List, Get, Set, and Unset Mac and Linux Environment Variables in Terminal

Published: Apr 11, 2021
Updated: Mar 23, 2022
Table of Contents

List All Environment Variables # 

env

Get an Environment Variable #

Syntax:

echo ${<VAR_NAME>}

Usage:

echo ${MY_NAME}

Set an Environment Variable #

Syntax:

export <VAR_NAME>="<VAR_VALUE>"

Usage:

export MY_NAME="Jane Doe"

Persist on Mac:

Add export MY_NAME="Jane Doe" to your shell config file.

Restart your Terminal.

Persist on Linux:

Add export MY_NAME="Jane Doe" to your ~/.bashrc file.

Restart your Terminal.

Unset an Environment Variable #

Syntax:

unset <VAR_NAME>

Usage:

unset MY_NAME

Persist on Mac:

Add unset MY_NAME to your shell config file.

Restart your Terminal.

Persist on Linux:

Add unset MY_NAME to your ~/.bashrc file.

Restart your Terminal.