-

The variable `interpreter-mode-alist` specifies which mode to use when loading an interpreted script (e.g., shell, python, etc.). Emacs determines which interpreter you’re using by examining the first line of the script. Use `C-h v` (or `M-x describe-variable`) on `interpreter-mode-alist` to learn more.