Appendix G. Important Files

startup files

These files contain the aliases and environmental variables made available to Bash running as a user shell and to all Bash scripts invoked after system initialization.

/etc/profile

systemwide defaults, mostly setting the environment (all Bourne-type shells, not just Bash [1])

/etc/bashrc

systemwide functions and aliases for Bash

$HOME/.bash_profile

user-specific Bash environmental default settings, found in each user's home directory (the local counterpart to /etc/profile)

$HOME/.bashrc

user-specific Bash init file, found in each user's home directory (the local counterpart to /etc/bashrc). Only interactive shells and user scripts read this file. See Appendix K for a sample .bashrc file.

logout file

$HOME/.bash_logout

user-specific instruction file, found in each user's home directory. Upon exit from a login (Bash) shell, the commands in this file execute.