What is the difference between local and environment variables?

What is the difference between local and environment variables?

Local variables are defined within a function or block and are not accessible outside of it, while environment variables are set in the operating system and can be accessed by any process.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! A local variable could be a variable defined in a function like let x = 10;, while an environment variable could be something like PATH which tells the system where to look for executable files.

When should I use environment variables?

You should use environment variables for configuration settings that may change between environments, like database credentials or API keys.

Are there any security concerns with using environment variables?

Yes, exposing sensitive information in environment variables can be risky. It's important to manage access and avoid hardcoding sensitive data.