- 1How to Add a New User in Linux
- 2Modify Existing User in Linux
- 3Delete a User in Linux — Step-by-Step for Beginners
- 4Create a User Group in Linux - Step-by-Step Tutorial
- 5Linux: Add User to Group
- 6How to Remove a User from a Group in Linux
- 7Delete a User Group in Linux - Beginner Friendly Tutorial
- 8Linux su Command Tutorial – Switch Users Easily
- 9Linux sudo Command - Execute as Another User
- 10Change a User's Password in Linux Using passwd
- 11Set Password Expiry in Linux using chage
- 12Lock a User Account in Linux
- 13How to Unlock a User Account in Linux
- 14Configure User Login Shell in Linux
- 15How to Configure User Environment Variables in Linux
- 16Edit .bashrc and .profile in Linux - User Startup Files Tutorial

- 1Linux Topics Index
- 2How to Create a File in Linux
- 3How to Rename a File in Linux
- 4How to Copy a File in Linux
- 5How to Move a File in Linux
- 6How to Delete a File in Linux
- 7How to Create a Directory in Linux
- 8How to Delete a Directory in Linux
- 9How to Copy Directories Recursively in Linux
- 10Delete Directories Recursively in Linux
- 11How to View Hidden Files in Linux
- 12How to Create a Hidden File in Linux
- 13How to Create a Hidden Directory in Linux
- 14How to Find Files in Linux Using find Command
- 15Find Files in Linux Using locate Command
- 16How to View File Contents Using cat in Linux
- 17How to View File Contents Using less in Linux
- 18View File Contents Using the more Command in Linux
- 19Compare Files Using diff Command in Linux
- 20Compare Files in Linux Using cmp Command
- 21Check File Type in Linux with file Command
- 22Create Symbolic Links with ln -s in Linux
- 23How to Archive Files Using tar Command in Linux
- 24Compress Files with gzip in Linux – Beginner Tutorial
- 25How to Compress Files Using bzip2 in Linux
- 26Compress Files in Linux Using zip Command
- 27Extract Compressed Files using tar in Linux
- 28Extract ZIP Files on Linux with unzip
- 29How to Extract .gz Files using gunzip in Linux

- 1How to Add a New User in Linux
- 2Modify Existing User in Linux
- 3Delete a User in Linux — Step-by-Step for Beginners
- 4Create a User Group in Linux - Step-by-Step Tutorial
- 5Linux: Add User to Group
- 6How to Remove a User from a Group in Linux
- 7Delete a User Group in Linux - Beginner Friendly Tutorial
- 8Linux su Command Tutorial – Switch Users Easily
- 9Linux sudo Command - Execute as Another User
- 10Change a User's Password in Linux Using passwd
- 11Set Password Expiry in Linux using chage
- 12Lock a User Account in Linux
- 13How to Unlock a User Account in Linux
- 14Configure User Login Shell in Linux
- 15How to Configure User Environment Variables in Linux
- 16Edit .bashrc and .profile in Linux - User Startup Files Tutorial
How to Configure User Environment Variables in Linux
Next Topic ⮕Edit .bashrc and .profile in Linux - User Startup Files Tutorial
How to Configure User Environment Variables in Linux
Hey there, and welcome to this beginner-friendly guide on configuring user environment variables in Linux. If you've ever wondered how to set your PATH or define a custom variable that persists when you open a new terminal — you're in the right place.
Let’s take this step by step, in a way that’s clear, practical, and hands-on.
🔍 What Are Environment Variables?
Environment variables are like global values that live inside your terminal session. They can store paths, settings, and preferences your shell and apps can use.
For example, the PATH
variable tells Linux where to look for executable programs.
echo $PATH
/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
Let’s say you want to add a new folder to your PATH
or create your own variable like MY_NAME
. That’s what we’ll learn next!
🛠️ Step 1: Create a Temporary Variable
This variable works only for the current terminal session:
export MY_NAME="Alex"
echo $MY_NAME
Alex
But if you close this terminal, it’s gone. To make it permanent, you need to add it to a shell configuration file.
📄 Step 2: Add Variables to .bashrc or .zshrc
If you're using the Bash shell (most common), open your ~/.bashrc
file:
nano ~/.bashrc
Scroll to the bottom and add:
export MY_NAME="Alex"
export PATH="$PATH:/home/alex/my-tools/bin"
Save and exit (in nano, press Ctrl + X
, then Y
, then Enter
).
✅ Step 3: Apply the Changes
Now run:
source ~/.bashrc
This reloads your terminal configuration and applies the changes.
echo $MY_NAME
Alex
👀 Step 4: Set Variables for All Users (Optional)
To set environment variables system-wide, edit /etc/environment
(requires sudo):
sudo nano /etc/environment
Add variables like this (no export
needed):
MY_NAME=Alex
JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64
Save and restart your session for changes to take effect.
🧠 Summary
- Use
export VAR=value
to define a variable temporarily. - Add
export
lines to~/.bashrc
or~/.zshrc
for permanent use. - Use
/etc/environment
for system-wide settings.
And that’s it! You’ve just learned how to configure environment variables like a pro. These tricks come in super handy when setting up development tools, custom scripts, or just personalizing your terminal experience.
See you in the next tutorial!