The difference between .zprofile and .zshrc

In the Unix and Linux operating systems, the .zprofile and .zshrc files are configuration files that are used to customize the zsh shell, which is a shell program that provides a command-line interface for interacting with the operating system.

The .zprofile file is executed when the zsh shell is started as a login shell, which typically occurs when you open a terminal window or log in to a remote system using ssh. The .zshrc file, on the other hand, is executed whenever you start a new zsh shell, which can include opening a new terminal window or opening a new terminal tab within an existing window.

The .zprofile file is typically used to set environment variables and run other commands that should be executed only once when the shell is started. The .zshrc file, on the other hand, is used to set aliases, functions, and other shell options that should be available every time a new zsh shell is started.

In general, it’s a good idea to put environment variables and commands that only need to be run once at login time in the .zprofile file, and to put aliases, functions, and other shell options that should be available every time a new shell is started in the .zshrc file. This can help to keep your configuration organized and reduce the amount of unnecessary processing that occurs when you start a new shell.