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env

env

9.9
A command used in a terminal to run a program with changed variables
  • noun
  • /ɛnv/
  • Specialized
translation icon : env
  • You can use env to set environment variables before running a command in the terminal.

Examples

  • You can use the env command to list all current environment variables in your terminal.

  • The env utility is often used in shell scripts to control the execution environment.

  • Before running the script, she set a variable with env to change its behavior.

  • What is env?

  • You can use env.

  • To check your current settings, type env in the command line to display all environment variables.

  • If you run a script with env, it ensures that the correct environment is used for execution.

Surface Forms

env singular
envs plural

Etymology

Env is a short form of environment, a word that originally meant 'around' or 'surroundings'. In computing, the 'environment' is the settings and variables that sit 'around' a program, so the env command shows or runs a program with those surrounding settings.