September 21, 2025
Linux Command Line

Linux Command Line

The “path” command is a powerful tool in Linux that allows users to manipulate and work with directories in the file system. In this article, we will discuss when to use the “path” command, how to use it, and provide some examples to help you get started.

What is the “path” command?

The “path” command is used to display or set the list of directories that the shell searches for commands. When you type a command in the terminal, the shell looks for the command in the directories listed in the PATH environment variable. By default, the PATH variable contains a list of commonly used directories where commands are typically stored. However, you can use the “path” command to add or remove directories from the list as needed.

When to use the “path” command?

The “path” command is useful in a number of situations, including:

  • When you want to add a new directory to the list of directories searched by the shell for commands
  • When you want to remove a directory from the list of directories searched by the shell for commands
  • When you want to display the current list of directories searched by the shell for commands

How to use the “path” command?

The “path” command can be used in a number of ways, including:

  • To display the current list of directories searched by the shell for commands, simply type “path” in the terminal and press enter.
  • To add a new directory to the list of directories searched by the shell for commands, use the following syntax: path -p /path/to/directory
  • To remove a directory from the list of directories searched by the shell for commands, use the following syntax: path -d /path/to/directory

Examples:

  1. Display the current list of directories searched by the shell for commands
$ path
  1. Add a new directory to the list of directories searched by the shell for commands
$ path -p /usr/local/bin
  1. Remove a directory from the list of directories searched by the shell for commands
$ path -d /usr/local/bin

The “path” command is a powerful tool in Linux that allows users to manipulate and work with directories in the file system. By understanding when to use the “path” command, how to use it, and seeing some examples, you can now confidently use it to manage your directories in the file system.

See our list of 75 Linux commands you should know about.

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