Next.js Environment Variables

Introduction

Environment variables are useful for setting up dynamic values in your applications without hard-coding them in your source code. In this guide, we will explore how to use environment variables in your Next.js applications.

Syntax

To use environment variables in your Next.js application, you need to add them to a .env.local file located in the root of your project. The syntax for adding a new environment variable is as follows:

MY_VARIABLE=value

Here, MY_VARIABLE is the name of the variable, and value is its value.

Example

Let's say you want to add a new environment variable to your Next.js application. Here's what you need to do:

1. In your project's root directory, create a new file named .env.local.
2. Open the .env.local file in your favorite text editor and add the following line:

API_URL=https://api.example.com

3. Save the .env.local file.

Output

Now, you can access the value of your environment variable in your Next.js application using process.env.MY_VARIABLE.

Explanation

In this example, we added a new environment variable named API_URL with a value of https://api.example.com. Now, we can access the value of API_URL in our application using process.env.API_URL, which will return https://api.example.com.

Use

Using environment variables in your Next.js application can help you manage dynamic configuration values such as API URLs, API keys, and other sensitive information in a secure way. It also helps with portability and deployment, as you can use different values for these variables in different environments, such as development and production.

Important Points

• Environment variables can be used to store dynamic configuration values in your Next.js application.
• Environment variables are typically stored in a .env.local file located in the root of your project.
• Environment variables are accessed using the process.env object followed by the name of the variable.
• Environment variables can be used to manage sensitive information such as API keys and secret tokens.

Summary

Using environment variables in your Next.js application can make it easier to manage dynamic configuration values and sensitive information. By storing environment variables in a .env.local file, you can easily switch between different environments without having to modify your source code. Next.js has made it easy to manage environment variables, and by following the syntax and usage guidelines outlined in this guide, you can start using them in your applications today.