Final answer:
The Arduino IDE installation libraries folder varies by operating system; on Windows, it's usually within the 'libraries' directory of the Arduino software path, on MacOS and Linux, it's under '~/Arduino/libraries'. You can also add libraries to the 'libraries' folder in the sketchbook directory, which can be adjusted in the IDE settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Arduino IDE installation libraries folder is an essential component of the Arduino development environment, where users can store and manage additional libraries needed for their projects beyond the standard libraries that come with the IDE. When you install the Arduino IDE, libraries can generally be found in one of two places depending on your operating system.
For Windows users, the libraries folder is typically located within the 'libraries' directory of the Arduino software installation path, which might be something like 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries'. MacOS and Linux users will often find the libraries folder in their home directory under '~/Arduino/libraries'.
However, users also have the option to store libraries in the 'libraries' folder inside their personal sketchbook. The location of the sketchbook can be found or changed by accessing 'File' > 'Preferences' in the Arduino IDE, and looking for the 'Sketchbook location' setting. Any libraries placed here will be accessible to the IDE.
Remember, when you download new libraries, whether manually or through the library manager in Arduino IDE, you must ensure they are placed in the correct libraries folder. Otherwise, your sketches (programs) might not be able to find and include those libraries, leading to errors or a failure to compile your code.