.env File Generator

Create and manage environment variable files easily

Environment Variables

.env Output

# Database connection string
DATABASE_URL=postgres://user:pass@localhost:5432/db

# Your API key
API_KEY=

# Environment
NODE_ENV=development

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What is a .env File?

A .env (dot env) file is a simple text file used to store environment variables for your application. These variables contain configuration settings like database credentials, API keys, and feature flags that shouldn't be committed to source control.

This .env generator helps you create properly formatted environment files with comments. Add your variables, provide values, and download a ready-to-use .env file—perfect for setting up new projects or managing configuration across environments.

.env File Syntax

# This is a comment
DATABASE_URL=postgres://localhost:5432/mydb
API_KEY="key with spaces"
DEBUG=true

KEY=value — Basic format, no spaces around =
# Comment — Lines starting with # are ignored
"quoted values" — Use quotes for values with spaces or special characters
UPPERCASE_KEYS — Convention is to use uppercase with underscores

Common Environment Variables

Variable	Purpose
DATABASE_URL	Database connection string
API_KEY	External service API key
NODE_ENV	Environment (development/production)
PORT	Server port number
SECRET_KEY	Encryption/session secret

.env Best Practices

Never commit to Git: Add .env to your .gitignore file immediately.
Create .env.example: Commit a template file with placeholder values for team reference.
Use descriptive names: STRIPE_SECRET_KEY is better than KEY1.
Keep it organized: Group related variables together with comments.
Rotate secrets: Change API keys and passwords regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use .env files in my code?

Most languages have libraries: Node.js uses dotenv, Python uses python-dotenv, Ruby has dotenv gem. They load .env values into process.env or os.environ.

Can I have multiple .env files?

Yes! Common patterns include .env.local, .env.development, .env.production. Most frameworks load them based on NODE_ENV or similar.

What if I accidentally committed my .env?

Treat all credentials as compromised. Rotate all keys and passwords immediately. Remove from Git history with git filter-branch or BFG Repo-Cleaner.