Define one location block for each URL prefix, then choose root when the URI should remain part of the filesystem path and alias when the prefix should be replaced. Add try_files to make missing assets return a deliberate status, use ^~ when regular expressions must not override a prefix, and verify the result with nginx -t and representative requests.
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The basic pattern: one URL prefix, one location
NGINX can serve several static trees from one virtual host. A request for game assets, downloadable patches, screenshots, or a default web root does not need to share one directory. Each URI prefix can have its own location block and filesystem mapping.
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server {
listen 80;
server_name example.test;
# /assets/app.css -> /srv/site/assets/app.css
location ^~ /assets/ {
root /srv/site;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}
# /downloads/manual.pdf -> /srv/files/manual.pdf
location ^~ /downloads/ {
alias /srv/files/;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}
# Other requests use the normal site tree
location / {
root /srv/site;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
index index.html;
}
}With root /srv/site, NGINX appends the complete request URI to the root directory. Therefore, /assets/app.css becomes /srv/site/assets/app.css. With alias /srv/files/ in location /downloads/, NGINX removes the matching /downloads/ prefix and appends the remainder to /srv/files/; /downloads/manual.pdf becomes /srv/files/manual.pdf.
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The path behavior is determined by the active location. A request can be syntactically valid yet still produce a 404 if another location wins, if the resulting path is not what you expected, or if the worker process cannot read the file.
Choose root or alias deliberately
The two directives both identify a directory, but they construct paths differently. The NGINX documentation describes root as the directory used to search for a file; in practical terms, the request URI is appended. alias substitutes the part of the URI matched by the location.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Directive | Location | Request | Filesystem result | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
root /srv/site; |
/assets/ |
/assets/app.css |
/srv/site/assets/app.css |
The URL hierarchy mirrors the directory hierarchy |
alias /srv/files/; |
/downloads/ |
/downloads/manual.pdf |
/srv/files/manual.pdf |
A public prefix should not exist in the on-disk path |
When root is simpler
Use root when the directory under the server root has the same structure as the public URL. It keeps related paths easy to predict: every URI component remains in the final path. A site rooted at /srv/site can expose /images/cover.jpg from /srv/site/images/cover.jpg without a separate mapping rule.
When alias is the right abstraction
Use alias for a mount point, archive directory, generated output directory, or other tree whose physical name does not include the public prefix. It is especially useful when /downloads/ should expose /srv/files/ directly rather than requiring /srv/files/downloads/.
Keep trailing slashes aligned
For a prefix directory, write the location and alias with matching trailing slashes: location /downloads/ and alias /srv/files/. This makes the prefix replacement unambiguous and avoids surprising path joins. If you intentionally use a location without a trailing slash, account for the exact URI text and test both the slash and no-slash forms.
Regular-expression aliases need extra care
alias is valid in a location context. In a regular-expression location, its value must identify the complete path required for the match, including any captured portion that your expression is meant to preserve. For maintainability, a plain prefix location is usually preferable for a whole static directory; reserve regex aliases for narrowly defined cases and test every capture.
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Understand which location wins
Path mapping only matters after NGINX has selected a location. Prefix and regular-expression locations do not compete on a simple “first block wins” basis.
- NGINX checks exact matches such as
location = /favicon.ico. - It finds the longest matching prefix location.
- It evaluates regular-expression locations according to its documented matching order. A regex can take a request away from the prefix that appears most obvious.
- A prefix marked
^~tells NGINX not to evaluate regular-expression locations for that branch once the prefix has won.
Exact matches are useful for one-off files, while ^~ is useful for an entire static tree that must not be intercepted by a broad extension rule.
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location = /favicon.ico {
root /srv/site;
}
location ^~ /assets/ {
root /srv/site;
try_files $uri =404;
}
# Keep regex locations narrow if you need one
location ~* \.(?:css|js)$ {
root /srv/site;
try_files $uri =404;
}Without ^~, the final regular-expression block could handle a request that you expected to remain in the /assets/ branch. A broad expression such as location ~* for many extensions makes this problem more likely. Narrow the expression or protect the intended prefix.
