How to add directory to PATH correctly

OP here: I meant, whenever I try to execute a command*

PATH=paths in .profile or .<shellhere>rc
or add a directory to /etc/paths

>>61972809
use full paths

What shell do you use? You should be able to put it in .bash_profile for bash or .zprofile for zsh.

For example I have a directory in my home dir that I put local software builds in:

if [ -d "$HOME/bin" ]; then
    export PATH="$HOME/bin:$PATH"
fi

Replace $HOME/bin accordingly.

>>61972809
'echo $PATH' will show what is is now.
most distros will add ~/bin to your path if you just create that folder.
You can put PATH="$HOME/bin:$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH" in your .bashrc

>>61972830
>>61972838
>>61972846
Thanks anons, that helped