Nginx for Newbie: Setting up add_before_body Directive

Nginx is a powerful web server and reverse proxy server that is widely used for hosting websites and applications. It offers various features and directives that allow users to customize their server configurations and optimize performance. One such directive is the add_before_body directive, which can be used to add content before the closing tag of an HTML document. In this article, we will explore how to set up the add_before_body directive in Nginx for beginners.

What is the add_before_body directive?

The add_before_body directive in Nginx allows you to insert content before the closing tag of an HTML document. This can be useful for adding tracking codes, advertisements, or any other content that needs to be included on every page of your website. By adding the content directly to the server configuration, you can ensure that it is included in every response without modifying individual HTML files.

Setting up the add_before_body directive

To set up the add_before_body directive in Nginx, you need to modify your server configuration file. The configuration file is usually located in the /etc/nginx/ directory and is named nginx.conf or default.conf. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Open the server configuration file using a text editor.
2. Locate the server block where you want to add the directive. This block typically starts with the server { directive.
3. Inside the server block, add the following code:

location / {
    add_before_body <div>This is the content to be added before the closing body tag.</div>;
}

Replace the content inside the <div> tags with the actual content you want to add. You can use HTML tags, CSS styles, or JavaScript code within the <div> tags to customize the appearance and behavior of the added content.

Save the configuration file and exit the text editor. Then, restart the Nginx server for the changes to take effect. You can do this by running the following command in the terminal:

sudo service nginx restart

Testing the add_before_body directive

After setting up the add_before_body directive, you can test if it is working correctly by accessing your website in a web browser and inspecting the page source. Right-click on the page and select "View Page Source" or "Inspect Element" to open the developer tools. Look for the added content before the closing tag in the HTML source code.

Summary

The add_before_body directive in Nginx is a useful tool for adding content before the closing tag of an HTML document. By modifying the server configuration file, you can ensure that the added content is included in every response without modifying individual HTML files. Setting up the add_before_body directive involves adding a few lines of code to the server block in the configuration file. After making the changes and restarting the Nginx server, you can test if the directive is working correctly by inspecting the page source in a web browser.

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