.env.local (2026 Update)

# SENSITIVE: Keep this private! STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=sk_test_51Mz... # PUBLIC: Accessible by the browser NEXT_PUBLIC_ANALYTICS_ID=UA-123456789 Use code with caution.

Do not use spaces around the = sign. KEY = VALUE will often break the parser. Use KEY=VALUE . Summary

When a new teammate joins, they simply run cp .env.example .env.local and fill in their own credentials. .env.local

In the world of software development, are key-value pairs used to configure applications without changing the code. For example, instead of hardcoding https://staging.com , you use a variable like API_URL .

If you’ve ever accidentally pushed an API key to GitHub or struggled with different database URLs between your laptop and your teammate’s, .env.local is the solution you’re looking for. # SENSITIVE: Keep this private

This means you can set "safe" defaults in .env and override them with your "secret" keys in .env.local . Step 1: Creation

The .env.local file is a specific "flavor" of these environment files. Its primary characteristics are: Do not use spaces around the = sign

You might be using a local Docker database, while your teammate prefers a cloud-based dev database. By using .env.local , you can both have different DATABASE_URL values without conflicting with each other’s code.

The biggest risk in modern web development is "credential leakage." If you put your Stripe Secret Key in a standard .env file and commit it to a public repository, bots will find it within seconds. Because .env.local is kept strictly on your machine, that risk is eliminated.

The best practice is to create a file. This file contains the keys but not the actual values. Example .env.example : STRIPE_SECRET_KEY= NEXT_PUBLIC_ANALYTICS_ID= DATABASE_URL= Use code with caution.