Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms: environment
environment
- the display and human interface provided by software. On a computer, an environment defines what you can do with the computer. For instance, the operating system, a word processor, and a spreadsheet provide (at least) three different environments that respond to different commands. For example, if you type a word processing command while you are in the operating system environment, or vice versa, the command will not be understood.
- (in Windows, OS/2, and UNIX) a data area in which you can store information for use by programs. To put information there, use the set command; for example, underWindows or OS/2,
set prompt=$p$g
tells the computer to display the current disk and directory (e.g., C:MYDIR>) when it is ready for a command. To see the contents of the environment area, type set by itself.
