The answer
Ignore rules apply to untracked paths. A file already tracked must be removed from tracking deliberately, and earlier commits can still contain its previous values.
Why must environment files be excluded from GitHub?
Why does a tracked .env file remain visible after adding it to .gitignore?
More FAQs in Why must environment files be excluded from GitHub?
Yes. Include configuration names, clearly fake placeholders, and setup notes. Verify that the example does not contain real passwords, tokens, or copied production connection strings.
No. Ignoring the file helps prevent future accidental additions, but an exposed credential retains its authority until the corresponding service revokes or replaces it.
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