Best Practices for Managing Environment Variables in Docker Compose

content/manuals/compose/how-tos/environment-variables/best-practices.md

20b48d0fa80a13ceb126b1c8b92a0d6b37d438e51b5665540000000300000557

---
title: Best practices for working with environment variables in Docker Compose
linkTitle: Best practices
description: Explainer on the best ways to set, use, and manage environment variables in
  Compose
keywords: compose, orchestration, environment, env file, environment variables
tags: [Best practices]
weight: 50
aliases:
- /compose/environment-variables/best-practices/
---

#### Handle sensitive information securely

Be cautious about including sensitive data in environment variables. Consider using [Secrets](../use-secrets.md) for managing sensitive information.

#### Understand environment variable precedence

Be aware of how Docker Compose handles the [precedence of environment variables](envvars-precedence.md) from different sources (`.env` files, shell variables, Dockerfiles).

#### Use specific environment files

Consider how your application adapts to different environments. For example development, testing, production, and use different `.env` files as needed.

#### Know interpolation
   
Understand how [interpolation](variable-interpolation.md) works within compose files for dynamic configurations.

#### Command line overrides
    
Be aware that you can [override environment variables](set-environment-variables.md#cli) from the command line when starting containers. This is useful for testing or when you have temporary changes.

Chunks

e31e393a (1st chunk of `content/manuals/compose/how-tos/environment-variables/best-practices.md`)

Title: Best Practices for Managing Environment Variables in Docker Compose

Summary

This section outlines best practices for working with environment variables in Docker Compose, emphasizing secure handling of sensitive data, understanding precedence rules, utilizing specific environment files for different environments, understanding interpolation for dynamic configurations, and being aware of command-line overrides for testing or temporary changes.