How do I change the PATH settings under Linux operating systems and add a new directory to $PATH under bash shell?

You can change your PATH by editing your ~/.bash_profile file or ~/.profile file under Linux operating systems for your own login session. Open a command-line terminal (select Applications > Accessories > Terminal), and then type the following commands to edit ~/.bash_profile file:

vi ~/.bash_profile

To add /opt/apps and $HOME/bin/ directories to your PATH, append or modify the line starting with PATH:

export PATH=$PATH:/opt/apps:$HOME/bin

The “:” act as a separator to represent a list of directories. Save and close the file. Logout and login back to see your new path settings:

echo $PATH

Change the PATH For All Users On Linux

You can change the PATH for all users on the Linux system by editing the file /etc/profile file, enter:
# vi /etc/profile
To add /opt/apps directory to your PATH, append or modify the line starting with PATH as follows:

export PATH=$PATH:/opt/apps

Save and close the file.