How to hide connection details for mysql database in node.js?

Question

I just began working with mysql in node.js and I am setting up my app.js project and I am trying to hide my connection details such as my ip, username, pw, and db name. I don't know how to go about hiding my connection details, so this is why i'm here.

I have tried to add the details in my .profile , but I keep getting an authentication error. But, when I include these same connection details in my regular app.js file, it works and connects to the database.

Here is what is being displayed in my app.js file:

var connection = mysql.createConnection({
              host     : 'my.ip.address.info',
              user     : 'username',
              password : 'password',
              database : 'databaseName'
            });
console.log('Connected');
connection.connect();

I just want to hide my connection details so that when my site goes live in the future it is secured from prying eyes. I understand that leaving these connection details in my app.js file is not the correct thing to do, so that's why I'm asking for help! lol

Answer 1

You can create a .env file to set environment variables and use the dotenv package to surface them in your process.env .

https://github.com/motdotla/dotenv#readme

Create a file and name it .env and set your variables as such

host=my-ip-address-info,
user=username,
password=password,
database=databaseName

Then you can access them like:

var connection = mysql.createConnection({
          host: process.env.host
          user: process.env.username
          password: process.env.password,
          database: process.env.database
        });

You'll have to start your app with something like

node -r dotenv/config your_script.js

or add the following to the top of your entry script

require('dotenv').config();

I prefer the first method because those environment variables should be set by your host provider so there is no need for the require statement in your code.

Answer 2

I use dotenv .

yarn add dotenv

Create a .env file in the root directory of your project

host=my.ip.address.info
user=username
password=password
database=databaseName

Then from your code

require('dotenv').config();

let host = process.env.host;

Do not commit the .env file to a public repo.