What are some examples of using dotenv in a Node.js application?

Can you give me some examples of how to use dotenv in a Node.js application?

Sure! Dotenv is a module that loads environment variables from a .env file into process.env. Here's a simple example.

How do I set up a .env file?

Create a file named .env in your project root and add your variables like this:

DB_HOST=localhost
DB_USER=root
DB_PASS=password

How do I access these variables in my code?

You can access them using process.env.VARIABLE_NAME. For example:

const dbHost = process.env.DB_HOST;

Are there any best practices for using dotenv?

Yes! Keep your .env file out of version control by adding it to .gitignore, and never expose sensitive information.