# .gitignore .env !.env.sample
To understand .env.sample , you first need to understand the .env file. A .env file is a simple text file used to store sensitive data and environment-specific configuration—such as database passwords, API keys, and port numbers—outside of your actual codebase. .env.sample
Now, whenever a new developer joins the team, they simply copy .env.sample to a new file named .env.sample