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.. redirect-from:: /faq/installing_faq

.. redirect-from:: /users/faq/installing_faq

.. redirect-from:: /users/installing/environment_variables_faq

Environment variables

.. envvar:: HOME

  The user's home directory. On Linux, :envvar:`~ <HOME>` is shorthand for :envvar:`HOME`.


.. envvar:: MPLBACKEND

  This optional variable can be set to choose the Matplotlib backend. See
  :ref:`what-is-a-backend`.


.. envvar:: MPLCONFIGDIR

  This is the directory used to store user customizations to
  Matplotlib, as well as some caches to improve performance. If
  :envvar:`MPLCONFIGDIR` is not defined, :file:`{HOME}/.config/matplotlib`
  and :file:`{HOME}/.cache/matplotlib` are used on Linux, and
  :file:`{HOME}/.matplotlib` on other platforms, if they are
  writable. Otherwise, the Python standard library's `tempfile.gettempdir` is
  used to find a base directory in which the :file:`matplotlib` subdirectory is
  created.


.. envvar:: MPL_IGNORE_SYSTEM_FONTS

  When this variable is set, Matplotlib will update its font cache only with its own
  directories. This can be used to limit subprocess usage for querying system fonts.


.. envvar:: PATH

  The list of directories searched to find executable programs.


.. envvar:: PYTHONPATH

  The list of directories that are added to Python's standard search list when
  importing packages and modules.


.. envvar:: QT_API

   The Python Qt wrapper to prefer when using Qt-based backends. See :ref:`the
   entry in the usage guide <QT_bindings>` for more information.

Setting environment variables in Linux and macOS

To list the current value of :envvar:`PYTHONPATH`, which may be empty, try:

echo $PYTHONPATH

The procedure for setting environment variables in depends on what your default shell is. Common shells include :program:`bash` and :program:`csh`. You should be able to determine which by running at the command prompt:

echo $SHELL

To create a new environment variable:

export PYTHONPATH=~/Python  # bash/ksh
setenv PYTHONPATH ~/Python  # csh/tcsh

To prepend to an existing environment variable:

export PATH=~/bin:${PATH}  # bash/ksh
setenv PATH ~/bin:${PATH}  # csh/tcsh

The search order may be important to you, do you want :file:`~/bin` to be searched first or last? To append to an existing environment variable:

export PATH=${PATH}:~/bin  # bash/ksh
setenv PATH ${PATH}:~/bin  # csh/tcsh

To make your changes available in the future, add the commands to your :file:`~/.bashrc` or :file:`~/.cshrc` file.

Setting environment variables in Windows

Open the :program:`Control Panel` (:menuselection:`Start --> Control Panel`), start the :program:`System` program. Click the :guilabel:`Advanced` tab and select the :guilabel:`Environment Variables` button. You can edit or add to the :guilabel:`User Variables`.