%% date:: [[2022-12-25]] %% # [[Using environment variables in js]] It's a good practice to use [[Environment variables]] instead of hardcoding potentially confidential values into your code. In [[JavaScript]], the easiest way to do this is to use the [[dotenv library]]. ## Using `dotenv` in JavaScript ### Installation When using [[NodeJS]], install it this way: ```bash npm install dotenv ``` ### Importing the library Add the following line to the top of your JavaScript code to make sure that your app includes the right library: ```js require('dotenv').config(); ``` ### Setting the values of the environment variables Create a new text file called `.env`. This is where you should put all the variables and their actual values, like this: ```plain ACCESS_TOKEN=tokenhere CLIENT_SECRET=secrethere CLIENT_KEY=keyhere READWISE_TOKEN=tokenhere DOMAIN=domain.name ``` > [!warning] Add `.env` to your `.gitignore`! > If you're pushing the code to a remote repository, make sure you [[Ignoring files in Git|ignore this file]]. Instead of sharing `.env`, copy the contents (sans values) to a new file named `.env-sample` instead, and then push *that* file to the remote. That will still help people understand what they need to set.