What are the best practices for using dotenv in my project?

What are the best practices for using dotenv in my project?

Using dotenv is great for managing environment variables. Here are some best practices: 1. Keep your .env file out of version control. 2. Use descriptive variable names. 3. Load variables early in your application. 4. Validate your environment variables.

Why should I keep my .env file out of version control?

Keeping your .env file out of version control prevents sensitive information, like API keys and database passwords, from being exposed publicly.

How can I validate my environment variables?

You can use libraries like joi or dotenv-safe to validate your environment variables and ensure they meet your application's requirements.

Can I use dotenv in production?

Yes, dotenv can be used in production, but it's often better to set environment variables directly in the hosting environment for security.