What is NODE_ENV in Node.js?

When developing Node.js applications, it's important to handle many configurations for different environments, including development, testing, and production. The NODE_ENV environment variable is an important tool to achieve this. This flexibility facilitates the design of conditioned systems by developers so that they can operate differently depending on the context in which they operate.

What is NODE_ENV?

Node.js apps use the environment variable NODE_ENV to identify the environment in which they are working. Any other development, production, test, or custom environments we have created are possible targets for this environment variable. Adherence to configuration policies for environmental and operational optimization is a common use case for the value of NODE_ENV.

Objectives:

• Environmental Differentiation: Development, production, testing, staging, and other environments can all be differentiated by developers using NODE_ENV.
• Configuration: It is typically used to configure various application features based on the environment, including error handling, database connectivity, third-party integration, and logging levels.

Phases of NODE_ENV:

NODE_ENV has three phases, including development, production, and test. By default, Node.js assumes that the system is in a development state.

1. Development mode:

Node.js application works in development mode during step-by-step construction. This mode simplifies fault tracking and provides detailed information about the procedure or fault. It has a ton of new features that make development easier. Using NODE_ENV=development we can configure NODE_ENV to work in development mode.

2. Production mode:

When an application is in production mode, Node.js is notified that it is ready to deploy. Performance is the main concern in this mode, and a few console logs are generated to prevent the console from becoming too cluttered. This mode contributes to the quality of the resources used. Use NODE_ENV=event to configure NODE_ENV in event mode.

3. Test Mode:

Once the application is created, we need to test it. It requires establishing a test environment for reliable and consistent testing. Use NODE_ENV=test to configure NODE_ENV in test mode.

Importance of NODE_ENV:

• Configuration Management:
  The ability to enter specific configuration settings for environments is a key feature of the NODE_ENV configuration function. It applies to logging layers, database connections, and API endpoints, among other things.
• Performance Improvement:
  We can disable features, such as extensive logging or debugging tools that are only needed during development processes in production systems. It can greatly increase the performance of your application.
• Security:
  We can implement stricter security measures in production as compared to development. By using NODE_ENV, we can guarantee the security of our application during production without disrupting the development process.
• Error handling:
  Error handling requirements may vary depending on the environment. For example, in production, we may want to report errors and show the users generic error messages, but we may also want to show more detailed error messages in development.

Configuration examples:

Logging: Reduce logging in production but provide extensive logging in development (e.g., using Morgan Middleware).

Error handling: Show detailed error messages and stack traces during development; Displays common error messages in practice.

Database configuration: Use a specific database connection or configuration for development and production planning.

Third-party integration: Enable or disable third-party integration (such as surveys and analytics) depending on the situation.

Setting NODE_ENV on Different Operating Systems:

Linux:

Windows Command Prompt:

Windows PowerShell:

Example 1:

Setting NODE_ENV on Different Operating Systems using code:

Output:

Example 2:

Output:

Example 3:

Output:

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the NODE_ENV function is a wonderful Node.js tool that allows us to configure our application to work differently in different environments. NODE_ENV can be modified throughout the development, production, or testing process to help manage the configuration, increase security, increase performance, and manage information. The example above shows how to configure it. The central database and primary configuration of an Express application uses NODE_ENV. Understanding and using NODE_ENV can dramatically increase the performance and looks of our Node.js apps.