diff --git a/web/.env.example b/web/.env.example
index d74ca824..3d56459f 100644
--- a/web/.env.example
+++ b/web/.env.example
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
 NEXT_PUBLIC_STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=pk_test_...
+# Backend URL for the API proxy — swap comments to switch between local and remote
+BACKEND_URL=http://localhost:8080
+#BACKEND_URL=https://petshop-backend.nicepond-c7280126.westus2.azurecontainerapps.io