> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.udiconnect.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Environments

> Overview of the dual-environment setup in UDI Hub (Preview and Production Environments).

## Understanding the Dual-Environment Landscape

**UDI Hub** operates within a dual-environment setup that separates testing from productive submissions.\
This structure ensures that data imports, validations, and submissions can be thoroughly tested before being executed in the live environment.

The two environments are:

* **Preview environment** – Connected to the **authorities’ test systems**.\
  Use this environment to safely import, validate, and verify UDI data, as well as to perform test submissions following real authority logic.

* **Production Environment** – Connected to the **official live systems** of the authorities.\
  This environment is used for approved submissions of validated and compliant UDI records.

This setup guarantees that all data preparation, validation, and submission workflows can be verified in Validation before going live in Production.

<Card title="Tip" icon="info" horizontal="true">
  You can use dummy data or real data in your test system. Just keep in mind that some authorities require different credentials (consult authority onboarding for more details).
</Card>

***

## Switching Between Environments

Within the **Settings** section of UDI Hub, you can easily choose the active environment from the **“Go To App”** dropdown menu.

* By default, clicking **Go To App** redirects you to the **Production** environment.
* To work in the Preview environment, simply select **Preview** from the dropdown list before navigating.

<img className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/p36/zESr34VEuXndiHJf/images/udiconnect/environments.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=zESr34VEuXndiHJf&q=85&s=62046e7ca385ee8185165b755528a7fa" alt="Validation and Production environment selection" width="1909" height="220" data-path="images/udiconnect/environments.png" />

<img className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/p36/zESr34VEuXndiHJf/images/udiconnect/environments.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=zESr34VEuXndiHJf&q=85&s=62046e7ca385ee8185165b755528a7fa" alt="Validation and Production environment selection" width="1909" height="220" data-path="images/udiconnect/environments.png" />

***

<Card title="Tip" icon="info" horizontal="true">
  Use the Preview environment to safely test data imports, authority logic, and submission workflows before executing them in the Production environment.
</Card>