> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.runpod.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Environment variables

> Configure Pods with environment variables for settings, secrets, and runtime information.

export const PodsTooltip = () => {
  return <Tooltip headline="Pods" tip="Dedicated GPU or CPU instances for containerized AI/ML workloads." cta="Learn more about Pods" href="/pods/overview">Pods</Tooltip>;
};

Environment variables are key-value pairs accessible within your <PodsTooltip /> container. Use them to pass configuration settings, secrets, and runtime information without hardcoding values into your code or container image.

## Set environment variables

You can configure up to 50 environment variables per Pod.

**During Pod creation:**

1. Click **Edit Template** and expand **Environment Variables**.
2. Click **Add Environment Variable** and enter the key-value pair.

**In Pod templates:**

1. Navigate to [My Templates](https://www.console.runpod.io/user/templates).
2. Create or edit a template and add variables in the **Environment Variables** section.

**Using secrets:**

Reference [Runpod secrets](/pods/templates/secrets) for sensitive data:

```
API_KEY={{ RUNPOD_SECRET_my_api_key }}
DATABASE_PASSWORD={{ RUNPOD_SECRET_db_password }}
```

## Update environment variables

1. Go to [Pods](https://www.console.runpod.io/user/pods) and click the three dots next to your Pod.
2. Select **Edit Pod** and expand **Environment Variables**.
3. Add or update variables and click **Save**.

<Warning>
  Updating environment variables restarts your Pod, clearing all data outside your volume mount path (`/workspace` by default).
</Warning>

## Access environment variables

**In your Pod's terminal:**

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
echo $VARIABLE_NAME     # View specific variable
env | grep RUNPOD       # List Runpod variables
```

**In your code:**

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Python">
    ```python theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
    import os

    model_name = os.environ.get('MODEL_NAME', 'default-model')
    api_key = os.environ['API_KEY']  # Raises error if not set
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="JavaScript">
    ```javascript theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
    const modelName = process.env.MODEL_NAME || 'default-model';
    const apiKey = process.env.API_KEY;
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Bash">
    ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
    MODEL_NAME=${MODEL_NAME:-"default-model"}
    echo "Using model: $MODEL_NAME"
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Runpod-provided variables

Runpod automatically sets these environment variables:

| Variable              | Description                       |
| --------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| `RUNPOD_POD_ID`       | Unique Pod identifier.            |
| `RUNPOD_DC_ID`        | Data center identifier.           |
| `RUNPOD_POD_HOSTNAME` | Server hostname.                  |
| `RUNPOD_GPU_COUNT`    | Number of GPUs available.         |
| `RUNPOD_CPU_COUNT`    | Number of CPUs available.         |
| `RUNPOD_PUBLIC_IP`    | Public IP address (if available). |
| `RUNPOD_TCP_PORT_22`  | Public port mapped to SSH.        |
| `RUNPOD_VOLUME_ID`    | Attached network volume ID.       |
| `RUNPOD_API_KEY`      | Pod-scoped API key.               |
| `PUBLIC_KEY`          | Authorized SSH public keys.       |
| `CUDA_VERSION`        | Installed CUDA version.           |
| `PYTORCH_VERSION`     | Installed PyTorch version.        |

## Best practices

* **Use secrets for sensitive data**: Never hardcode API keys or passwords. Use [Runpod secrets](/pods/templates/secrets).
* **Validate required variables**: Check that critical variables are set before your application starts.
* **Provide defaults**: Use fallback values for non-critical configuration.
* **Use descriptive names**: Prefer `DATABASE_PASSWORD` over `DB_PASS`.
* **Group related variables**: Use consistent prefixes like `DB_HOST`, `DB_PORT`, `DB_NAME`.