import { getOsShortcut, Kbd, Tabs, TabsList, TabsTrigger, TabsContent, TabsContentWrapper } from "docs-ui"

export const metadata = { title: Environments, }

{metadata.title}

In this guide, you'll learn about environments in Cloud, how to create and manage them, and how to use preview environments.

Environments Overview

A Cloud project can have multiple environments, each representing a different stage of your application. For example, you can have a Production environment for your live application, and a Staging environment for testing new features.

Each environment has its own deployed Medusa backend, admin dashboard, and storefront. It also has its own resources, such as a database and server instance.

By default, a project has at least a Production environment, and you can create custom environments based on your development needs.

Environments are useful to test changes in production-like conditions before actually pushing them to production. You can test out new features, bug fixes, and integrations without affecting the live application.

Environment Types

There are two types of environments:

• Long-lived environments: These are environments that you create for specific branches in your GitHub repository, such as Production or Staging environments.
• Short-lived Preview environments: These are environments automatically created for each pull request (PR) towards a branch that has a long-lived environment in Cloud. They're created as a preview for the PR, and are destroyed once the PR is merged or closed.

View Project's Environments on Cloud

To view a project's environments:

You can also navigate to a project's overview page from the command palette. Press <Kbd>{getOsShortcut()}</Kbd> + <Kbd>K</Kbd>, select Project Overview, then choose a project.

1. Make sure you're viewing the [correct organization's dashboard in Cloud](../organizations/page.mdx#switch-organization).
2. Click on the project card in the organization's dashboard.

</TabsContent>
<TabsContent value="global-sidebar">

1. Make sure you're viewing the [correct organization's dashboard in Cloud](../organizations/page.mdx#switch-organization).
2. Click on the project name in the sidebar.
3. Click on **Overview** in the sidebar under the project.

</TabsContent>

In the project's dashboard, you'll find a card for every long-lived environment in your project. For example, you may have Production and Staging cards.

You'll also find a table listing all the preview environments created for the project below the long-lived environment cards.