---
title: The Payload Config
label: Overview
order: 10
desc: The Payload config is central to everything that Payload does, from adding custom React components, to modifying collections, controlling localization and much more.
keywords: overview, config, configuration, documentation, Content Management System, cms, headless, javascript, node, react, express
---

Payload is a *config-based*, code-first CMS and application framework. The Payload config is central to everything that Payload does. It scaffolds the data that Payload stores as well as maintains custom React components, hook logic, custom validations, and much more. The config itself and all of its dependencies are run through Babel, so you can take full advantage of newer JavaScript features and even directly import React components containing JSX.

<strong>Also, because the Payload source code is fully written in TypeScript, its configs are strongly typed—meaning that even if you aren't using TypeScript to build your project, your IDE (such as VSCode) may still provide helpful information like type-ahead suggestions while you write your config.</strong>

<Banner type="warning">
	<strong>Important:</strong><br />This file is included in the Payload admin bundle, so make sure you do not embed any sensitive information.
</Banner>

## Options

| Option               | Description  |
| -------------------- | -------------|
| `serverURL`          | A _required_ string used to define the absolute URL of your app including the protocol, for example `https://'example.com`. No paths allowed, only protocol, domain and (optionally) port |
| `collections`        | An array of all Collections that Payload will manage. To read more about how to define your collection configs, [click here](/docs/configuration/collections). |
| `globals`            | An array of all Globals that Payload will manage. For more on Globals and their configs, [click here](/docs/configuration/globals). |
| `admin`              | Base Payload admin configuration. Specify custom components, control metadata, set the Admin user collection, and [more](/docs/admin/overview#admin-options). |
| `localization`       | Opt-in and control how Payload handles the translation of your content into multiple locales. [More](/docs/configuration/localization) |
| `graphQL`            | Manage GraphQL-specific functionality here. Define your own queries and mutations, manage query complexity limits, and [more](/docs/graphql/overview). |
| `cookiePrefix`       | A string that will be prefixed to all cookies that Payload sets. |
| `cors`               | Either a whitelist array of URLS to allow CORS requests from, or a wildcard string (`'*'`) to accept incoming requests from any domain. |
| `csrf`               | A whitelist array of URLs to allow Payload cookies to be accepted from as a form of CSRF protection. [More](/docs/authentication/overview#csrf-protection) |
| `defaultDepth`       | If a user does not specify `depth` while requesting a resource, this depth will be used. [More](/docs/getting-started/concepts#depth) |
| `maxDepth`           | The maximum allowed depth to be permitted application-wide. This setting helps prevent against malicious queries. Defaults to `10`. |
| `upload`             | Base Payload upload configuration. [More](/docs/upload/overview#payload-wide-upload-options). |
| `routes`             | Control the routing structure that Payload binds itself to. Specify `admin`, `api`, `graphQL`, and `graphQLPlayground`. |
| `email`              | Base email settings to allow Payload to generate email such as Forgot Password requests and other requirements. [More](/docs/email/overview#configuration) |
| `express`            | Express-specific middleware options such as compression and JSON parsing. [More](/docs/configuration/express). |
| `debug`              | Enable to expose more detailed error information. |
| `rateLimit`          | Control IP-based rate limiting for all Payload resources. Used to prevent DDoS attacks and [more](/docs/production/preventing-abuse#rate-limiting-requests). |
| `hooks`              | Tap into Payload-wide hooks. [More](/docs/hooks/overview) |
| `plugins`            | An array of Payload plugins. [More](/docs/plugins/overview) |

#### Simple example

```js
import { buildConfig } from 'payload/config';

const config = buildConfig({
	serverURL: 'http://localhost:3000',
	collections: [
		{
			slug: 'pages',
			fields: [
				{
					name: 'title',
					type: 'text',
					required: true,
				},
				{
					name: 'content',
					type: 'richText',
					required: true,
				}
			]
		}
	],
	globals: [
		{
			slug: 'header',
			fields: [
				{
					name: 'nav',
					type: 'array',
					fields: [
						{
							name: 'page',
							type: 'relationship',
							relationTo: 'pages',
						},
					]
				}
			]
		}
	]
});

export default config;

```

#### Full example config

You can see a full [example config](https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/blob/master/demo/payload.config.ts) in the Payload source code on GitHub.

### Using environment variables in your config

We suggest using the `dotenv` package to handle environment variables alongside of Payload. All that's necessary to do is to require the package as high up in your application as possible (for example, at the top of your `server.js` file), and ensure that it can find an `.env` file that you create.

**Add this line to the top of your server:**
```
require('dotenv').config()
// ...
// the rest of your `server.js` file goes here
```

**Here is an example project structure w/ `dotenv` and an `.env` file:**

```
project-name
---- .env
---- package.json
---- payload.config.js
---- server.js
```

<Banner type="warning">
	<strong>Important:</strong><br />
	If you use an environment variable to configure any properties that are required for the Admin panel to function (ex. serverURL or any routes), you need to make sure that your Admin panel code can access it. <a href="/docs/admin/webpack#admin-environment-vars">Click here</a> for more info.
</Banner>

### Customizing & overriding the config location

By default, the Payload config must be in the root of your current working directory and named either `payload.config.js` or `payload.config.ts` if you're using TypeScript.

But, you can specify where your Payload config is located as well as what it's named by using the environment variable `PAYLOAD_CONFIG_PATH`. The path you provide via this environment variable can either be absolute or relative to your current working directory.

**Example in package.json:**

```
{
	"scripts": {
		"dev": "PAYLOAD_CONFIG_PATH=path/to/custom-config.js node server.js",
	}
}
```

### Developing within the Config

The Payload config itself, as well as all files that it requires or imports, are run through Babel. TypeScript and all common ES6 features are fully supported. To see the Babel config that is used to parse Payload configs, check out the Payload source code [here](https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/blob/master/src/babel.config.js).

Payload comes with `isomorphic-fetch` installed which means that even in Node, you can use the `fetch` API just as you would within the browser. No need to import `axios` or similar, unless you want to!

#### Re-using the Payload `babel.config.js`

If for any reason you need to re-use the built-in Payload `babel.config.js`, you can do so by importing it as follows:

```
import { config } from 'payload/babel';
```
