Linux / Windows - How to set the $PATH environment variable?

The $PATH environment variable is a list of which directories Linux will search for for executable files.

As in DOS, the shell uses the PATH variable to locate a command. PATH contains a list of directories separated by colons: When you enter a command, the shell search it in each of the directories specified in the PATH value trying to find it.

If it can't find it, you'll see a “Command not found” message.

To manipulate and to change it, refer to this article: Linux - Environment Variable. Below is simple snippet.

[root@ebs121 lib]# echo $PATH
/usr/kerberos/sbin:/usr/kerberos/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/root/bin

To change your PATH variable to include a directory in a session scope:

[root@ebs121 lib]# export PATH=$PATH:$HOME/bin
[root@ebs121 lib]# echo $PATH
/usr/kerberos/sbin:/usr/kerberos/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/root/bin:/root/bin

You can remark the root bin at the end. It was added.

Of you can add it permanently by adding this line in a shell startup script

• How to set the $PATH variable in Redhat 9.0