handle configuration settings in a .NET application?

Question

I’m building a .NET app and want to manage settings like API keys, connection strings, and feature flags. Should I use appsettings.json, environment variables, or something else?

April James · Answer

Hi THis is good

Riya · Answer

🛠️ 1. appsettings.json Best for : Default configuration values, non-sensitive settings, and structured data. Pros : Easy to read and edit. Supports hierarchical settings. Works well with IConfiguration and Options pattern. Cons : Not secure for secrets (e.g., API keys, passwords). Requires redeployment if values change. 🔐 2. Environment Variables Best for : Secrets and environment-specific settings (e.g., dev vs prod). Pros : Secure and external to codebase. Easily overridden in CI/CD pipelines or cloud platforms. No need to redeploy to change values. Cons : Harder to manage at scale. No structure—flat key-value pairs only. 🧰 3. Azure App Configuration or AWS Parameter Store Best for : Centralized config management, feature flags, dynamic updates. Pros : Supports feature flags and versioning. Secure and scalable. Integrates with cloud-native identity and access control. Cons : Requires setup and cloud dependency. May add latency if not cached properly. 🔑 4. Secret Managers (e.g., Azure Key Vault, AWS Secrets Manager) Best for : Highly sensitive data like API keys, DB passwords. Pros : Strong security and access control. Automatic rotation and auditing. Cons : Requires cloud integration. Slightly more complex to set up. ✅ Recommended Strategy Use a layered approach : Store non-sensitive defaults in appsettings.json . Override with environment variables for environment-specific values. Use secret managers for sensitive data. Consider Azure App Configuration for feature flags and centralized config.

handle configuration settings in a .NET application?

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