# Access and cast env variables

> Source: https://docs.strapi.io/cms/configurations/guides/access-cast-environment-variables

The `env()` utility accesses environment variables from `.env` files and casts them to different types including `int`, `float`, `bool`, `json`, `array`, `date`, and `oneOf`.

In most use cases there will be different configurations between environments (e.g. database credentials).

Instead of writing those credentials into configuration files, variables can be defined in a `.env` file at the root of the application:

```sh
# path: .env

DATABASE_PASSWORD=acme
```

To customize the path of the `.env` file to load, set an environment variable called `ENV_PATH` before starting the application:

```sh
ENV_PATH=/absolute/path/to/.env npm run start
```

## Accessing environment variables

Variables defined in the `.env` file are accessible using `process.env.{variableName}` anywhere in configuration and application files.

In configuration files, a `env()` utility allows defining defaults and [casting values](/cms/configurations/guides/access-cast-environment-variables#casting-environment-variables):

```js title="./config/database.js"

module.exports = ({ env }) => ({
  connections: {
    default: {
      settings: {
        password: env('DATABASE_PASSWORD'),
      },
    },
  },
});
```

```js title="./config/database.ts"

  connections: {
    default: {
      settings: {
        password: env('DATABASE_PASSWORD'),
      },
    },
  },
});
```

:::note
The syntax `property-name: env('VAR', 'default-value')` uses the value stored in the `.env` file. If there is no specified value in the `.env` file the default value is used.
:::

## Casting environment variables

The `env()` utility can be used to cast environment variables to different types:

```js
// Returns the env if defined without casting it
env('VAR', 'default');

// Cast to integer (using parseInt)
env.int('VAR', 0);

// Cast to float (using parseFloat)
env.float('VAR', 3.14);

// Cast to boolean (check if the value is equal to 'true')
env.bool('VAR', true);

// Cast to JS object (using JSON.parse)
env.json('VAR', { key: 'value' });

// Cast to array (syntax: ENV_VAR=[value1, value2, value3] | ENV_VAR=["value1", "value2", "value3"])
env.array('VAR', [1, 2, 3]);

// Cast to date (using new Date(value))
env.date('VAR', new Date());

// Returns the env matching oneOf union types
env.oneOf('UPLOAD_PROVIDER', ['local', 'aws'], 'local')
```