ENV Vars

Read server values (get_cfg_var) first, fall back to Docker env vars (env), then a default.

1. Server PHP_SETTINGS (prod)

Add the variable as a new line in PHP_SETTINGS (php.ini):

server_VAR = your-value

2. Docker environment (local)

Add the variable under environment: in docker-compose.yml:

environment:
  docker_VAR: your-value

3. PHP

Read the server value first, fall back to the Docker value, then to a default:

$value = get_cfg_var('server_VAR')
    ?: env('docker_VAR')
        ?: 'defaultVal';
  • get_cfg_var() returns false and env() returns null when not set, so ?: moves on to the next source.
  • An empty value also counts as not set.
  • Example: the database URLs in config/app_DEV.php.