Laravel: Using Alternative .env Files Based on HTTP Host

Sometimes you need to use different environment configurations based on your host. Here’s a simple solution to achieve this in Laravel.

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Implementation

Add the following code to your bootstrap/app.php file, before the return statement:


$envFile = '.env';
if (isset($_SERVER['HTTP_HOST']) && str_contains($_SERVER['HTTP_HOST'], 'alternativehost.test')) {
$envFile = '.env.althost';
}


if (isset($_SERVER['PWD']) && str_contains($_SERVER['PWD'], '/alternativehost')) {
$envFile = '.env.althost';
}

This is probably dangerous. Check warnings below.

The code checks two conditions:

First, it checks if the HTTP host contains your specified domain (safer approach)
Second, it checks the working directory path (riskier approach, but useful for CLI operations)

The second condition using PWD is riskier as it relies on directory structure and might need additional security measures
Always ensure your alternative .env files are included in your .gitignore
Remember to clear config cache after making changes:
php artisan config:clear

Last Updated on 5 March 2025