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Define one location block for each URL prefix, then choose root when the URL path mirrors the directory tree and alias when the URL prefix should be replaced by a different directory. Add try_files with an explicit fallback so missing assets return a predictable status instead of being sent to an unrelated application route.
The following configuration maps /assets/ into a subdirectory of the site root, maps /downloads/ to a separate filesystem directory, and serves every other URI from the main site directory:
A working configuration for several static directories
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;
}
# All remaining requests use the main site directory
location / {
root /srv/site;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
index index.html;
}
}With this server, a request for /assets/app.css is searched for under /srv/site/assets/app.css. A request for /downloads/manual.pdf is searched for under /srv/files/manual.pdf; the /downloads/ portion is not appended to the disk path. A request that matches none of those prefixes falls through to location / and is searched for under /srv/site.
The ^~ modifier matters when regular-expression locations also exist. It tells Nginx to use the longest matching prefix without testing regex locations for that request. If you do not need regex locations, ordinary prefix locations are sufficient, but using ^~ documents and protects the intended branch when a larger configuration later gains regex rules.
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How Nginx maps a URI to a file
Nginx separates the public request URI from the filesystem path used to find content. The active location determines which mapping rule applies, and the root or alias in that context determines the resulting path.
Prefix locations
A prefix location matches URIs beginning with the text in the location declaration. For example, location /assets/ can handle CSS, JavaScript, images, and other files whose request path starts with /assets/. Nginx keeps the longest matching prefix before it considers regex locations.
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Regular-expression locations
A location beginning with ~ uses a case-sensitive regular expression; ~* uses a case-insensitive expression. Regex locations are evaluated after prefix matching and can take a request away from the prefix block that appears to match it. Broad extension rules such as a catch-all location ~ can therefore cause surprising mappings.
Exact locations
An exact location, written with =, matches one URI only. It is useful for a single well-known file, such as:
location = /favicon.ico {
root /srv/site;
try_files $uri =404;
}Use an exact match when one file needs behavior that should not affect the rest of a directory.
Root versus alias
The most common source of a static-file 404 is choosing the wrong path directive. Both directives identify a filesystem directory, but they join that directory to the request in different ways.
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| Directive | Path behavior | Best fit | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
root |
Appends the complete request URI to the configured directory. | The URL tree and disk tree have the same relative structure. | location /assets/ { root /srv/site; } maps /assets/app.css to /srv/site/assets/app.css. |
alias |
Replaces the matching location portion with the configured path. | A public prefix should expose a directory that does not contain that prefix on disk. | location /downloads/ { alias /srv/files/; } maps /downloads/manual.pdf to /srv/files/manual.pdf. |
When root is the simpler choice
Use root when the directory layout already mirrors the URL layout. If files live in /srv/site/assets/ and clients request them as /assets/..., root /srv/site; expresses that relationship directly. The request URI remains intact after the root directory is prepended.
When alias is required
Use alias when the URL prefix is only a public name. In the example, clients see /downloads/, but the files are stored directly in /srv/files/, not in /srv/files/downloads/. Alias removes the matching location prefix before joining the remainder to its target path.
Keep trailing slashes aligned
For a directory mapping, keep the location and alias slash conventions aligned: location /downloads/ with alias /srv/files/. A mismatch can produce unexpected path joins and make an otherwise present file appear missing. If you intentionally use a location without a trailing slash, design the alias and test the resulting path explicitly rather than assuming the directory form will be inferred.
Alias and regular expressions
alias is valid in a location context. When it is used with a regular-expression location, the alias value must identify the complete path needed for the match. Regex captures and the final alias path must be designed together; a directory-style alias that works for a prefix location should not be copied into a regex block without checking how the expression captures the requested filename.
