LFCS Essential Commands Practice Question
Which TWO commands can display the current environment variables?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse `set` (which shows all shell variables) with `env` (which shows only environment variables), or they think `echo $HOME` is a way to list all variables, when it only shows one specific variable.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
env
The `env` command (option C) is correct because it displays all current environment variables along with their values. It is a standard Unix/Linux command specifically designed for this purpose, and it is commonly used in scripting and troubleshooting to inspect the environment.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
set
Why it's wrong here
set displays all variables (shell and environment) and functions, which is more than environment variables alone.
- ✗
echo $HOME
Why it's wrong here
This only displays the value of the HOME variable, not all environment variables.
- ✓
env
Why this is correct
env displays all environment variables.
- ✗
export
Why it's wrong here
export lists exported variables, but not all environment variables (non-exported ones are not shown).
- ✓
printenv
Why this is correct
printenv displays all environment variables.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This LFCS practice question is part of Courseiva's free Linux Foundation certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the LFCS exam.