diff --git a/.env b/.env
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..638fe9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# For local development, uncomment these lines:
+# VITE_API_URL=http://localhost:3002/api
+# VITE_WS_URL=ws://localhost:3002
+
+# For production/domain deployment, use relative URLs (default):
+VITE_API_URL=/drones/api
+VITE_WS_URL=/drones
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index d1d6020..5f1703e 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ services:
       context: ./client
       dockerfile: Dockerfile
       args:
-        VITE_API_URL: http://localhost:3002/api
-        VITE_WS_URL: ws://localhost:3002
+        VITE_API_URL: ${VITE_API_URL:-/drones/api}
+        VITE_WS_URL: ${VITE_WS_URL:-/drones}
         NODE_ENV: production
     container_name: drone-detection-frontend
     restart: unless-stopped