🔤 E - Environment Variables 🔑

Environment variables are used to store sensitive information securely 🔐

In simple words 
Environment variables keep important data 
outside your source code 🧠

Without environment variables ❌ 
• API keys get exposed 
• Passwords leak 
• Security risks increase 

🔒 What is Stored in Environment Variables
• API keys 🔑 
• Database URLs 🗄️ 
• Secret tokens 🪙 
• Passwords 🔐 
• Port numbers 🌐 

🌍 Real World Usage
• Connecting backend to database 
• Using payment gateways 
• Authenticating third party APIs 
• Deploying apps securely 

📁 Common Environment Files
• .env 
• .env.local 
• .env.production 

💻 Example: Using Environment Variables in Node

require("dotenv").config();

const PORT = process.env.PORT;
const DB_URL = process.env.DB_URL;

app.listen(PORT, () => {
  console.log("Server running");
});