Managing Environment Variables in Linux

 

Introduction

Environment variables store configuration values that affect how processes and shells behave. They are widely used to set paths, define user preferences, and configure applications.

Step 1: View All Environment Variables

printenv

➡️ Lists all current environment variables.

Step 2: View a Specific Variable

echo $HOME

➡️ Prints the value of the HOME variable.

Step 3: Set a Temporary Environment Variable

export MYVAR="Hello Linux"

➡️ Available until you close the terminal.

Step 4: Make Environment Variables Permanent

Add them to ~/.bashrc or ~/.profile:

export PATH=$PATH:/new/path

➡️ Reload the file:

source ~/.bashrc

Step 5: Unset an Environment Variable

unset MYVAR

Conclusion

Environment variables are key for customizing and configuring Linux systems. Next, we’ll explore disk partitioning tools like fdisk and lsblk.