The Search Path
When you type a command line, Windows searches a list of folders called the search path for a file whose name matches the program name you typed and whose name ends with any of several extensions, such as .exe, .bat, or .vbs. The most common program extensions are listed in Table 30.1. Windows examines the file to see what type of program it is, and then runs it. It’s then the program’s job to interpret any arguments you typed after the program name.
Table 30.1. Typical Executable Program Extensions
The search path is defined by a list of folder names in the PATH environment variable, and the complete list of extensions that Windows ...
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