Performance Optimization

Nginx is fast out of the box. These settings push it toward its limits — squeezing out lower latency, higher throughput, and better cache hit rates.

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What You Will Learn

• How to enable HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 (QUIC)
• How gzip and Brotli compression work and when to use each
• How Nginx's proxy cache works and how to configure it for PHP and upstream apps
• How to tune worker processes, connections, and file descriptor limits
• How to use sendfile, tcp_nopush, and tcp_nodelay correctly
• Browser caching — setting Cache-Control and Expires headers

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Topics in This Module

• Worker and Connection Tuning — worker_processes, worker_connections, multi_accept, and OS limits
• HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 — Enabling ALPN protocols, verifying negotiation, QUIC requirements
• Gzip Compression — gzip_types, levels, minimum size, and Vary headers
• Brotli Compression — Installing ngx_brotli, config directives, vs. gzip tradeoffs
• Proxy Cache — proxy_cache_path, cache keys, bypass rules, purge strategies
• Browser Caching — expires, Cache-Control, fingerprinted assets
• Sendfile and Buffer Tuning — sendfile, tcp_nopush, tcp_nodelay, buffer sizes

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Quick Performance Wins (in order of impact)

Optimization	Impact	Directive
Enable OPcache for PHP-FPM	Very High	php.ini opcache.enable=1
Enable HTTP/2	High	listen 443 ssl http2
Enable gzip	High	gzip on; gzip_types ...
Set browser cache headers	High	expires 1y; for static assets
Use UNIX socket for PHP-FPM	Medium	fastcgi_pass unix:/run/php/...
Enable sendfile	Medium	sendfile on; in http block
Enable Brotli	Medium	requires module install
Tune worker_connections	Medium	match ulimit -n

Success Checkpoint

By the end of this module you should be able to enable HTTP/2, configure gzip, set browser cache headers, and tune worker settings for your server's CPU and RAM.