Coupon code: MAY25
Use it before checkout
Until May 24, 2026
Different modern tooling handles .env.local in slightly different ways, particularly regarding how variables are exposed to the browser. 1. Next.js Next.js features built-in support for .env.local .
At the very entry point of your application (e.g., index.js ), initialize the package: javascript
To keep your application secure and perfectly configured, follow this quick checklist for .env.local : .env.local
In plain Node.js projects using dotenv , .env.local is not a special file—you must load it manually. However, the community convention of using .env for defaults and .env.local for local overrides is widely adopted.
AUTH_SECRET="your-development-secret-key" AUTH_GITHUB_ID="Ov23li..." AUTH_GITHUB_SECRET="your-github-oauth-secret" Different modern tooling handles
require('dotenv').config( path: '.env.local' ); // Access the variable const dbUrl = process.env.DATABASE_URL; console.log(`Connecting to database at: $dbUrl`); Use code with caution. 2. Next.js
The data inside a .env.local file is formatted as simple strings without complex data types: At the very entry point of your application (e
There's sometimes confusion about which file should be committed. The general consensus across frameworks is: