What are Environment Variables in Windows Operating System?
Environment variables are a feature of the Windows operating system that provide a way to store information about the environment in which the operating system and applications run. These variables store information such as the location of system directories, the location of user profiles, and the location of applications.
Environment variables are an important part of the Windows operating system, as they provide a way for applications to access information about the environment in which they are running. This information can be used to configure the behavior of applications and to ensure that they are able to access the resources they need to function properly.
In this article, we will discuss what environment variables are, why they are important, and how they can be used in the Windows operating system.
What are Environment Variables?
Environment variables are a type of global variable that are used to store information about the environment in which the operating system and applications run. These variables store information such as the location of system directories, the location of user profiles, and the location of applications.
Environment variables are stored in the operating system's registry and are accessed by applications through the use of APIs or the command line. They can be set by the operating system, by applications, or by users.
Why are Environment Variables Important?
Environment variables are important for several reasons, including:
- Configuring the behavior of applications: Environment variables can be used to configure the behavior of applications. For example, an application may use an environment variable to determine the location of a specific configuration file or the location of a specific directory.
- Accessing system resources: Environment variables can be used to access system resources, such as directories and files. For example, an application may use an environment variable to determine the location of a specific file or directory that it needs to access.
- Improving portability: Environment variables can be used to improve the portability of applications. For example, an application may use an environment variable to determine the location of a specific file or directory on different operating systems.
- Enhancing security: Environment variables can be used to enhance security. For example, an application may use an environment variable to determine the location of a specific directory that it should not have access to.
How to Manage Environment Variables in Windows?
Environment variables can be managed in the Windows operating system through the use of the System Properties dialog. This dialog can be accessed by right-clicking on the Computer icon on the desktop and selecting Properties. From the System Properties dialog, select Advanced system settings and then click on the Environment Variables button.
The Environment Variables dialog allows you to view and manage both system-level and user-level environment variables. System-level environment variables are variables that are set by the operating system and are available to all users on the system. User-level environment variables are variables that are set by individual users and are only available to that user.
To create a new environment variable, click on the New button in the Environment Variables dialog. This will open the New System Variable dialog, where you can specify the name and value of the new environment variable.
To edit an existing environment variable, select the variable in the Environment Variables dialog and click on the Edit button. This will open the Edit Environment Variable dialog, where you can modify the value of the variable.
To delete an environment variable, select the variable in the Environment Variables dialog and click on the Delete button.