🎁 New User? Get 20% off your first purchase with code NEWUSER20 Register Now →
Menu

Categories

Linux Beginner

What is Environment Path?

The PATH variable that tells the shell which directories to search when looking for executable commands.

The PATH environment variable contains a colon-separated list of directories. When you type a command, the shell searches these directories in order. For example, PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin means these three directories are searched.

Adding directories to PATH (export PATH=$PATH:/new/dir) makes programs in those directories available as commands. Misconfigured PATH is a common cause of "command not found" errors.

Related Terms

Crontab Syntax
The time specification format used in cron job scheduling, with five fields defining minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week.
Wget
A command-line utility for downloading files from the web, supporting HTTP, HTTPS, and FTP protocols.
Process
A running instance of a program, with its own memory space, process ID, and system resources.
Symbolic Link
A special file that acts as a shortcut pointing to another file or directory in the filesystem.
Systemd Timer
A systemd unit that triggers services on a schedule or at specific events, serving as a modern alternative to cron jobs.
SELinux
Security-Enhanced Linux — a mandatory access control system that confines programs to minimum required privileges beyond standard file permissions.
 View All Linux Terms →