Build the configuration step by step
- List the public URL groups. Write down every prefix that should map to a different directory, such as
/assets/,/downloads/, or/media/. Decide whether each prefix mirrors a directory below one common site root or points somewhere independent. - Choose the mapping directive. Select
rootfor mirrored trees andaliasfor prefix replacement. Record the exact filesystem directory, including whether it ends with a slash. - Create one location per prefix. Put the most specific prefixes in separate blocks. Prefix order in the file does not replace Nginx’s matching rules; the longest matching prefix is retained automatically.
- Set an explicit missing-file policy. For strict static delivery, use
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;. This checks the requested file or directory and returns 404 when neither exists. - Define directory indexes deliberately. Set
index index.html;where a directory request should load that file. If no configured index exists, Nginx returns 404 by default. - Add a catch-all only for the intended site. A final
location /can serve the primary site root. Do not let it silently turn missing files from a special static branch into an application response unless that behavior is intentional. - Validate before reloading. Run
nginx -tagainst the active configuration. Correct syntax and path errors before applying the change. - Reload gracefully. Reload Nginx using the service-management command appropriate to your installation, then test representative requests rather than assuming a successful reload proves that path mapping is correct.
Use try_files to control fallbacks
The try_files directive checks whether candidate files or directories exist under the active root or alias. It internally redirects to the first candidate that exists. Its final argument can be another URI, a named location, or an explicit status code.
Strict static files
location ^~ /assets/ {
root /srv/site;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}This form serves an existing file, allows an existing directory to proceed to index processing, and returns 404 for a missing path. It prevents a typo in an asset URL from being handled by an unrelated fallback.
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A deliberate default resource
A fallback URI is appropriate when the product requirement calls for a default resource. For example, an image branch can use:
location ^~ /images/ {
root /srv/site;
try_files $uri /images/default.gif;
}If the requested image is absent, Nginx internally redirects to /images/default.gif. Make sure that fallback URI is itself served by a location and that the default file exists.
Why an SPA fallback can be wrong here
Many single-page applications use try_files $uri /index.html so client-side routes reach the application shell. That behavior is not a safe default for a static asset directory: a missing stylesheet, script, or download may receive HTML instead of a 404. Use =404 for branches where the requested file must exist, and reserve an application fallback for the location that is intentionally responsible for application routes.
Directory requests and index files
When a request ends in a slash, Nginx treats it as a directory request and searches the filenames listed by the index directive. The default index filename is index.html; setting the directive makes the choice explicit:
location / {
root /srv/site;
index index.html;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}If no index file is found, Nginx returns 404 by default. It does not automatically expose a directory listing.
Intentional listings
autoindex on; enables a generated directory listing. Turn it on only for a directory where listing its contents is an intentional part of the service. A download area that should require a known filename should keep autoindex disabled and rely on explicit links or an application-managed index.
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Internal redirects and a second location lookup
Index resolution can trigger an internal redirect. The resulting URI may be looked up again, so confirm that the index request still reaches the intended static block. This matters when a broad regex location, a special root, or an application fallback also exists in the server.
Understand location precedence before debugging
Location selection follows a defined sequence rather than simply using the first block written in the configuration:
- Nginx checks exact matches and uses one immediately when present.
- It compares prefix locations and retains the longest matching prefix.
- Unless the selected prefix uses
^~, Nginx evaluates regex locations in configuration order. - If a regex matches, that regex location handles the request; otherwise the retained prefix handles it.
This explains why a request under /downloads/ can unexpectedly enter an extension-based regex location. Narrow regex patterns to the files they truly own, or mark the static prefix ^~ when regex locations must not override it.
Example of an override
location ^~ /downloads/ {
alias /srv/files/;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}
# This broad rule can capture requests if the prefix lacks ^~
location ~* .(css|js)$ {
root /srv/legacy;
}With ^~, a request such as /downloads/readme.js remains in the download branch. Without it, the regex can win and cause Nginx to search under the legacy root instead.
