Dotenv is a popular npm package that loads environment variables from a .env file into process.env. It simplifies the configuration of Node.js applications by allowing developers to store sensitive information like API keys, database URLs, and other settings in a separate file. Dotenv ensures that these variables are securely loaded into the application's environment, making it easier to manage different configurations for development, testing, and production environments.
Compared to manually setting environment variables or using other configuration management tools, Dotenv offers a straightforward and lightweight solution. It is actively maintained and widely used in the Node.js ecosystem, providing a convenient way to handle environment-specific settings.
Tags: node.jsenvironmentconfigurationdotenvnpm