Environment Variables in Docker Compose: An Overview

content/manuals/compose/how-tos/environment-variables/_index.md

031569572becbb799d815bd43192f0d31b02232f4456f5050000000300000490

---
title: Environment variables in Compose
linkTitle: Use environment variables
weight: 40
description: Explainer on the ways to set, use and manage environment variables in
  Compose
keywords: compose, orchestration, environment, env file
aliases:
- /compose/environment-variables/
---

By leveraging environment variables and interpolation in Docker Compose, you can create versatile and reusable configurations, making your Dockerized applications easier to manage and deploy across different environments. 

> [!TIP]
>
> Before using environment variables, read through all of the information first to get a full picture of environment variables in Docker Compose.

This section covers:

- [How to set environment variables within your container's environment](set-environment-variables.md).
- [How environment variable precedence works within your container's environment](envvars-precedence.md).
- [Pre-defined environment variables](envvars.md).

It also covers: 
- How [interpolation](variable-interpolation.md) can be used to set variables within your Compose file and how it relates to a container's environment.
- Some [best practices](best-practices.md).

Chunks

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Title: Environment Variables in Docker Compose: An Overview

Summary

This section introduces the use of environment variables in Docker Compose for creating flexible and reusable configurations. It covers setting environment variables within containers, understanding environment variable precedence, utilizing pre-defined environment variables, employing interpolation within Compose files, and provides best practices for environment variable management.