ToolHarbor

.env to JSON Converter

Convert .env files to JSON and back. Parse environment variables instantly.

Features

  • Convert .env files to JSON format in real time
  • Convert JSON objects back to .env format
  • Handle quoted values, inline comments, and export prefixes
  • Preserve special characters with proper escaping
  • Swap between modes instantly with one click
  • Works offline — your environment variables never leave your browser

How to Use

  1. 1Select the conversion direction: .env → JSON or JSON → .env
  2. 2Paste your .env content or JSON object in the input field
  3. 3See the converted output appear instantly as you type
  4. 4Copy the result to your clipboard with the copy button
  5. 5Use the swap button to reverse the conversion

Examples

.env to JSON

Input

# Database config
DB_HOST=localhost
DB_PORT=5432
DB_NAME=myapp
DB_PASSWORD="s3cret#pass"

# App settings
NODE_ENV=production
API_KEY=abc123xyz

Output

{
  "DB_HOST": "localhost",
  "DB_PORT": "5432",
  "DB_NAME": "myapp",
  "DB_PASSWORD": "s3cret#pass",
  "NODE_ENV": "production",
  "API_KEY": "abc123xyz"
}
JSON to .env

Input

{
  "DATABASE_URL": "postgres://user:pass@localhost:5432/db",
  "REDIS_HOST": "127.0.0.1",
  "SECRET_KEY": "my secret value",
  "DEBUG": "false"
}

Output

DATABASE_URL=postgres://user:pass@localhost:5432/db
REDIS_HOST=127.0.0.1
SECRET_KEY="my secret value"
DEBUG=false
With export prefix and inline comments

Input

export AWS_REGION=us-east-1
export AWS_BUCKET=my-bucket # production bucket
export AWS_ACCESS_KEY='AKIAIOSFODNN7EXAMPLE'

Output

{
  "AWS_REGION": "us-east-1",
  "AWS_BUCKET": "my-bucket",
  "AWS_ACCESS_KEY": "AKIAIOSFODNN7EXAMPLE"
}

What is a .env to JSON Converter?

A .env to JSON converter transforms environment variable files into JSON format and vice versa. The .env file format is the standard way to define environment variables for applications, widely used with tools like Docker, Node.js, Python, and most modern frameworks. Each line follows the KEY=VALUE pattern, with support for comments, quoted values, and export prefixes.

Environment variables store configuration that changes between deployments — database credentials, API keys, feature flags, and service URLs. Converting these to JSON is useful when you need to import configuration into scripts, pass variables to APIs, manage settings in a JSON-based config system, or compare environments side by side.

This converter handles all common .env conventions: lines starting with # are treated as comments, values wrapped in single or double quotes are unquoted properly, the export prefix is stripped automatically, and inline comments after values are removed. Special characters like newlines and tabs inside double-quoted values are correctly interpreted as escape sequences.

The reverse conversion — JSON to .env — takes a flat JSON object and produces a valid .env file. Values containing spaces, special characters, or the hash symbol are automatically wrapped in double quotes with proper escaping. This is handy when you need to export configuration from a JSON source like a secrets manager, deployment tool, or API response into a format your application can load directly.

All processing runs entirely in your browser. Your environment variables, API keys, and secrets are never transmitted to any server, making this tool safe for handling sensitive configuration data.

Frequently Asked Questions

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