{"id":47473,"date":"2024-11-04T11:13:51","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T11:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/?p=47473"},"modified":"2024-11-04T11:13:51","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T11:13:51","slug":"add-path-variables-ubuntu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/index.php\/2024\/11\/add-path-variables-ubuntu\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Add PATH Variables in Ubuntu 24.04"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This tutorial shows how to configure PATH environment variables. Though title said for Ubuntu 24.04, it works in most Linux systems.<\/p>\n

PATH specifies the directories in which the executable files of programs are located on the system. Without knowing or typing the full path to the file, just type the app name in the command line, then your system will look into the path directories and run the first that matches.<\/p>\n

For example, type firefox<\/code> in command line will run \/usr\/bin\/firefox<\/code> to launch Firefox web browser in Ubuntu, Fedora, and other Linux that use the browser as default.<\/p>\n

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Common Linux packages (e.g., .deb<\/code>, .rpm<\/code>) will mostly install their executable files into the PATH automatically. For portable Linux package and others, user can manually add the app folders, that contain the executable files, into PATH.<\/p>\n

Check current PATH Variables<\/h3>\n

Most Linux by default includes \/usr\/bin<\/code>, \/usr\/local\/bin<\/code>, \/usr\/sbin<\/code>, \/usr\/local\/sbin<\/code>, \/usr\/games<\/code>, \/usr\/local\/games<\/code> directories into PATH. While, third-party apps may add more.<\/p>\n

To tell the current PATH variables, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:<\/p>\n

echo $PATH<\/pre>\n
It will print all the PATH directories separated with colon (:).<\/p>\n
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Option 1: Add a folder\/directory into PATH for temporary use.<\/h3>\n
For developing or other purpose, you may add a custom folder or directory into PATH that works only for current terminal window or command console.<\/p>\n
To add custom folder into PATH<\/b>, for current terminal only, use either command below:<\/p>\n
export PATH=\"\/PATH\/TO\/CUSTOM\/FOLDER:$PATH\"<\/pre>\n
or:<\/p>\n
export PATH=\"$PATH:\/PATH\/TO\/CUSTOM\/FOLDER\"<\/pre>\n
For example, I downloaded SweetHome3D tarball and extracted into “MyApps” sub-folder into user home. To add it into PATH, for current terminal only, use command:<\/p>\n
export PATH=\"\/home\/ji\/MyApps\/SweetHome3D-7.5:$PATH\"<\/pre>\n
It added that folder into the beginning of PATH.<\/p>\n
For choice, the command below will add it to the end.<\/p>\n
export PATH=\"$PATH:\/home\/ji\/MyApps\/SweetHome3D-7.5<\/pre>\n
NOTE: When running a command, it looks into path directories from beginning to end. The first one that matches will be run.<\/b><\/p>\n
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Option 2: Add PATH Variables for Current Users Only<\/h3>\n
For current user only, just edit one of the below files for adding PATH variables:<\/p>\n