What is the main purpose of the .bashrc file?

The .bashrc file is used specifically to initialize user-specific shell session settings for the Bash shell. When a user starts a new interactive shell session, the .bashrc file is executed, allowing the user to customize the environment and behavior of the shell. This can include setting environment variables, defining shell aliases, customizing the command prompt, and running commands that should be available each time the shell is opened.

This file plays an essential role in providing a personalized environment within the terminal for each user, so any configurations a user wants to apply on a regular basis can be defined in this file. This can enhance productivity and provide a more tailored command-line experience.

The other options refer to different functionalities: setting system-wide environment variables is typically handled in files like /etc/environment or /etc/profile, executing all shell scripts is not a defined purpose of the .bashrc, and configuring network settings falls under the domain of network configuration files, not the .bashrc.