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Difference Between Path Variable & Environment Variable

Environment variables are key-value pairs used by the operating system to configure settings, while Path variables are a specific type of environment variable that indicates where to find executable files. All Path variables are Environment variables, but not all Environment variables are Path variables, as the latter specifically facilitates running programs from the command line. Both can be system-wide or user-specific and are modified through system settings or shell configuration files.

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25 views2 pages

Difference Between Path Variable & Environment Variable

Environment variables are key-value pairs used by the operating system to configure settings, while Path variables are a specific type of environment variable that indicates where to find executable files. All Path variables are Environment variables, but not all Environment variables are Path variables, as the latter specifically facilitates running programs from the command line. Both can be system-wide or user-specific and are modified through system settings or shell configuration files.

Uploaded by

jason bourn
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The terms Path variable and Environment variable are closely related but serve

different purposes in an operating system. Here's a breakdown of the differences:

Environment Variable

• Definition: A key-value pair used by the operating system to configure the


environment for processes.
• Purpose: Stores system-wide or user-specific configuration settings.
• Examples:
o JAVA_HOME – tells applications where Java is installed.
o TEMP – defines the location for temporary files.
• Scope: Can be system-wide or user-specific.
• Usage: Used by applications and scripts to determine settings like file paths,
language preferences, etc.

Path Variable

• Definition: A specific type of environment variable that tells the operating


system where to look for executable files.
• Purpose: Allows you to run programs from the command line without specifying
their full path.
• Example:
o If C:\Python39\ is in your Path, you can run python from any command
prompt.
• Scope: Also can be system-wide or user-specific.
• Usage: Primarily used by the shell or command line to locate executables.

Key Difference

• All Path variables are Environment variables, but not all Environment
variables are Path variables.
• The Path variable is specifically used to locate executables, while Environment
variables can store a wide range of configuration data.
Here's a tabular comparison between Path Variable and Environment Variable
presented in a clear and concise format:

Feature Environment Variable Path Variable

Definition A key-value pair used to A specific environment variable that


configure the system lists directories for executable search.
environment.

Purpose Stores configuration settings Allows running programs from the


for the OS and applications. command line without specifying full
paths.

Examples JAVA_HOME, TEMP, APPDATA C:\Windows\System32, C:\Python39

Scope Can be system-wide or user- Also can be system-wide or user-


specific. specific.

Usage Used by applications and Used by the shell or terminal to locate


scripts to access system executable files.
settings.

Type General-purpose variable. Specialized variable (a subset of


environment variables).

Modificat Modified via system settings Modified the same way, but specifically
ion or shell configuration files. affects command execution behavior.

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