Definition
A dynamic value stored outside the application code that configures behavior across different environments (development, staging, production).
In Depth
Environment variables store configuration like database URLs, API keys, feature flags, and debug settings. They follow the 12-factor app methodology by keeping config separate from code. Tools like Doppler, .env files, and system environment inject them at runtime.
Example Usage
Setting DATABASE_URL, DJANGO_SECRET_KEY, and OPENAI_API_KEY as environment variables managed by Doppler, injected at runtime.
Business Context
Environment variables enable the same codebase to run in development, staging, and production with different configurations — no code changes needed for deployment.
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