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| Symptom | Likely cause | Correction |
|---|---|---|
A file appears under /srv/files/downloads/... in your reasoning, but the real file is under /srv/files/.... |
root was used where the URL prefix should be removed. |
Use alias /srv/files/; in location /downloads/. |
| A request under a special prefix is handled by an extension rule. | A regex location superseded the prefix. | Add ^~ to the prefix or narrow the regex. |
| Every file in an alias directory returns 404. | The location and alias trailing-slash forms do not align, or the alias target is not the directory you intended. | Use matching directory forms, then inspect the effective path and error log. |
| Missing assets return the site’s HTML shell. | try_files ends in an application fallback such as /index.html. |
Use try_files $uri $uri/ =404; for a strict static branch. |
| A directory URL returns 404 even though the directory exists. | No configured index file exists in that directory. | Set the intended index filename, add the file, or intentionally enable autoindex. |
| Nginx reports a path or access failure. | The configured filesystem path is wrong, or the worker cannot access the target. | Check the active error log and access log, verify the resolved path, and correct the configuration or filesystem access. |
Use logs to distinguish mapping from availability
An access log shows which URI was requested and the status returned. The error log provides the filesystem error and the path Nginx attempted. Check both while requesting one known-good file and one known-missing file. A 404 caused by a wrong root or alias looks different from a configuration that never reaches the intended location.
Verify every location after a change
Do not test only the homepage. Exercise each mapping and each branch that can change the result:
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- Run
nginx -tand fix any reported syntax or include-file error. - Reload Nginx gracefully after the test succeeds.
- Request a known file from every static prefix with headers only, for example
curl -I http://example.test/assets/app.cssandcurl -I http://example.test/downloads/manual.pdf. - Request a known-missing file from each prefix and confirm that the intended status, normally 404, is returned.
- Request a directory with a trailing slash and verify that the expected index file is selected.
- Request a path with an extension that could match a regex location, such as a JavaScript file below
/downloads/, and verify that it remains in the intended branch. - Use
curl -vwhen you need to inspect redirects and response headers, while watching the access and error logs for the same request.
Testing a hit, a miss, an index request, and a possible regex collision gives you evidence for both path construction and location precedence.
Patterns you can adapt
Several mirrored directories under one root
server {
listen 80;
server_name example.test;
location ^~ /assets/ {
root /srv/site;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}
location ^~ /images/ {
root /srv/site;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}
location / {
root /srv/site;
index index.html;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}
}Here both special branches use root because the disk layout contains matching assets and images directories below /srv/site.
Separate storage for public downloads
server {
listen 80;
server_name example.test;
location ^~ /downloads/ {
alias /srv/files/;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}
location / {
root /srv/site;
index index.html;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}
}This keeps downloadable files outside the main site tree while presenting a stable public prefix. The alias target is still part of the server’s filesystem, so verify that the configured directory contains only files intended for that URL space.
One-file exception plus multiple directories
location = /favicon.ico {
root /srv/site;
try_files $uri =404;
}
location ^~ /assets/ {
root /srv/site;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}
location ^~ /downloads/ {
alias /srv/files/;
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}The exact favicon rule is evaluated for that URI only; the directory prefixes continue to handle their own trees.
A decision checklist for new mappings
- Does the URL prefix exist as a directory below one common filesystem root? If yes, start with
root. - Should the URL prefix disappear from the disk path? If yes, use
alias. - Do the location and alias use matching trailing-slash forms?
- Could a regex location match this request? If yes, narrow it or use
^~. - Should a missing file be a hard 404, a default resource, or an application route? Set the final
try_filesargument accordingly. - Should a directory request load an index? Set
indexand ensure that file exists. - Is a directory listing intentional? Enable
autoindexonly for that explicit use case. - Have you tested a hit, a miss, a directory, and a regex-collision path after reloading?
Once these decisions are explicit, adding another static location is mechanical: define its public prefix, select the correct path directive, set the fallback policy, and verify the resulting filesystem path with logs and representative requests.
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