NGINX is a versatile and powerful open-source software used for web serving, reverse proxying, caching, load balancing, media streaming, and more. It’s important to understand for backend developers.

We just published a course on the freeCodeCamp.org YouTube channel that will teach you what you need to know about NGINX. Laith Harb developed this course. He is an experienced software developer and amazing teacher.

This course is designed to offer a comprehensive guide to understanding and using NGINX, a high-performance web server, reverse proxy, and email (IMAP/POP3) proxy.

NGINX is known for its high performance, stability, rich feature set, simple configuration, and low resource consumption. It is widely used to ensure fast and reliable web and application delivery.

Here are some places where NGINX may be used:

• High Traffic Websites: NGINX efficiently handles large volumes of concurrent connections, making it ideal for high-traffic websites.
• Reverse Proxy Applications: It can be used as a reverse proxy server for HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP, POP3, and IMAP protocols, as well as a load balancer and an HTTP cache.
• Microservices Architecture: NGINX works well in a microservices architecture for managing communication and load balancing.
• Streaming Media: It’s also well-suited for streaming media services.

Course Sections

The course is structured into several informative sections, each focusing on a specific aspect of NGINX:

NGINX Installation

This section provides a step-by-step guide on how to install NGINX on various operating systems, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free start for beginners.

NGINX Terminology

Understanding the key terms and concepts in NGINX is crucial. This section covers the essential terminology to help learners grasp the fundamentals of NGINX architecture and operation.

Serving Static Content

Learn how NGINX can be configured to serve static content, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, which is a core function of web servers.

Mime Types

This part delves into MIME types and their significance in web development, explaining how NGINX handles different data formats.

Location Context

Explore the ‘location’ directive in NGINX, which is used to define how to process different requests URLs, a critical aspect for website management.

Rewrites and Redirects

Understand how to implement URL rewrites and redirects in NGINX, a common requirement for website administration and SEO optimization.

NGINX as a Load Balancer

One of the most powerful features of NGINX is its capability to act as a load balancer. This section covers the basics of load balancing and how to set up NGINX for distributing traffic across multiple servers.

Conclusion

With clear explanations, practical examples, and a structured learning path, this course is an excellent opportunity to dive deep into the world of NGINX.

Watch the full course on the freeCodeCamp.org YouTube channel (1-hour watch).