.env.laravel Jun 2026

KEY = value will cause syntax parsing failures. Use KEY=value instead.

Think of it as a set of keys and values, where each key represents a configuration setting, and each value is the actual setting for that environment. For example, you might have a DB_DATABASE key that holds the name of your database, and its value will differ depending on whether you're on your local machine ( myapp_local ), a staging server ( myapp_staging ), or the live production environment ( myapp_production ). .env.laravel

When used correctly, the .env file provides a clean separation between your application's code and its configuration, following the best practices of modern software development. When misused, it can become a source of security vulnerabilities, performance issues, and frustrating bugs. KEY = value will cause syntax parsing failures

Once you have defined the variable in a config file, you can access it anywhere in your application using the config() helper: For example, you might have a DB_DATABASE key

If a configuration value contains a space, you must enclose it in double quotes (e.g., APP_NAME="My Great Application" ).