Python environment variables

An environment variable is a dynamic-named value that can affect the way running processes will behave on a computer . They are part of the environment in which a process runs.

Environment variables live in the memory , not on the disk. People usually save environment variables in files only for not having to do the same exporting of them by hand repetitively.

SCRATCH is an example of an environment variable . When used as part of a command they need to be preceded by a ‘$’, hence ‘$SCRATCH’. They are called environment variables because they are used to modify the environment in which some programs run on the central system.

Environment variables is the set of key-value pairs for the current user environment . They are generally set by the operating system and the current user-specific configurations. For example, in a Unix environment, the environment variables are set using the user profile i.e. .