.env.vault.local May 2026

While the contents are encrypted, the metadata is often plaintext. A typical .env.vault or .env.vault.local file looks like this:

# .env.vault.local
DOTENV_VAULT_PRODUCTION="YOUR_ENCRYPTED_STRING_HERE"
DOTENV_VAULT_CI="ANOTHER_ENCRYPTED_STRING"
DOTENV_VAULT_DEVELOPMENT="MORE_ENCRYPTED_DATA"
DOTENV_VAULT_LOCAL="ENCRYPTED_LOCAL_ONLY_VALUES"

The Decryption Key (DOTENV_KEY) The actual secrets are unlocked using a DOTENV_KEY. This key is never stored in the vault file. Instead, it is set as an environment variable on your local machine or CI server. .env.vault.local

Never, ever commit .env.vault.local.

Ensure it is explicitly in your .gitignore: While the contents are encrypted, the metadata is

# .gitignore
.env.vault.local
.env.local
*.local

If a junior developer commits this file, you aren't leaking your production secrets (those are in the vault). But you are leaking their local debugging paths, local IPs, and potentially embarrassing test data. The Decryption Key (DOTENV_KEY) The actual secrets are

ls -la .env.vault.local