Nginx
A lightweight, high-performance HTTP server and reverse proxy. Master configuration, load balancing, caching, and SSL/TLS.
Core Topics
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals | Architecture, configuration, reverse proxy, load balancing, SSL/TLS, caching |
| Cheatsheet | Quick reference for common configurations and commands |
Key Concepts
- Web Server: Serve static files (HTML, CSS, JS, images)
- Reverse Proxy: Forward requests to backend applications
- Load Balancing: Distribute traffic across multiple servers
- SSL/TLS Termination: Handle HTTPS encryption/decryption
- Caching: Reduce backend load with response caching
- Rate Limiting: Control request rates per client
- Virtual Hosts: Serve multiple domains from one server
Why Nginx?
- Lightweight: Uses ~10 MB vs Apache's ~100+ MB
- High Performance: Event-driven, handles 10,000+ concurrent connections
- Simple Configuration: Clear, easy-to-understand syntax
- Versatile: Server, proxy, load balancer, cache all-in-one
Common Use Cases
- Serve static website content
- Reverse proxy to application servers
- Load balance across multiple servers
- Terminate SSL/TLS connections
- Cache responses to reduce database load
- Rate limit API requests
- Host multiple websites on one server
Popular Resources
| Resource | Topic |
|---|---|
| Nginx Official Docs | Complete reference |
| Beginner's Guide | Getting started |
| Admin Guide | Administration tasks |
Contributing
Know great Nginx resources? Submit a PR to help the community learn!