Beginner's Guide: Configuring Environment Variables in Linux

This article introduces the knowledge of Linux environment variables. Environment variables are information carriers for the system or programs (e.g., PATH records command paths). Their role is to allow programs to be found by the system and to set running parameters. To view environment variables, you can use `printenv`/`env` (for all variables) or `echo $VariableName` (for a single variable). For temporary configuration, use `export VariableName=Value`, which only takes effect in the current terminal session. For permanent configuration, modify the configuration files: for the user-level, edit `~/.bashrc` or `~/.zshrc` (effective for the current user); for the system-level, edit `/etc/profile` (effective for all users). After modification, use `source` to load the changes. Verification can be done by checking the newly added path with `echo $PATH` or testing relevant tools. Common issues include: forgetting to use `source` which leads to configuration not taking effect, path errors, and requiring `sudo` privileges for system-level configurations. In summary: use `export` for temporary settings, modify configuration files for permanence, and mastering environment variables can enhance efficiency.