Use try_files to make fallback behavior explicit
The try_files directive checks whether candidate files or directories exist under the active root or alias. NGINX internally redirects to the first candidate that exists. The final argument can be another URI, a named location, or an explicit status.
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Strict static branches
For assets and downloads, the safest default is usually:
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;$uri checks the requested file, $uri/ permits a real directory request, and =404 stops processing with a not-found response when neither exists. This prevents a missing JavaScript bundle or patch archive from being silently routed to an unrelated application handler.
Fallback to another resource
A fallback URI is appropriate only when the product requires one. NGINX’s documented example uses try_files $uri /images/default.gif; to supply a default image. The fallback is an internal redirect, so the destination URI is looked up again and may select a different location.
location ^~ /avatars/ {
alias /srv/avatars/;
try_files $uri /images/default-avatar.png;
}Use this deliberately: a default image is a valid product behavior, while serving an application shell for a missing asset often masks deployment errors.
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Many single-page applications use try_files $uri /index.html;. That is appropriate for client-side routes, not for a strict static download or asset directory. In an assets block, use =404 unless the branch explicitly requires a fallback. Otherwise a typo such as /assets/app-typo.js can return HTML with a successful status, leaving the browser with a confusing MIME or parsing error.
Directory requests, indexes, and listings
When a URI ends in a slash, NGINX treats it as a directory request and checks the filenames listed by the index directive. The default index filename is index.html. If no listed file exists, NGINX returns 404 by default.
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location ^~ /manual/ {
alias /srv/docs/;
index index.html;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}A request for /manual/ first maps to the aliased directory and then searches for index.html. Index resolution can cause an internal redirect and a second location lookup. If the index URI is handled by a different block, confirm that its root, alias, access rules, and fallback behavior are still appropriate.
autoindex on; enables a generated directory listing. Turn it on only when exposing a listing is intentional; a directory listing can reveal filenames that were not meant to be discoverable. If listings are not part of the design, leave autoindex off and provide explicit index files or return 404.
Build a multi-directory server step by step
1. Inventory the URL contract
- List each public prefix, such as
/assets/,/downloads/, and/screenshots/. - Write the intended filesystem directory beside each prefix.
- Decide whether the URI should be appended (
root) or removed and replaced (alias). - Decide whether a missing path must be a 404, a default resource, or an application route.
2. Check filesystem permissions
The NGINX worker account needs search permission on every parent directory and read permission on files it serves. A correct mapping still fails if the operating system denies traversal or reading. Keep private directories outside the mapped trees and do not make them readable merely to resolve a configuration mistake.
3. Add the most specific locations
Place exact and prefix branches for special trees, then add a general location / fallback. Use ^~ on prefixes that must not be intercepted by extension-based regex locations.
4. Set an explicit existence policy
Use try_files $uri $uri/ =404; for strict static content. If a fallback is required, document what it is and remember that it starts another location lookup.
5. Configure indexes only where needed
Set index in a branch that serves directories. Do not enable directory listings as a substitute for an index unless the listing is an intentional feature.
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6. Validate before reloading
nginx -tRun the test against the active configuration. Correct syntax, missing includes, and invalid paths reported by the command before reloading.
7. Reload gracefully
After a successful test, reload NGINX using the service manager used by your system. A graceful reload lets existing connections finish while workers adopt the new configuration. If the reload fails, keep the previous working configuration and inspect the service error output.
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Verify every mapping, not just the home page
Use representative requests for each branch. Headers are enough to verify status and content type; verbose mode adds redirect and connection details.
curl -I http://example.test/assets/app.css
curl -I http://example.test/downloads/manual.pdf
curl -I http://example.test/downloads/missing.pdf
curl -I http://example.test/manual/
curl -v http://example.test/assets/file-that-might-match-a-regex.js- Known hit: request a file that definitely exists and confirm a successful response.
