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

# Environment Variables

> Every environment variable used by Formbase.

Formbase validates environment variables on startup. Missing or invalid values will fail fast, so configure them before you deploy.

## Core variables

| Variable              | Required      | Description                                                              | Example                     |
| --------------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------- |
| `NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL` | Yes           | Public base URL used for redirects and auth links.                       | `https://forms.example.com` |
| `DATABASE_URL`        | Yes           | libSQL/SQLite connection string. Must start with `libsql://` or `file:`. | `file:./local.db`           |
| `TURSO_AUTH_TOKEN`    | Conditionally | Required when `DATABASE_URL` starts with `libsql://`.                    | `turso_xxx`                 |
| `BETTER_AUTH_SECRET`  | Yes           | Secret for auth encryption (32+ chars).                                  | `your-long-secret`          |
| `ALLOW_SIGNIN_SIGNUP` | Yes           | Enable or disable signups (`true`/`false`).                              | `true`                      |

## Email

| Variable         | Required     | Description                                     | Example                  |
| ---------------- | ------------ | ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| `SMTP_TRANSPORT` | Yes          | Email transport (`smtp` or `resend`).           | `smtp`                   |
| `SMTP_HOST`      | If SMTP      | SMTP host name.                                 | `smtp.mailgun.org`       |
| `SMTP_PORT`      | If SMTP      | SMTP port.                                      | `587`                    |
| `SMTP_USER`      | If SMTP auth | SMTP username. Must be paired with `SMTP_PASS`. | `postmaster@example.com` |
| `SMTP_PASS`      | If SMTP auth | SMTP password. Must be paired with `SMTP_USER`. | `smtp-password`          |
| `RESEND_API_KEY` | If Resend    | Resend API key.                                 | `re_xxx`                 |

## Storage (file uploads)

| Variable             | Required   | Description                  | Example     |
| -------------------- | ---------- | ---------------------------- | ----------- |
| `STORAGE_ENDPOINT`   | If uploads | S3-compatible endpoint host. | `localhost` |
| `STORAGE_PORT`       | If uploads | Storage port.                | `9002`      |
| `STORAGE_USESSL`     | If uploads | Use SSL (`true`/`false`).    | `false`     |
| `STORAGE_ACCESS_KEY` | If uploads | Storage access key.          | `formbase`  |
| `STORAGE_SECRET_KEY` | If uploads | Storage secret key.          | `password`  |
| `STORAGE_BUCKET`     | If uploads | Bucket name.                 | `formbase`  |

## Optional

| Variable             | Required | Description                 | Example                |
| -------------------- | -------- | --------------------------- | ---------------------- |
| `NODE_ENV`           | No       | Runtime mode.               | `production`           |
| `PORT`               | No       | Server port.                | `3000`                 |
| `AUTH_GITHUB_ID`     | No       | GitHub OAuth client ID.     | `github-client-id`     |
| `AUTH_GITHUB_SECRET` | No       | GitHub OAuth client secret. | `github-client-secret` |
| `AUTH_GOOGLE_ID`     | No       | Google OAuth client ID.     | `google-client-id`     |
| `AUTH_GOOGLE_SECRET` | No       | Google OAuth client secret. | `google-client-secret` |
| `UMAMI_TRACKING_ID`  | No       | Umami analytics site ID.    | `uuid`                 |
| `VERCEL_URL`         | No       | Vercel deployment URL.      | `formbase.vercel.app`  |

<Callout type="note">
  Email configuration is required for user verification and password reset emails, even if you do not enable submission notifications.
</Callout>