Should I commit .env to Git?

Never commit `.env` to Git. Add `.env` to `.gitignore` immediately when creating the file. Commit `.env.example` instead — an identical file structure with all placeholder values so developers know exactly which environment variables are required without exposing real secrets. If you accidentally commit a real secret, rotate it immediately — git history is permanent.

What is the difference between .env and .env.local in Next.js?

Next.js has a load hierarchy: `.env` (all environments), `.env.local` (local overrides, always gitignored), `.env.development` / `.env.production` (environment-specific), and `.env.development.local` / `.env.production.local` (local environment-specific, always gitignored). More specific files override less specific ones. The `.local` variants are for secrets that should never be shared — they are git-ignored by default in Next.js.

How do I load .env in Node.js?

Install the `dotenv` package (`npm install dotenv`) and call `require("dotenv").config()` at the very start of your entry point before any other imports. In ES modules: `import "dotenv/config"`. Next.js loads `.env` files automatically without dotenv. Laravel uses `vlucas/phpdotenv` automatically through the framework bootstrap process — no manual setup required.

What should never appear in .env.example?

Never use real secrets — even as placeholder "examples." Use clearly non-functional values: `DB_PASSWORD=your-database-password`, `STRIPE_KEY=sk_test_xxxxxxxxxxxx`, `JWT_SECRET=change-me-in-production`. Repositories are indexed by secret-scanning tools like GitHub Secret Scanning and TruffleHog that detect real credentials even in example files. If a real credential is committed, rotate it immediately regardless of whether the repo is public or private.

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Free .env File Generator — Laravel, Next.js, Node.js, Docker

A .env file stores environment-specific configuration — database credentials, API keys, app URLs — outside source code. This generator produces a ready-to-use .env template for the most common stacks with sensible placeholder values and grouped comments for every section.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

A .env file stores environment-specific configuration as `KEY=VALUE` pairs — database credentials, API keys, service URLs, and feature flags. It keeps secrets out of source code, version control, and deployment artifacts. Different environments (development, staging, production) use different .env files with different values for the same keys, making the application environment-portable without code changes.

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Free .env File Generator — Laravel, Next.js, Node.js, Docker

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