Nginx
NGINX Overview
NGINX (pronounced "Engine-X") is a high-performance, open-source web server software that also functions as a reverse proxy, load balancer, and HTTP cache. Originally designed to handle high concurrency and low memory usage, NGINX has become a core component of modern web infrastructure.
It is widely used to serve static content, proxy dynamic content, distribute traffic, and improve web application performance and reliability.
🔑 Key Features
Web Server
Serves static files such as HTML, CSS, JS, and images with high efficiency.Reverse Proxy
Forwards client requests to one or more backend servers, ideal for microservices or containerized environments.Load Balancer
Supports both Layer 7 (HTTP) and Layer 4 (TCP/UDP) load balancing with round-robin, least connections, and IP-hash methods.SSL/TLS Termination
Handles HTTPS connections and offloads encryption from backend applications.Caching
Built-in caching mechanisms to reduce load and speed up response times.HTTP/2 and gRPC Support
Provides modern protocol support for improved performance and latency.Modular and Lightweight
Small footprint and modular architecture make it easy to extend and configure.High Concurrency
Designed with an event-driven architecture, capable of handling thousands of simultaneous connections.