Why does nodejs need to be paired with nginx?

Node.js is a popular server-side JavaScript runtime environment that excels especially in building efficient web applications. However, many people still choose to use Node.js with another server software, Nginx. This is because the functions provided by Nginx and Node.js complement each other, while also overcoming some limitations of Node.js itself. In this article, we will explore why you should use Nginx in Node.js applications.

1. Load Balancing

When a Node.js application must handle thousands of concurrent requests, it will encounter bottlenecks. In this case, Nginx can act as a reverse proxy server, spreading requests to multiple Node.js servers to achieve load balancing. When the request volume increases, Nginx can decide which Node.js server to send the request to based on a specific algorithm and ensure that each server receives the same number of requests, thereby improving the performance and reliability of the entire application.

2. Static file service

Although Node.js can provide dynamic content to the client, it is not good at providing static content, such as images, CSS and JavaScript files, etc. This is because for every static file request, Node.js has to read the file and send it back to the client, which slows down the performance of your application. Nginx can provide efficient static file service. It is specially designed to provide static content. It can quickly send static files back to the client, reducing the delay caused by Node.js reading files. Therefore, when we need to serve a large number of static files, using Nginx can effectively reduce the burden on the Node.js server.

3. Security

Using Nginx can increase the security of the application. Nginx is a very secure web server. It has the function of preventing DDos attacks and can effectively protect the Node.js server from external attacks. In addition, Nginx can also provide SSL/TLS encryption to protect the communication between the client and the server and prevent man-in-the-middle attacks and data leaks.

4. Caching

Nginx also provides a caching function, which can greatly reduce the number of database queries and access to slow storage devices when processing frequent requests for the same content, thereby improving application Program performance. Using Nginx to cache static files and dynamic data can greatly reduce repeated requests for the same content, which can greatly optimize application performance.

5. Flexibility

Using Nginx as a reverse proxy can make the application more flexible. Nginx can act as a proxy server, forwarding requests to Node.js, PHP, or any other common web application. Therefore, when multiple services need to be integrated, using Nginx can make the system more efficient.

Summary

In short, Node.js is a powerful server-side JavaScript running environment. Although it can be used alone as a web server, Nginx provides some features that Node.js lacks. Using Nginx can increase the reliability and security of applications, improve performance, and also provide greater flexibility and scalability. Therefore, we highly recommend using Nginx in Node.js applications.

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