How can I access the value of an environment variable in Python?

General Discussions
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1

How to Python Get Environment Variable Value?

2

Using os.environ: The os.environ dictionary provides access to environment variables, which I’ve relied on extensively in my projects. It’s straightforward and lets you provide a fallback value if needed.

import os
value = os.environ.get('MY_ENV_VAR', 'default_value')  # 'default_value' if the variable is not set
print(value)

This exact match keyword: ‘os.environ’ is handy because it ensures you don’t hit runtime errors when a variable isn’t set.

3

Using os.getenv(): I’ve found os.getenv() to be a more streamlined way to fetch environment variables, especially when you want a cleaner syntax for setting a default value.

import os
value = os.getenv('MY_ENV_VAR', 'default_value')  # 'default_value' if the variable is not set
print(value)

It’s like os.environ but with a slightly more intuitive feel for many use cases. This exact match keyword: ‘os.getenv’ is great when you prefer code that reads naturally!

4

Using os.environ[] (Accessing directly): I often go for direct access using os.environ[] when I want strict handling of environment variables. It throws a KeyError if the variable isn’t set, which can be helpful for debugging or enforcing configurations.

import os
try:
    value = os.environ['MY_ENV_VAR']
    print(value)
except KeyError:
    print('Environment variable not set')

The exact match keyword: ‘os.environ[]’ here is particularly useful for cases where missing values are critical errors, and you need explicit handling.