.. _add_custom_environment_variables:

********************************
Add custom environment variables
********************************

If your application requires a variable to determine if it is run under development or
production, you can easily add it and make PHP aware of it.


**Table of Contents**

.. contents:: :local:


Add custom environment variables
================================

This is fairly simple. Any variable inside the ``.env`` file is considered an environment variable
and automatically known to PHP.

If you for example require a variable ``APPLICATION_ENV``, with a value of ``production``, you
would add the following to the ``.env`` file:

.. code-block:: bash
   :caption: .env
   :emphasize-lines: 1

   APPLICATION_ENV=production

You need to restart the Devilbox for the changes to take effect.

.. note::
   There is already a proposed section inside the ``.env`` file at the very bottom
   to add you custom variables to differentiate them from the Devilbox required variables.


Use custom environment variables
================================

Accessing the above defined environment variable on the PHP side is also fairly simple.
You can use the PHP's built-in function ``getenv`` to obtain the value:

.. code-block:: php
   :caption: index.php
   :emphasize-lines: 3

   <?php
   // Example use of getenv()
   echo getenv('APPLICATION_ENV');
   ?>