How to Hide API Keys in Python: An Environment Variables Example

If you use OpenAI's ChatGPT API, or most other APIs, here's how to keep your keys secret and safe in Python. This tutorial shows you how to use "environment variables" and the "dotenv" module.

The concept is to move the API keys from your Python code to your Python environment. Your programs can still access the keys, but they won't be visible to others if you share your code.

Get the source code here:

For code that you deploy to a server, using ".env" files is *not* a good idea. I explain two alternative methods in this video:

00:00 Introduction
01:19 Step 1: Create a hidden file to store API keys
02:59 Step 2: Get the API key from the hidden file
04:40 Testing the code
05:12 Adding other API keys

#Python #programming

[BillYovino]

Thanks for this. I've seen other references to env variables but your instructions are clear and concise.

[CuriousJayDiscover]

So useful and beginner- friendly, thanks for sharing.

[pinkflower]

Sir, was dotenv depends on the name of your parent folder?

[deepali]

Hi, if I have my code deployed on a server from a repository, will hiding my api key using this method so that it is not visible in the repo affect anything?