---
title: Configuration and Settings | Shopware Community Hub
description: >-
  Learn how to manage configurations in Shopware, from environment variables to
  system settings and extension configuration.
canonical_url: 'https://hub.shopware.com/learn/course/configuration-and-settings'
---

# Configuration and Settings

<LearningObjectives>

- Understand what **environment variables** are, how they work, and where they are stored.
- Learn how to set and manage **system configurations** via the administration, Admin API, or static configuration files.
- Know how to create **plugin configurations** and where to find them.
- Understand how to define **App configurations** in the **`manifest.xml`** file and how they differ from plugins.

</LearningObjectives>

# Configuration and Settings

Configuring your Shopware instance is a crucial part of the development process. This course will guide you through how to manage configuration and settings of your Shopware instance from a developer's perspective.

You will explore how to configure your Shopware instance to suit your needs, adapt its behavior, and manage settings across different environments.

## Environment Variables

Everything starts with the **environment variables**. They are used to **store sensitive information** such as database credentials, API keys, and other configuration values. The `.env` file is **not committed** to the repository.

## System Configurations

System configurations define how your Shopware instance behaves at runtime, for example, whether certain features are enabled or disabled. They can be managed via the **administration**, **Admin API**, or **static configuration files**.

## Plugin and App Configurations

Plugins and Apps can provide their own configuration interfaces. These allow developers and merchants to tailor functionality directly within the **administration panel**, once the extension is installed and activated.

## Learning Units

## Units
- [Environment Variables](/learn/unit/environment-variables): Learn how to configure, override, and manage environment variables in Shopware for different environments.
- [System Configurations](/learn/unit/system-configurations): Learn how to configure and manage system configurations in Shopware using the Admin API or static configuration files.
- [Plugin Configuration](/learn/unit/plugin-configuration): Learn how to add configuration fields to your Shopware plugin to make it more flexible, reusable, and customizable.
- [App Configurations](/learn/unit/app-configurations): Learn how to add configuration fields to your Shopware App to make it more flexible, reusable, and customizable.