# Environments

Environments are the top-level containers for your Welkin configuration and data. Each environment has its own Designer configuration, user permissions, and patient data — environments are fully isolated from each other.

***

## Environment types

| Type        | Purpose                                                                                                                               |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Sandbox** | Testing and development. Use this to build and validate new workflows, automations, and configurations before promoting them to Live. |
| **Live**    | Production environment with real patient data and active care workflows.                                                              |

Most organizations maintain at least one Sandbox and one Live environment. Some add additional sandboxes for specific projects or client testing.

***

## Viewing environments

The **Environments** tab in Admin lists all active environments with:

* Environment name and description
* Created date and last updated date
* Environment type (Sandbox or Live)
* Schema size
* An option to show or hide archived environments

***

## Managing an environment

Click the **three dots (⋯)** in the right-hand column for any environment to:

* **Open in Designer** — navigate directly to that environment's Designer configuration
* **Edit** — update the name, type, or description
* **Archive** — deactivate the environment (can be restored; archived environments are hidden by default in the list)

***

## Adding a new environment

1. Click the **+ Environment** button in the upper left
2. Enter:
   * **Environment Name**
   * **Environment Type** — Sandbox or Live
   * **Description** (optional but recommended)
3. Click **Submit**

The new environment is immediately available. Navigate to its Designer to begin configuration.

***

## Copying configuration between environments

To promote a Designer configuration from Sandbox to Live (or between any two environments), use the **Export** feature in Designer. See [Export Designer Configuration](https://github.com/welkincloud-io/welkin-docs/blob/master/kb/designer/export-designer-configuration.md) for steps.

***

## Related articles

* [Admin Portal Overview](/admin/admin.md)
* [Export Designer Configuration](https://github.com/welkincloud-io/welkin-docs/blob/master/kb/designer/export-designer-configuration.md)
* [Change Summary and Version History](https://github.com/welkincloud-io/welkin-docs/blob/master/kb/designer/change-summary-and-version-history.md)


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.welkinhealth.com/admin/environments/environments.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.