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Go to Definition

Go to Definition lets you jump directly from a process.env.KEY usage in your source code to the line where that variable is defined in your .env file.

How to Use

Place your cursor on any process.env.KEY expression and press F12, or right-click → Go to Definition.

VS Code will open the .env file and jump to the exact line where KEY is defined.

Multi-File Support

If the key is defined in multiple .env files (e.g. .env and .env.production), VS Code shows the Peek Definition panel listing all locations, and you can choose which one to jump to.

Supported Patterns

The definition provider understands:

process.env.DATABASE_URL // JavaScript / TypeScript
import.meta.env.VITE_API_URL // Vite

The key is extracted from the text under the cursor using the same regex as the diagnostics engine, so it works anywhere on the line — cursor can be on process, .env, or DATABASE_URL itself.

Example Workflow

  1. You're reviewing a database connection module
  2. You see process.env.DATABASE_URL and want to check the current value
  3. Press F12 — you're instantly on the DATABASE_URL= line in .env
  4. Press Alt+Left / Ctrl+- to jump back

This eliminates the context-switching of manually searching for the key in the sidebar.