How to Manage Environment Variables in cPanel

Environment variables let you store sensitive configuration values - like API keys, database credentials, and app secrets - outside of your codebase. On your dotCanada account, there are a few ways to manage them depending on your application type.

Node.js Applications

When using cPanel's Setup Node.js App, you can add environment variables directly in the interface:

1. Go to Software > Setup Node.js App.
2. Click Edit on your application.
3. Scroll to the Environment Variables section.
4. Add your key-value pairs and click Save.

Python Applications

Similarly, cPanel's Setup Python App tool includes an environment variables section in the application editor. Add your variables there and restart the app to apply them.

PHP Applications and .env Files

For PHP frameworks like Laravel, environment variables are typically stored in a .env file in your project root:

Make sure your .env file is excluded from version control by adding it to .gitignore.

Setting Variables via SSH

For scripts or one-off sessions, you can export variables in your terminal: export MY_VAR='value'. For persistent variables, add them to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile.

If you're unsure how to configure environment variables for your specific app, contact our support team - we're here to help.