path-key

September 12, 2025 · View on GitHub

Get the PATH environment variable key cross-platform

It's usually PATH but on Windows it can be any casing like Path...

Why?

While process.env.PATH reads correctly on Windows regardless of casing, you need the exact key when:

Passing environment to child processes
Working with custom environment objects (where case-insensitivity doesn't apply)
Using worker threads (where case-insensitivity doesn't work)

npm install path-key

import pathKey from 'path-key';

const key = pathKey();
//=> 'PATH'

const PATH = process.env[key];
//=> '/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin'

Type: object

Type: object
Default: process.env

Use a custom environment variables object.

Type: string
Default: process.platform

Get the PATH key for a specific platform.