- Known miss: request a random filename and confirm the intended 404 or documented fallback.
- Directory index: request a trailing-slash directory and verify the expected index file is selected.
- Regex collision: request a file whose extension could match another location and confirm that the intended prefix still wins.
- Slash variant: check both the directory URI with and without its trailing slash if clients may use both forms.
Review the access and error logs while making these requests. The access log confirms which URI was received and what status was returned. The error log can reveal permission failures, missing files, invalid paths, and internal redirects. NGINX’s beginner guidance specifically recommends these logs when a configuration does not work.
Common failures and precise fixes
The path contains the public prefix twice
Symptom: /downloads/manual.pdf produces a lookup such as /srv/files/downloads/manual.pdf, although the file is actually /srv/files/manual.pdf.
Cause: root /srv/files; appends the complete URI.
Fix: use alias /srv/files/; in location /downloads/, or create the matching downloads directory under the root if that is the intended layout.
A regex location unexpectedly handles the request
Symptom: a file under a carefully configured prefix receives different headers, a different root, or a different status.
Cause: a regular-expression location matched after the prefix selection.
Fix: add ^~ to the prefix when regex locations must not override it, or narrow the regex so it applies only to the files that need it.
An alias mapping returns 404 despite an existing file
Checks: confirm the alias includes the intended trailing slash, confirm that the URI prefix also ends in a slash, and inspect the error log for the path NGINX attempted. Then verify parent-directory traversal and file-read permissions for the worker account.
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Missing assets return the application shell
Cause: a broad try_files $uri /index.html; fallback is inherited or copied into a static branch.
Fix: give the static location its own try_files $uri $uri/ =404;. Keep the SPA fallback in the application route location only.
A directory request is a 404
Check that the directory exists under the active mapping, that the request includes the expected slash, and that the configured index filename exists and is readable. If an index triggers an internal redirect, verify the second location lookup rather than inspecting only the first block.
The configuration test passes but files still fail
nginx -t validates configuration syntax and referenced structure; it does not prove that every requested file exists or that the worker can read it. Use a known-hit request, inspect logs, and check the effective user, parent-directory permissions, symbolic links, and the exact path produced by root or alias.
A maintainable example for game-site assets and downloads
The following layout keeps frequently cached frontend files, large downloadable files, and the main document tree separate:
server {
listen 80;
server_name example.test;
# Files physically stored beneath /srv/game-site/assets/
location ^~ /assets/ {
root /srv/game-site;
try_files $uri =404;
}
# Public /patches/ maps directly to a mounted archive volume
location ^~ /patches/ {
alias /mnt/game-patches/;
try_files $uri =404;
}
# Public screenshots are stored outside the document root
location ^~ /screenshots/ {
alias /srv/media/screenshots/;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}
# Main pages and deliberate client-side routing
location / {
root /srv/game-site;
try_files $uri $uri/ /index.html;
index index.html;
}
}Here, missing files in the three static branches remain 404s, while the final branch intentionally falls back to /index.html for client-side routes. Separating those policies prevents a typo in a patch or screenshot URL from being mistaken for a page route.
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- Keep mappings obvious: comment the URI-to-filesystem relationship next to each block, especially when an alias points to a mounted volume.
- Prefer narrow regexes: extension rules are easy to make broader than intended and can interfere with prefix mappings.
- Protect private trees: do not place secrets, source repositories, or upload staging directories beneath an exposed root or alias.
- Test after directory changes: moving a physical directory requires checking both the configuration and operating-system permissions.
- Use explicit statuses:
=404communicates that an absent static object is an error rather than an invitation to another handler. - Recheck internal redirects: indexes, fallback URIs, and named locations can select a second location with different rules.
The durable mental model is simple: first determine which location wins, then calculate its filesystem path, then apply try_files, index handling, and permissions. Debugging in that order is faster than changing directives at random.
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