Configuring Next.js Env Local: Environment Variables in Next.js

Environment variables are essential tools for developers working with Next.js. They allow you to configure your application for different environments, such as development, testing, and production, without hardcoding sensitive data into your codebase. By using environment variables, you can keep your API keys, database connection strings, and other sensitive information secure.

This blog will guide you through the process of configuring the Next.js env local variables, ensuring that your application runs smoothly and securely across all environments.

What are Environment Variables?

Environment variables are key-value pairs that can be used to provide configurations for different application running environments. They are defined outside of the actual application code and can influence the behavior of an application. For instance, you might use environment variables to store API keys, database connection strings, or other sensitive data that should not be hardcoded into your application.

Why Use Environment Variables?

Using environment variables offers several benefits:

• Security: Keep sensitive data like API keys out of your codebase.

• Flexibility: Easily switch configurations between different environments (development, testing, production).

• Maintainability: Simplify the process of updating configurations without modifying the code.

Types of Environment Variables

Public Environment Variables

Public environment variables are accessible from both the browser and the Node.js environment. They are useful for storing data that needs to be accessed by both the client and the server. For example, you might use public environment variables to store a Google Analytics tracking ID.

Private Environment Variables

Private environment variables are only accessible from the Node.js environment. They are ideal for storing sensitive data that should not be exposed to the client, such as API keys or database connection strings.

Loading Environment Variables

How to Add Environment Variables in Next.js?

In Next.js, you can add environment variables by creating a .env.local file in your project directory. This file will load every variable into the Node.js process, making them available for use on the server. It is crucial to securely store sensitive credentials specific to the local development environment in the .env.local file to prevent exposure and maintain security while collaborating in distributed teams.

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// .env.local
API_KEY=your_api_key_here
DB_HOST=your_database_host_here

Using .env.local File

The .env.local file is the most common way to add environment variables in Next.js. This file is loaded automatically by Next.js and is not checked into version control, ensuring that your sensitive data remains secure.

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// next.config.js
module.exports = {
  env: {
    API_KEY: process.env.API_KEY,
    DB_HOST: process.env.DB_HOST,
  },
};

Environment Variable Load Order

Precedence of Environment Variables

Environment variables in Next.js have a specific load order. If you define a variable in both .env.development.local and .env, the value in .env.development.local will take precedence when NODE_ENV is set to development.

Allowed Values for NODE_ENV

The allowed values for NODE_ENV are development, production, and test. These values determine which environment-specific configuration files are loaded.

Using Environment Variables in Different Environments

Development Environment

In the development environment, you can use the .env.development file to specify environment variables that are only needed during development. This allows you to keep your development configurations separate from your production configurations.

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// .env.development
API_KEY=your_development_api_key_here

Production Environment

For the production environment, you can use the .env.production file to specify environment variables that are only needed in production. This ensures that your production configurations are kept separate from your development configurations.

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// .env.production
API_KEY=your_production_api_key_here

Securely Storing Secrets

In a distributed team setup, it's crucial to securely store secrets like API keys and database connection strings. Next.js allows you to store these secrets in the .env.local file, which is not checked into version control. This ensures that your sensitive data remains secure and is only accessible to authorized team members.

Dynamic Environment Variables

Next.js evaluates all references to environment variables and hardcodes them into your client code at build time. If your frontend application needs access to dynamic environment variables at runtime, you should set up your own API to provide these variables to your client code.

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// pages/api/runtime-env.js
export default function handler(req, res) {
  res.status(200).json({ apiKey: process.env.API_KEY });
}

Best Practices for Environment Variables

• Use environment variables to store sensitive data: Keep API keys and database connection strings out of your codebase.

• Use a .env.local file for local development: This file is not checked into version control, ensuring that your sensitive data remains secure.

• Use environment-specific files: Use .env.development, .env.test, and .env.production to specify environment variables for different environments.

• Use the NEXT_PUBLIC prefix: To expose environment variables to the browser, prefix them with NEXT_PUBLIC.

Conclusion

Environment variables play a crucial role in configuring and securing your Next.js application. By following best practices and using the appropriate environment-specific files, you can ensure that your application runs smoothly and securely across all environments. Happy coding!