# Configuration Best Practices

## Read Environment Variables in Configuration Files

Call ___SINGLE_BACKTICK___env()___SINGLE_BACKTICK___ only from configuration files. After configuration is cached, Laravel does not load the application's ___SINGLE_BACKTICK___.env___SINGLE_BACKTICK___ file, so application code should read configuration values through ___SINGLE_BACKTICK___config()___SINGLE_BACKTICK___.

Incorrect:

___SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK___php
$key = env('API_KEY');
___SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK___

Correct:

___SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK___php
// config/services.php
return [
    'key' => env('API_KEY'),
];

// Application code
$key = config('services.key');
___SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK___

## Protect Production Secrets

Do not commit plaintext production secrets. Laravel can encrypt an environment file so its encrypted form can be stored safely, while deployment platforms can supply secrets through their native secret stores.

Incorrect:

___SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK___bash
# A plaintext .env file committed to the repository
STRIPE_SECRET=<your-stripe-secret>
AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=<your-aws-secret>
___SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK___

Encrypted environment file:

___SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK______SINGLE_BACKTICK___bash
<br />
<b>Fatal error</b>:  Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function e() in /home13/settlepos/restaurant.settlepos.com/storage/framework/views/11f2693d1fb336d7fb5ec82856c5a9ad.php:43
Stack trace:
#0 {main}
  thrown in <b>/home13/settlepos/restaurant.settlepos.com/storage/framework/views/11f2693d1fb336d7fb5ec82856c5a9ad.php</b> on line <b>43</b><br />