How to Read Environment Variables from Multiple .env Files in Python

Discover how to efficiently load environment variables from more than one `.env` file in Python, while keeping sensitive information secure and out of your Git repository.
---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Reading environment variables from more than one ".env" file in Python

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
How to Read Environment Variables from Multiple .env Files in Python

Working with environment variables in Python is essential for managing configurations, especially when dealing with sensitive data such as usernames and passwords. Many developers use .env files to store these variables securely and keep them out of their version control systems. However, sometimes you may need to pull environment variables from multiple .env files. In this post, we’ll explore how to achieve that effectively.

The Problem

Imagine you're developing a Python application that requires database credentials. You’ve stored general configuration variables in one .env file, but you want to keep sensitive user credentials, such as usernames and passwords, in a separate .env file that is listed in your .gitignore to prevent it from being uploaded to your Git repository.

You might face situations where trying to load environment variables from both files can lead to errors, such as:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This error occurs when your application cannot find necessary environment variables defined in one of the files.

The Solution

To resolve this issue, you can leverage the load_dotenv() function from the python-dotenv module. Here are the clear steps to ensure your environment variables from multiple .env files are loaded properly.

1. Install python-dotenv

If you haven't already done so, ensure you install the python-dotenv package, which will allow you to manage your environment variables seamlessly.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

2. Structure Your .env Files

You should have two .env files structured as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Make sure that the file containing sensitive information is included in your .gitignore file to prevent it from being committed to your version control system.

3. Update Your Python Script

Modify your Python script to load both .env files by providing their file paths as arguments to load_dotenv(). Here’s how you can do it:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

4. Verify Your Setup

Run your Python application to ensure that all the necessary variables are loaded correctly. You can check if they are set properly using print statements or condition checks:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By loading environment variables from multiple .env files, you enhance the security of your application while ensuring proper access to necessary configurations. This method not only helps in maintaining a clean workspace, but it also adheres to best practices in software development. Keep your sensitive information secure and enjoy smoother development with Python!