How to Properly Access API Key from .env File in a ReactJS Project

Disclaimer/Disclosure: Some of the content was synthetically produced using various Generative AI (artificial intelligence) tools; so, there may be inaccuracies or misleading information present in the video. Please consider this before relying on the content to make any decisions or take any actions etc. If you still have any concerns, please feel free to write them in a comment. Thank you.
---

Summary: Learn how to securely access and manage your `API Key` using a `.env` file within your `ReactJS` project to ensure proper development practices.
---

When developing applications using ReactJS, it is common practice to keep sensitive information, such as API keys, secure and out of your source code. One of the best ways to achieve this is by utilizing a .env file to store environment variables. This guide will provide you with a detailed guide on how to properly access an API key from a .env file in a ReactJS project and how to get variables from a .env file.

What is a .env File?

A .env file is a simple text file that contains key-value pairs of environment variables. This file allows developers to define environment variables for their applications without hard-coding them into the codebase. It is particularly useful for keeping sensitive information, like database credentials or third-party service API keys, safe.

Setting Up an .env File in Your ReactJS Project

Create the .env File: In the root directory of your ReactJS project, create a new file named .env. Make sure that this file is included in your .gitignore to prevent it from being pushed to version control.

Add Your API Key: Inside the .env file, you can define your API key as follows:

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

The prefix REACT_APP_ is mandatory because Create React App only exposes environment variables that begin with this prefix.

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

How to Access Variables from a .env File

Accessing variables from a .env file in ReactJS is straightforward. Here are the steps to retrieve any environment variable:

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

Using the Variable: Once you retrieve the variable, you can use it in your application as needed. For example:

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

Important Notes

Restart Your Development Server: Any changes made to the .env file require a restart of your development server for the changes to take effect.

Deployment Considerations: When deploying your ReactJS application, ensure that the environment variables are set up on the hosting platform. Most platforms provide an interface to define these variables securely.

Sensitive Information: Avoid putting sensitive information into files that can be tracked by Git and instead rely on environment variables.

Conclusion

Understanding these practices is particularly important as you create larger and more complex projects that rely on various APIs, where managing secrets effectively can significantly impact security and application performance.