Complete Guide to Laravel 12 .env Configuration
The Laravel .env file is the cornerstone of application configuration management in Laravel 12. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about Laravel environment variables, from basic setup to advanced configuration patterns. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, this guide will help you master Laravel's environment configuration system with the latest Laravel 12 features and best practices.
Getting Started with Our Laravel 12 .env Wizard
Ready to create your perfect Laravel 12 .env configuration? Use our free .env wizard above to generate a properly formatted .env file tailored to your specific needs. Simply fill in your configuration details, and we'll generate a complete .env file that you can copy directly into your Laravel project.
Laravel 12 Optimized
- Includes all Laravel 12 specific configurations
- Supports new environment variable types
- Optimized for Laravel 12 performance
- Includes latest security best practices
Complete Coverage
- Database configuration (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite)
- Mail setup (SMTP, Mailgun, SES, Postmark)
- Cache and session drivers
- AWS and cloud integrations
Pro Tips for Laravel 12 .env Configuration:
- Always run
php artisan key:generate after creating your .env file
- Use
php artisan config:cache in production for better performance
- Validate your configuration with
php artisan about
- Never commit your .env file to version control
- Use different .env files for different environments
What is the Laravel .env File?
The .env file in Laravel is a configuration file that stores environment-specific variables for your application. It follows the key=value format and allows you to define different settings for development, staging, and production environments without modifying your code. This approach follows the twelve-factor app methodology, ensuring your application remains configurable across different deployment environments.
Laravel 12 automatically loads the .env file when the application starts, making these variables available throughout your application using the env() helper function or the config() helper for cached configurations. This separation of configuration from code is essential for maintaining security, flexibility, and deployment consistency.
Laravel 12 Configuration Improvements:
- Enhanced configuration caching with
php artisan config:cache
- Improved environment variable type handling
- Better configuration validation with
php artisan config:show
- Streamlined application overview with
php artisan about
Core Laravel Environment Variables
Application Configuration
The application configuration section defines the fundamental settings for your Laravel application:
APP_NAME="Your Application Name"
APP_ENV=local
APP_KEY=base64:your-generated-key-here
APP_DEBUG=true
APP_URL=http://localhost
- APP_NAME: The name of your application, used in various places like email templates and notifications
- APP_ENV: The environment your application is running in (local, staging, production)
- APP_KEY: A 32-character random string used for encryption. Generate with
php artisan key:generate
- APP_DEBUG: Enables or disables debug mode. Should be false in production
- APP_URL: The base URL of your application
Laravel 12 New Commands:
php artisan about - Get application overview and configuration statusphp artisan config:show database - View specific configuration valuesphp artisan config:publish - Publish additional configuration files
Database Configuration
Database configuration is crucial for Laravel applications. Laravel supports multiple database drivers including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and SQL Server:
DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=laravel
DB_USERNAME=root
DB_PASSWORD=
For different database types, you'll need to adjust these settings accordingly. PostgreSQL typically uses port 5432, while SQLite doesn't require host, port, username, or password settings.
Mail Configuration
Laravel's mail system is highly configurable and supports multiple drivers including SMTP, Mailgun, Amazon SES, and Postmark:
MAIL_MAILER=smtp
MAIL_HOST=smtp.mailtrap.io
MAIL_PORT=2525
MAIL_USERNAME=your-username
MAIL_PASSWORD=your-password
MAIL_ENCRYPTION=tls
MAIL_FROM_ADDRESS="hello@example.com"
MAIL_FROM_NAME="${APP_NAME}"
Laravel 12 Mail Enhancements:
- Improved mail queue handling with better error reporting
- Enhanced mail testing capabilities
- Better integration with modern email providers
- Improved mail template caching for better performance
Advanced Configuration Options
Cache Configuration
Laravel supports multiple cache drivers for different performance requirements:
- File: Stores cache in files (default, good for development)
- Redis: High-performance in-memory data store
- Memcached: Distributed memory caching system
- Database: Stores cache in database tables
CACHE_DRIVER=file
QUEUE_CONNECTION=sync
SESSION_DRIVER=file
SESSION_LIFETIME=120
AWS Configuration
For applications using Amazon Web Services, configure your AWS credentials and settings:
AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=your-access-key
AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=your-secret-key
AWS_DEFAULT_REGION=us-east-1
AWS_BUCKET=your-bucket-name
AWS_USE_PATH_STYLE_ENDPOINT=false
Security Best Practices
Environment-Specific Configuration
Different environments require different security settings:
Production Environment Checklist:
- Set APP_DEBUG=false
- Use strong, unique APP_KEY
- Use secure database credentials
- Enable SSL/TLS for mail configuration
- Use environment-specific cache drivers
- Never commit .env files to version control
Sensitive Data Protection
Never store sensitive information directly in your .env file. Instead, use Laravel's encryption features or external secret management services. For database passwords and API keys, consider using Laravel's built-in encryption or services like AWS Secrets Manager.
