Python-dotenv is a Python package that is used to manage & store environment variables. It reads key-value pairs from the “.env” file.

How to install python-dotenv?

To install python-dotenv using PIP, open your command prompt or terminal and type in this command.

pip install python-dotenv

Verifying the installation

To verify if you have successfully installed python-dotenv, create a new file and check if the module is importable.

1. Create a new Python file named “gfg.py” and copy and paste the code given below

try:
    import dotenv
    print("python-dotenv is installed successfully!")
except ImportError:
    print("python-dotenv is not installed.")

2. Save the file and run it from your command prompt/terminal using this command “python gfg.py”

Verifying python-dotenv installation

If the installation was successful, you should see the message “python-dotenv is installed successfully!”

Basic Configuration

To start using python-dotenv, you need to create a .env file in the root directory of your project. This file will contain your environment variables. For example:

DATABASE_URL=mysql://user:password@localhost/db_name

SECRET_KEY=mysecretkey

DEBUG=True

Next, load these variables in your Python script:

from dotenv import load_dotenv
import os

# Load environment variables from .env file
load_dotenv()

# Access environment variables
database_url = os.getenv('DATABASE_URL')
secret_key = os.getenv('SECRET_KEY')
debug = os.getenv('DEBUG')

.env file in the root folder of the project

Example Commands

Here are some common commands and usage examples for python-dotenv:

Loading Environment Variables:

from dotenv import load_dotenv
load_dotenv()

Getting an Environment Variable:

import os
secret_key = os.getenv('SECRET_KEY')

Setting a Default Value:

debug = os.getenv('DEBUG', 'False')

Common Issues

File Not Found:

• Ensure that the .env file is in the root directory of your project.
• Verify the file name is exactly .env.

Variables Not Loading:

• Make sure load_dotenv() is called before accessing any environment variables.
• Check for typos in variable names.

Incorrect Data Types:

• Environment variables are loaded as strings.
• Convert them to the appropriate data type if necessary.

Conclusion

The python-dotenv package simplifies the management of environment variables in Python projects, enhancing security and configuration management. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily install, configure, and start using python-dotenv in your projects.

FAQs

Q1: What is a .env file?

A: A .env file is a simple text file used to store environment variables. It is often used to keep sensitive information and configuration settings separate from the main codebase.

Q2: Can I use python-dotenv with other frameworks like Django or Flask?

A: Yes, python-dotenv works well with frameworks like Django and Flask. Simply load the .env file at the beginning of your settings or configuration file.

Q3: How do I secure my .env file?

A: Add the .env file to your .gitignore file to ensure it is not tracked by version control systems like Git, preventing sensitive information from being exposed in your repository.

Q4: Can I load multiple .env files?

A: Yes, you can call load_dotenv() multiple times with different file paths if you need to load variables from multiple .env files.