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having some keys stored in .env file, parallel to src all keys are prefixed with VITE_ and am able to access and use it in local and hosted server also

But in order to run on server, we need those keys values and on other hand

it is suggested to add .env file in .gitignore to protect the keys

Then how the code run in server?

where to write and store it?
if we remove ENV_ from keys then it is not working in local too.

How do we handle this ?

Note: Vite based project is there and their documentation keep emphasis not to push but did not het what is the alternative?