The .env file, which stands for "environment", is used to store configuration variables and secrets for applications, allowing developers to manage environment-specific settings outside of their codebase. Here's a detailed look into the use, history, and context of .env files:
The concept of using external configuration files for environment variables dates back to the early days of computing, but the specific use of a .env file became popular with the advent of modern web frameworks and applications. The .env file approach was notably popularized by frameworks like Laravel and tools like dotenv, which provide a way to load environment variables from a file into process.env in Node.js applications.
.env file typically contains key-value pairs, where each line represents a variable and its value, separated by an equals sign. For example:DB_HOST=localhost DB_USER=root DB_PASS=mySecretPassword
.env to the .gitignore file to prevent accidental commits to public repositories, thus protecting sensitive data.Several tools have been developed to support the use of .env files:
.env file into process.env. It's widely used in the Node.js ecosystem..env files..env files to your version control system..env files, like .env.development or .env.production..env file when transferring between environments or backing up..env file to the public.References: