When websites are online, each and every one of them are supported by a server. More often than not when the network tools are pulled up and one looks at the script running in the background, the site is usually hosted by Nginx. Understanding the importance and reasoning for NGINX's popularity is also essential for anyone looking to use their services. Before one should consider using this software, they must first understand the product they are trying to use. Knowing and understanding a potential product usually leads to better performance and higher customer satisfaction. So when taking this into consideration, one must first ask the basic questions they may have about the product in question.
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What is NGINX how it works?
Nginx is a web server that regulates and hosts usually high traffic web sites and applications. Nginx also works as a reverse web proxy allowing distribution to numerous back servers. NGINX receives information via requests and upon finding that information, transmitting it back to the user. It also operates in a mode where there is no traffic blocking, hence its usage as a web proxy as well. It is also a low-memory usage program and increases its versatility by not being a monster program that eats up a lot of RAM. This is of course just a brief explanation of its inner workings.
What is NGINX used for?
As mentioned above NGINX is used for web hosting and as a reverse web proxy. Going into further details, it is also used to host high traffic websites and has other features as well. These features include load balancing which is used to scale out the application in order to increase performance and redundancy which helps prevent backlog. WebSocket is also supported as well and for those who do not know, WebSocket is a proxy used to handle high-scale data transfers between clients. This feature is quite useful for web administrators and others who use the program. Static files are also another feature that is supported. Static files are anything from images to scripts or even Cascading Style Sheet files otherwise known as CSS. Keep in mind that these images do not get generated but are instead sent to the server upon request. Another feature is its caching ability via proxy. Caching is when a client remembers user data and in turn can be used to make logins easier thanks to the retained information. The cache can also affect a website's algorithm in order to keep a service geared towards the needs and interests of the user. These are only a few of the many uses for this product.
Why NGINX is so popular?
NGINX's popularity speaks for itself among web users. Its user-friendly interface and low memory usage are the main features users and critics alike rave about. Another factor into its popularity is the level of sheer power of being able to handle thousands of separate connections. NGINX's unique status as a web server/proxy hybrid allows it to stand out in the market amongst its competitors. This is especially significant because many hybrid products tend to not do one or their other very well but this product is documented to perform well on both aspects. In spite of its numerous features and easy interface, Nginx is actually free of charge which is perhaps the main factor to its popularity. That said, classes on how to use the software and the premium version do cost money, so if anyone wants to consider even more features, it is an easy price to pay when considering the value of the program.
What is better Apache or NGINX?
There is a longtime debate between who is better between these software but it is safe to say that Nginx is better than Apache. The former is actually 2.5 times faster than the latter according to a recent experiment conducted. There were other side by side test done between this and Apache and Apache was outperformed on every aspect. Some of these outperformances were up to 50 times faster as a matter of fact! Both programs are free to use so there is no price or value factor to calculate in that aspect, but NGINX's features out number Apache's so it makes sense to get the service that includes more options since money is a non-factor. Overall, it is up to the individual which software they use but sensibility rules out getting anything other than Nginx.
