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PHP Environment Variables with PHP Environment Variables Setting up the Project and Package

Gemini Brain
Gemini Brain
13,817 Points
Posted by Gemini Brain
Gemini Brain
13,817 Points

Environmental Variables and webhosting providers, security risk!!!

I would have one question for everyone. Why I should use environmental variables when most webhosting providers has putenv() on disable_functions list?

When I install phpdotenv, add all the necessary things to autoload.php, create .env file with variables like SECRET_KEY and use getenv('SECRET_KEY') I can't get any result.. then I found out, my webhosting provider has putenv() in disable_functions list. There is no point to use this then or am I wrong?

INTERESTING: When I use $_ENV['SECRET_KEY'] instead of getenv('SECRET_KEY') it returns my SECRET KEY.

Could someone help me with this issue? I'm trying to secure my website with administration things from these videos like (decodeJwt(), isAuthorized() functions etc.)

1 Answer

Alena Holligan
STAFF
Alena Holligan
Treehouse Teacher
Alena Holligan
Alena Holligan
Treehouse Teacher

.env files are primarily for development. On a production server, you can set environment variables on the server and not through code. Ask your hosting provider how you set environment variables. You could still use the package for reading and specifying required environment variables. Check the details in this video https://teamtreehouse.com/library/additional-considerations?t=261