The PATH environment variable determines which directories will be searched for a command when the command name is entered by itself without a directory path. The commands for setting the path in the Korn shell are different from the commands for setting the path in the C shell.
Unlike Microsoft Windows, the current directory is NOT searched automatically unless specifically included in the PATH. Directories accessible to other users could potentially be used to host a Trojan horse program, so for security reasons, it's not a good idea to add the current directory (".") to the PATH.
Last updated Thursday January 18, 2007
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UNIX Commands and Command Shells
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