found this on a blog : <code>(def x ^{:type ::my-class} {})</code> apparently it adds meta data to a map <pre class="prettyprint"><code>user=> (meta x) {:type :user/my-class} </code></pre> <ol> <li>what else does <code>^</code> do ? does it have any other uses ? can it be used as a getter for meta data (not just to set meta data) ?</li> <li>how can i find out information about some shortcuts in clojure ? like <code>^</code>, <code>'</code>, <code>`</code>, <code>~</code>. is it possible to get that from the repl ?</li> </ol>

Look at the documentation for the Clojure reader, specifically the section on macro characters: The Reader Edit: Metadata has documentation too :-)

What are the usages for ^ and how can I get more information on it?

found this on a blog : (def x ^{:type ::my-class} {})

apparently it adds meta data to a map

user=> (meta x)
{:type :user/my-class}

what else does ^ do ? does it have any other uses ? can it be used as a getter for meta data (not just to set meta data) ?
how can i find out information about some shortcuts in clojure ? like ^, ', `, ~. is it possible to get that from the repl ?

Look at the documentation for the Clojure reader, specifically the section on macro characters:

The Reader

Edit: Metadata has documentation too :-)