What is Nginx reverse proxy caching and how does it work?

What is Nginx reverse proxy caching and how does it work?

Nginx reverse proxy caching is a technique where Nginx acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from a server. It caches responses from the server, so subsequent requests for the same resource can be served faster from the cache instead of hitting the server again.

What are the benefits of using reverse proxy caching?

The benefits include reduced load on the backend server, faster response times for users, and improved scalability. It can also enhance security by hiding the backend server's details.

How do I configure Nginx for reverse proxy caching?

To configure Nginx for reverse proxy caching, you need to set up a cache path, define caching rules, and specify which responses to cache in your Nginx configuration file.

Can you provide an example configuration?

Sure! Here’s a basic example:

http {
    proxy_cache_path /tmp/nginx_cache levels=1:2 keys_zone=my_cache:10m;
    server {
        location / {
            proxy_pass http://backend_server;
            proxy_cache my_cache;
            proxy_cache_valid 200 1h;
        }
    }
}