Common Configuration Patterns
Development Environment
For local development, use these recommended settings:
APP_ENV=local
APP_DEBUG=true
DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
CACHE_DRIVER=file
SESSION_DRIVER=file
QUEUE_CONNECTION=sync
Production Environment
Production environments should prioritize performance and security:
APP_ENV=production
APP_DEBUG=false
CACHE_DRIVER=redis
SESSION_DRIVER=redis
QUEUE_CONNECTION=redis
LOG_LEVEL=error
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Configuration Not Loading
If your configuration changes aren't taking effect, try these solutions:
- Clear configuration cache:
php artisan config:clear
- Clear application cache:
php artisan cache:clear
- Restart your web server or PHP-FPM
- Check file permissions on the .env file
- Verify .env file syntax (no spaces around = signs)
Database Connection Issues
Common database connection problems and solutions:
- Verify database credentials and host settings
- Check if the database server is running
- Ensure the database exists and user has proper permissions
- Test connection with database client tools
- Check firewall settings for database port access
Performance Optimization
Configuration Caching
In production, cache your configuration for better performance:
php artisan config:cache
php artisan route:cache
php artisan view:cache
Remember to run these commands after any configuration changes. Use php artisan config:clear to clear cached configuration during development.
Environment-Specific Optimizations
Different environments benefit from different optimization strategies:
- Development: Use file-based cache and sessions for simplicity
- Staging: Mirror production settings with debug enabled
- Production: Use Redis for cache, sessions, and queues
Integration with CI/CD
Modern deployment pipelines require careful handling of environment variables:
- Use deployment platforms' environment variable features
- Never store production credentials in code repositories
- Use different .env files for different environments
- Automate configuration validation in deployment scripts
- Implement secret rotation policies
Laravel 12 Specific Features
What's New in Laravel 12 Configuration
Enhanced Commands
php artisan about - Application overviewphp artisan config:show - View specific configsphp artisan config:publish - Publish config files
Improved Features
- Better environment variable type handling
- Enhanced configuration caching
- Improved error reporting
- Streamlined application structure
Environment Variable Types in Laravel 12
Laravel 12 provides better type handling for environment variables. Here are the supported types:
# Boolean values
APP_DEBUG=true
APP_DEBUG=false
APP_DEBUG=(true)
# Null values
DB_PASSWORD=null
DB_PASSWORD=(null)
# Empty strings
MAIL_FROM_NAME=""
MAIL_FROM_NAME=''
# Arrays (comma-separated)
CACHE_STORES=redis,file,database
# Numbers
DB_PORT=3306
SESSION_LIFETIME=120
Configuration Validation
Laravel 12 makes it easier to validate your configuration:
# Check your current configuration
php artisan config:show database
# Get application overview
php artisan about
# Check specific environment
php artisan about --only=environment
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between .env and .env.example?
The .env file contains your actual configuration values and should never be committed to version control. The .env.example file serves as a template showing what variables are needed, with example values, and should be committed to help other developers set up their environment.
How do I generate a new APP_KEY?
Run php artisan key:generate in your project root. This command will generate a new 32-character random key and update your .env file automatically.
Can I use environment variables in my .env file?
Yes, you can reference other environment variables using the ${VARIABLE_NAME} syntax. For example: MAIL_FROM_NAME="${APP_NAME}"
Why isn't my .env file being loaded?
Check that the .env file is in your project root, has correct file permissions, and uses proper syntax (no spaces around = signs). Also ensure you're not running with cached configuration that needs to be cleared.
How do I set up different environments?
Create separate .env files for each environment (.env.local, .env.staging, .env.production) or use your deployment platform's environment variable features. Laravel will automatically load the appropriate configuration based on your APP_ENV setting.
What's the best way to handle sensitive data?
Never store sensitive data directly in .env files. Use Laravel's encryption features, external secret management services, or your deployment platform's secure environment variable storage.
How do I validate my .env configuration in Laravel 12?
Laravel 12 provides several ways to validate your configuration. Use php artisan config:show database to view specific configuration values, php artisan about for an application overview, or php artisan about --only=environment to check your environment settings.
What are the new Laravel 12 configuration commands?
Laravel 12 introduces several new commands: php artisan about for application overview, php artisan config:show [key] to view specific configurations, and php artisan config:publish to publish additional configuration files.
How do environment variable types work in Laravel 12?
Laravel 12 provides better type handling for environment variables. Use true/false for booleans, null for null values, and proper quoting for strings. The framework automatically converts these to appropriate PHP types.
Can I use arrays or objects in .env files?
No, .env files only support key=value pairs. For complex data structures, define them in your config files and reference environment variables for specific values within those configurations. Laravel 12 supports comma-separated values that can be converted to arrays in your config files.
How do I handle .env files in Docker containers?
Use Docker's environment variable features or .env files mounted as volumes. Consider using docker-compose with environment files or Docker secrets for sensitive data. Never bake secrets into Docker images. Laravel 12's improved configuration caching works well with containerized deployments.
What's the difference between env() and config() helpers in Laravel 12?
Use env() only in config files to read environment variables. Use config() throughout your application to access configuration values. This separation allows for proper configuration caching in production. Laravel 12 enforces this pattern more strictly for better performance.
How do I use Laravel 12's new configuration publishing feature?
Use php artisan config:publish to publish configuration files that aren't published by default, like cors.php or view.php. Use php artisan config:publish --all to publish all available configuration files.
What's new in Laravel 12's configuration caching?
Laravel 12 improves configuration caching with better performance and more reliable caching mechanisms. The php artisan config:cache command now provides better error handling and validation. Remember to use php artisan config:clear during development.
