For NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL , it uses the value from .env.production because no override exists.
: General local overrides (Applies to both development and production unless overridden). .env : The default fallback file for all environments. The Priority Visualized
# .env.local.production # Override the live database to protect real data during local testing DATABASE_URL=postgresql://postgres@localhost:5432/local_prod_test ENABLE_ANALYTICS=false Use code with caution. Step 3: Run the Production Build Trigger your framework's production build pipeline. # For Next.js / Vite / Nuxt npm run build npm run start Use code with caution.
The file .env.local.production is a non-standard filename that will cause configuration issues because it conflicts with the established, framework-specific loading order. In practice, the correct approach depends on your specific framework, but a general rule is to rely on the documented file hierarchy. .env.local.production
NODE_ENV.local
While specific priorities can vary slightly by tool, the standard cascading order from to lowest priority typically looks like this:
By using a .local suffix, the file is automatically ignored by Git (if you have *.local in your .gitignore ), ensuring that production secrets (e.g., STRIPE_SECRET_KEY ) never enter your repository 1.2.1 . For NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL , it uses the value from
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: Specifies the environment context ( NODE_ENV=production ). This file loads only when building or running your application in production mode.
Like all .local files, it is designed to be ignored by version control to keep sensitive or machine-specific data out of the repository. The Priority Visualized #
He had never seen a file with that name before. Not in any tutorial, not in any of the sixteen microservices he maintained. His hand trembled over the keyboard as he cat the file.
: Specifies that these variables should only be loaded when the application is running in production mode (typically when NODE_ENV=production ).