.env.local.production

When running in ( NODE_ENV=development ), you will get the database settings from the combined sources: the host and port come from .env , while the user and password come from .env.local , and the database name is from .env.development .

A typical precedence order from lowest to highest looks like this:

Let's put this all together into a practical workflow. .env.local.production

The world of environment files can be confusing, especially when you encounter non-standard names like .env.local.production . By understanding the underlying principles of naming conventions and priority hierarchies, you can take control of your configuration.

Consistency across your team and projects is key. Adopt the standard convention of .env , .env.local , .env.[mode] , and .env.[mode].local . Avoid creating non-standard names like .env.local.production . When running in ( NODE_ENV=development ), you will

require('dotenv').config(); console.log(process.env.DATABASE_URL);

This works fine until you need to run a on your local machine. Avoid creating non-standard names like

For example, in Vite, you could run: