Setting the JAVA_HOME environment variable is a crucial step in configuring your Java development environment on macOS. This variable tells your system where to find the Java installation, which is necessary for running Java applications and tools. This article will guide you through the process of setting JAVA_HOME on an Apple macOS system.

Examples:

1. Determine the Installed Java Version:

   First, you need to know which version of Java is installed on your system. Open the Terminal application and type:

   java -version

   This command will display the installed Java version. Note the version number, as you will need it later.

2. Find the Java Installation Path:

   To find the path where Java is installed, use the following command:

   /usr/libexec/java_home

   This command will output the path to the Java installation directory, which typically looks something like /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-<version>.jdk/Contents/Home.

3. Set JAVA_HOME Temporarily:

   If you want to set the JAVA_HOME variable for the current terminal session, use the following command:

   export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home)

   This sets the JAVA_HOME variable to the path returned by the /usr/libexec/java_home command.

4. Set JAVA_HOME Permanently:

   To set JAVA_HOME permanently, you need to add the export command to your shell's configuration file. If you're using the default shell (zsh as of macOS Catalina), you should modify the .zshrc file. If you're using bash, modify the .bash_profile or .bashrc file.

   Open the configuration file in a text editor, for example:

   nano ~/.zshrc

   Add the following line to the file:

   export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home)

   Save the file and exit the editor. To apply the changes, either restart the Terminal or source the configuration file:

   source ~/.zshrc

5. Verify JAVA_HOME:

   To ensure that JAVA_HOME is set correctly, you can print its value using:

   echo $JAVA_HOME

   This should output the path to your Java installation directory.