> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cosmocloud.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cosmocloud.io/resources/secrets.md).

# Secrets

**Secrets** provides a centralised and secure way to store and manage your application's environment variables or what we call a **Secret. I**t can be used anywhere in your application without exposing the secrets to outer environments.

There are 3 types of Secrets which can be stored in cosmocloud -

## Database Secret <a href="#database-secret" id="database-secret"></a>

**Database Secret** is a confidential credential used to establish secure connections and access databases. It includes authentication information that allows Cosmocloud to authenticate itself to your database.

Database secrets typically include credentials such as -&#x20;

* Database name
* Mode
* Project Id
* Public key
* Private key
* Cluster name
* MongoDB URI

## Authentication Secret <a href="#authentication-secret" id="authentication-secret"></a>

**Authentication Secret** is a secret used to connect to your external Authentication Provider - be it an SSO provider or your own self hosted Authentication Layer.

## Custom secret <a href="#custom-secret" id="custom-secret"></a>

**Custom Secrets** are used to define your own custom Key-Value pairs which can be used to define and set custom environment variables.