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env MacOS command

The MacOS env command is used to display or modify the environment variables in your system. It is a useful tool for managing the environment in which programs run. You can use it to view the current environment variables, set new ones, or remove existing ones. By using the env command, you can customize the environment settings for specific commands or scripts, allowing you to control how they interact with the system. This command is particularly handy for scripting and automation tasks, where you may need to manipulate the environment variables for different purposes.

Terminal window
env [option] [name=value] [command [args...]]
OptionDescription
-iClear all environment variables except for TERM
-uUnset the specified environment variable
ParameterDescription
name=valueSet the specified environment variable
commandExecute a command with specified values
argsAdditional arguments for the command
Terminal window
env

Displays all environment variables set in the current terminal session.

Run a Command with Modified Environment Variables

Section titled “Run a Command with Modified Environment Variables”
Terminal window
env VARIABLE_NAME=variable_value command_to_run

Executes a command with a specific environment variable set to a defined value.

Terminal window
env VAR1=value1 VAR2=value2 command_to_run

Sets and exports multiple environment variables before running a command.

Terminal window
env -i command_to_run

Clears all environment variables before running a specific command.

Terminal window
env | grep PATH

Filters and displays environment variables related to paths using the grep command.

{Questions}

To use the env command in bash, execute the following command:

Terminal window
env

What is the purpose of the env command in MacOS?

Section titled “What is the purpose of the env command in MacOS?”

The env command is used to print the current environment or run a program in a modified environment without modifying the actual environment of the current shell.

Terminal window
env <variable=value> <command>

How can I print the environment variables using env in MacOS?

Section titled “How can I print the environment variables using env in MacOS?”

You can print the environment variables using the env command with the ‘-a’ option as follows:

Terminal window
env -a

How do I clear environment variables using the env command in MacOS?

Section titled “How do I clear environment variables using the env command in MacOS?”

To clear environment variables using the env command, you can provide an empty environment.

Terminal window
env -i <command>

How can I set a specific environment variable with the env command in MacOS?

Section titled “How can I set a specific environment variable with the env command in MacOS?”

To set a specific environment variable with the env command, you can specify the variable and its value before the command you want to run.

Terminal window
env VAR=VALUE <command>

How do I ignore the current environment and pass only specified environment variables with the env command in MacOS?

Section titled “How do I ignore the current environment and pass only specified environment variables with the env command in MacOS?”

To ignore the current environment and pass only specified environment variables, you can use the ‘-u’ option in the env command.

Terminal window
env -u VAR1,VAR2 <command>

Can I use the env command to run a command with an altered path in MacOS?

Section titled “Can I use the env command to run a command with an altered path in MacOS?”

Yes, you can run a command with an altered path by specifying the PATH variable before the command using the env command in MacOS.

Terminal window
env PATH=/new/path <command>

How can I search for a command in a custom directory using the env command in MacOS?

Section titled “How can I search for a command in a custom directory using the env command in MacOS?”

To search for a command in a custom directory, you can modify the PATH variable to include the desired directory before running the command with the env command.

Terminal window
env PATH=$PATH:/custom/directory <command>
  1. Running a command with modified environment variables
  2. Setting environment variables for a specific command
  3. Testing and debugging scripts with different environments
  4. Providing default values for missing environment variables