'Default PATH variable set with .bash_profile empty

I remember after a fresh install of os x, when i did a echo $PATH in the terminal, it responded with a blank line. Now after installing some tools over time, the $PATH variable has /usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/opt/X11/bin value although my .bash_profile is blank. I was wondering where this value is being set?



Solution 1:[1]

As of macOS Catalina, Mac defaults the shell to zsh (Z shell). This type of shell uses .zprofile instead of .bash_profile. To check if you are on bash or zsh, run echo $SHELL. If the result is bin/zsh, you are on zsh. In which case edit your ~/.zprofile for env variables.

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