Redirects (301/302) change the browser URL and are SEO-friendly for moved content; rewrites internally map URLs without browser redirection. 2. Use return 301 for fast, clear redirects like forcing HTTPS, redirecting www, or moving old paths to new ones. 3. Use rewrite with last or break in location blocks for clean URLs, ensuring proper order—redirects first, then rewrites—and always test with nginx -t and curl to avoid 404s and SEO issues.
When working with Nginx, URL rewrites and redirects are essential tools for managing how users and search engines access your content—whether you're restructuring a site, enforcing HTTPS, or improving SEO. Here's how to handle both clearly and effectively.

1. What’s the Difference?
- Redirects (301/302): Send the browser to a new URL with an HTTP status code. Good for SEO and user experience when content moves permanently or temporarily.
- Rewrites: Internally change the URL Nginx uses to serve content—no browser redirect happens. Useful for clean URLs or routing within your app.
2. Common Redirect Examples
Use return
or rewrite ... redirect
for simple, fast redirects.
Force HTTPS:

server { listen 80; server_name example.com; return 301 https://$host$request_uri; }
Redirect www to non-www (or vice versa):
server { server_name www.example.com; return 301 $scheme://example.com$request_uri; }
Redirect old path to new:

location /old-page { return 301 /new-page; }
? Tip: Prefer
return 301
overrewrite ... permanent
—it’s faster and clearer.
3. Rewrites for Clean URLs
Use rewrite
inside location
blocks when you want to internally map one URL to another without changing the browser’s address bar.
Example: WordPress-style permalinks
location / { try_files $uri $uri/ @rewrite; } location @rewrite { rewrite ^/blog/([0-9] )/?$ /index.php?post_id=$1 last; }
Or simpler:
location / { rewrite ^/product/(.*)$ /app.php?slug=$1 last; try_files $uri $uri/ =404; }
last
: Stops processing and restarts the location search with the new URI.break
: Rewrites but doesn’t restart—use only for internal path changes within the same location.
4. Gotchas & Best Practices
- Order matters: Nginx processes
location
blocks in order of specificity. Put redirects before rewrites if both apply. - Use
return
for redirects: It’s more efficient thanrewrite ... redirect
. - Test with curl:
curl -I http://example.com/old-page
Check for
HTTP/1.1 301 Moved Permanently
and correctLocation
header. - Avoid regex in
server_name
unless needed—it’s slower. - Always test config:
nginx -t
before reloading.
Basically, use redirects when the URL in the browser should change, and rewrites when you’re just mapping internally. Keep it simple, test thoroughly, and you’ll avoid 404s and SEO drops.
The above is the detailed content of Nginx URL Rewrites and Redirects. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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