The Nginx proxy_pass directive is used to forward client requests to a server. It specifies the location of the server that the requests should be forwarded to, as well as any additional parameters such as the protocol and port number to use.
To use the proxy_pass directive, it must be included in the configuration file of the Nginx server. The directive can be placed in the server block or location block of the configuration file, depending on the desired scope of the configuration.
Here is an example of how the proxy_pass directive might be used in the server block of an Nginx configuration file:
server {
listen 80;
server_name example.com;
location / {
proxy_pass http://localhost:8080;
}
}
In this example, the Nginx server is listening for incoming requests on port 80 and forwarding them to the server at localhost:8080. Any additional parameters such as the protocol and port number can be specified as part of the proxy_pass directive.
Some common uses for the Nginx proxy_pass directive include:
- Reverse proxy: The proxy_pass directive can be used in conjunction with the Nginx reverse proxy feature to forward client requests to backend servers.
- Load balancing: The proxy_pass directive can be used to distribute incoming traffic across multiple servers, helping to improve the performance and availability of a website or application.
- SSL termination: The proxy_pass directive can be used to forward incoming requests to a backend server over a regular HTTP connection, allowing the Nginx server to handle the SSL decryption process.
Overall, the Nginx proxy_pass directive is a useful tool for forwarding client requests to a server and improving the performance and security of a website or application. It can be used in a variety of scenarios, including reverse proxying, load balancing, and SSL termination.