zshrc

zshrc, short for Z shell run commands, is the primary startup script for interactive Z shell sessions. On Unix-like systems, the user-specific configuration is stored in ~/.zshrc, while a system-wide variant exists at /etc/zshrc. When a new interactive zsh session starts, zsh reads /etc/zshrc first and then sources ~/.zshrc, allowing local customization to override system defaults. Login shells may also process other files such as ~/.zprofile, but .zshrc is the standard place for interactive behavior.

zshrc is used to set environment variables, modify PATH, define aliases and functions, configure the prompt, enable history options, and initialize command-line completion and keybindings. Typical entries include: exporting PATH, aliases like ll='ls -la', history settings such as HISTSIZE and SAVEHIST, initialization of completion with autoload -Uz compinit; compinit, and prompt configurations (PROMPT or RPROMPT). The file also commonly enables various shell options with setopt and can bind keys. Users often source additional scripts or load frameworks such as oh-my-zsh or prezto that install their own configurations into .zshrc.

Editing and reloading: after saving changes, run source ~/.zshrc or exec zsh to apply. Note that non-interactive or login-only invocations may skip .zshrc unless they are interactive; to ensure it runs in a login shell, zsh reads appropriate profile files such as ~/.zprofile. Debugging and maintenance tips include keeping a backup, testing changes incrementally, and using tracing options if needed to diagnose startup issues.